A Plan for the Safe Removal of Mercury Amalgam Fillings
Reducing Mercury Exposure During Dental Treatment
*Dr. McGrath is S.M.A.R.T. (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) certified by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.
When removing mercury amalgam fillings, patient protection is of the utmost importance. The situation may be as routine as replacing an old, broken filling or the replacement of multiple fillings as part of an amalgam removal plan designed for health reasons.
To remove an amalgam filling requires drilling. Drilling (by its nature) produces friction and heat. That heat, in turn, results in some of the mercury from the filling being released as vapor; small particles (mercury dust) are also released.
To manage this vapor and particulate, and to reduce risk, Dr. McGrath follows the Patient Protection During Mercury Amalgam Removal Standards set forth by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.
Physician and advocate for healthy living, Dr. Joseph Mercola is committed to educating the public on the health hazards of mercury based on personal experience. Years ago, when he realized he was mercury poisoned, he had his mercury fillings removed without the benefit of safe removal practices and without an appropriate detox plan. Consequently, he suffered kidney damage. (Heavy metals target many organs and systems including the brain, kidneys, liver, heart, pituitary, and thyroid glands.) Now Dr. Mercola is quick to say that before removing your fillings, you must prepare your body through/for detoxification. Once you are properly prepared, you can schedule to have your mercury fillings removed with a dentist who uses a protocol for the safe removal of heavy metals. Your personalized detox plan is an integral part of this whole process.
*CAUTION: Replacing fillings as they break is NOT a plan for safe removal!
Protocol for the Safe Removal of Mercury Containing Fillings in the Dental Office
- Provide you with an alternative air source
- Use copious amounts of additional cold water spray to minimize mercury vapors
- An Isolite (protective barrier) is placed in your mouth to protect the oral tissues and prevent the inhaling or swallowing of the toxins
- Use additional high volume suctioning device to evacuate extra water and mercury vapor
- Thoroughly rinse mouth immediately after the fillings have been removed
- Ventilate the treatment room to remove vapor and aerosol from the space
Protocol for Developing a Detoxification Plan
Your detox plan needs to be personalized according to your body’s needs. According to Dr. Mercola, there are fast detoxifiers, slow detoxifiers, and even a smaller subset of super-slow detoxifiers. How quickly you detoxify depends on several factors such as your exposure level, genetic makeup, genetic expression, and overall health. Additionally, people who are hypersensitive to metals will have toxic effects at much lower levels of exposure than other people.
- McGrath recommends that you see a health practitioner with experience in designing personalized programs for heavy metal detox
- Ideally, personalized programs include:
- Assessment and testing
- Risk in relation to heavy metals
- Body’s readiness for removal procedures
- Development of a detox plan to be used before, during, and after removal procedures
- Assessment and testing
- Focus on the two part goals for the detoxification process:
- Prepare and protect the body from the mercury that is being removed
- Remove mercury that has previously accumulated in your tissues and organs
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