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Safe Mercury Removal

Dr. Kerbs has not placed a mercury amalgam filling since 1989. Chances are, your first cavity was filled with a dark-silver amalgam. You might have multiple fillings, and you might wish you could change them for something less conspicuous. There are several drawbacks to having amalgam or silver fillings:

 

Amalgam restorations require more tooth structure removal than is necessary. When more tooth structure is removed, it leaves the remaining tooth structure weak, sometimes resulting in cracks or breaking off around the silver filling. Replacing amalgam with a tooth-colored filling can restore up to 90% of the tooth's original strength. That’s because tooth-colored fillings are bonded or fused to the tooth, unlike silver fillings, which are not bonded or fused to the tooth, leaving a gap between tooth and filling. This allows bacteria to enter and grow under the filling, which leads to decay. 

 

Amalgam corrodes or rusts over time, which causes internal stress and encourages cracking of already weakened tooth structure. Silver fillings also oxidize, turning black and permanently discoloring teeth over time.

 

The mercury in silver fillings is a known heavy-metal toxin. OSHA and California laws require dental offices using mercury to post warnings and store the toxic materials in a biohazard container. Mercury is so toxic that, in large doses, it can cause brain damage, kidney malfunction, memory loss and depression. There are the low levels of mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings over time. Dental researchers still do not know the cumulative effect of low doses on your body over a longer period of time.

 

For safe removal of mercury fillings, we take the utmost precautions and are IAOMT SMART Certified. 

 

  • Vinyl dam isolation (to isolate the treatment area from the oral environment)

  • Dent Air Vac to evacuate all toxic fumes

  • High-speed evacuation

  • Oxygen nasal masks

  • Room air filtration

  • Ozonated distilled water for irrigation and cooling

  • Full patient draping to cover the entire body

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