Amalgam is a dental filling used to fill the cavities after removing caries from the teeth.

It has been used since the 19 century and still is very popular in dental practice; it’s also called mercury filling or Silver filling.

What is Amalgam?

Amalgams fillings are made of a mixture containing approximately 45-50% mercury and -30% silver the rest ratio contains zinc copper and tin, the mercury in this mixture serves as a binder, thus producing a very convenient and easy way to use. The formula hasn’t change a lot since.

Mercury (Hg): Naturally accruing heavy metal, it’s highly toxic considered the 5^th most poisonous non radioactive metal on earth. According to the world health (WHO) association around 80% of the inhaled mercury vapor is absorbed by blood through lungs. It may cause harmful effects on Nervous, digestion, respiratory, immune systems and to the lungs and the kidneys.

In 1991, the WHO confirmed that mercury contained in dental amalgam is the greatest source of mercury vapor in non-industrial settings. Mercury is released in the dental office when placing, polishing, and removing the amalgam fillings, after having an amalgam in your mouth the output can be increased by the number of fillings you have and by other activities like chewing, teeth grinding and consumption of hot foods and liquids.

Headaches, allergies, cardiovascular conditions, autoimmune disorders, neurological and mood disorders, and other chronic diseases are related to heavy metal toxicity and inhalation of mercury vapor inhalation.

During amalgam removal, in our clinic at Kind Care Medical Center, we follow a strict protocol called Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART).

Before undergoing the removal of the amalgam the patient should be seen by our naturopath for detoxification.

Safe Amalgam Removal Protocol is detailed below:

• We give the patient a drink of activated charcoal or chlorella before and after the procedure.
• The patient wears an oxygen mask, eye-protective glasses, a disposable gown nitrile gloves, and a bib.
•  Rubber dam to isolate the teeth with amalgam fillings and low volume suction under it.
• High volume suction aspirator over the rubber dam.
• Air vacuum during the removal.
• The technique to remove the amalgam is to cut it into small chunks and to keep it cool to make it fast to minimize the time of exposure.
• Good Air ventilation in the Room.
• At the end, we clean the patient mouth and remove the gloves, eye and skin protection.
• Disinfect the tooth and prepare it for the restoration.