Mercury Fillings Removal: Is It a Dangerous Procedure?

Amalgams have served fixative purposes for tooth cavities since over a century ago. Mercury being a major compound of the mixture, has been traced to several medical conditions. When you have a dental amalgam in your mouth, it poses toxic effects on your entire body. And to improve your health, you’ll  need a certified dentist campsie for its removal.

One might think the potential health risk is enough to abolish this method across global dental practices. But in the U.S, dentists widely use mercury fillings as primary care for cavities. In their defense, there is no study-based evidence supporting the claim. On the other hand, most European countries have banned their use for children below 15 and pregnant or nursing women.

Some of the linked health problems include dementia, Alzheimer, brain damage, tremors, allergies, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, etc. In a few follow-up cases, patients’ complaints subside after fillings extraction.

How To Know When to Remove Your Mercury Fillings

Your dentist is best to advise you in this regard. Usually, they examine if you have complications from mercury vapor exposure. This is common when they routinely take it out and put it back in. So long you aren’t showing any related health symptoms, it’s wise to keep it in.

Some other factors that influence a dentist’s decision in this sense are:

• Patient’s age.
• Incompatible lifestyles.
• Duration of filling since insertion.
• Bruxism or teeth grinding.
• Damages to the filling.
• Amount of mercury in the blood.

Is The Removal Process Dangerous?

Dentists frequently perform the procedure of amalgam filling removal. But due to differing training and experience levels, there could be minor risks. For example, there are generally greater chances of high exposure to mercury during removal. A well-trained practitioner will rather avert this by following stipulated safety regulations.

In addition, some filling options might have some length of post-op sensitivity. It could span days or weeks. Occasionally, the pain could double, leaving no other alternative than treating the affected tooth's root canal.

The Mercury Filling Removal Process

Here is the step-by-step method to having an amalgam filling removed.

1. The room’s air is filtered using an advanced filtration system.
2. Patient is given protective coverings and chlorella (activated charcoal) to rid all signs of mercury.
3. A saliva ejector placed beneath the dental dam lessens mercury exposure.
4. To protect the patient’s mouth, a non-latex dental dam encloses the oral cavity.
5. Water is gushed at the filling to reduce heat capable of diffusing mercury during removal.
6. Mercury discharges are collected via a high-speed evacuation device.
7. The amalgam filling is cut into chunks with a carbide drill for easy extraction.
8. After the removal is complete, the dentist rigorously flushes the patient's mouth with water.
9. This marks the end of the procedure as dental personnel carefully dispose of coverings and adhere to other protective protocols.
10. Following removal is detoxification. And based on each patient, a dentist recommends appropriate diets and supplement intakes to aid recovery.

If your amalgam filling is old, it’s likely corroded, cracked, or excessively damaged. Visit your dentist as soon as possible to confirm.