You might not know it, but we are all witnessing the end of a nearly 200-year chapter in dentistry: the end of mercury amalgam fillings.
With the European Union’s total ban and the FDA advising against amalgam for more than half the population, the market has fundamentally shifted. Major suppliers have already abandoned it completely. Holdouts like Australia’s SDI have announced plans to phase out their mercury amalgam products.
This isn’t just a simple business decision. It’s the result of mounting scientific evidence and regulatory pressure. It’s the result of new materials that are at least as strong and durable as amalgam – without the heavy metal toxicity. It’s the result of patients demanding better.
For dental patients, this carries important implications, regardless of where you are in your own mercury amalgam journey.
If You’ve Already Chosen Safe Amalgam Removal
If you’ve already had your amalgam fillings safely removed by Dr. Jana or another SMART-certified biological dentist, congratulations! You were way ahead of the curve – just like biological dentists were ahead of the curve. The morphing mercury landscape only validates what you already understood: mercury has no place in modern dentistry.
Whether you chose removal proactively or as part of addressing chronic illness in which mercury toxicity was playing a role, your decision to prioritize removing a known neurotoxin from your mouth looks wiser and wiser every day. You didn’t wait for mainstream dentistry to catch up. You took control of your health.
If You’re Still Thinking About Amalgam Removal
When even those who have profited from amalgam are abandoning it, it sends a clear signal about the material’s future. It’s easier than ever to make the choice to never have another “silver” filling placed.
Whether you have your existing amalgams removed is a choice that’s entirely up to you. If you do decide to have them replaced with biocompatible alternatives, it’s important to know that how they’re removed makes all the difference between protecting your health and potentially increasing your mercury exposure.
The Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique – SMART – represents the gold standard for the procedure. Developed by the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT) and based on scientific research, SMART certification requires training in the rigorous protocols needed to minimize mercury exposure during the removal process.
SMART involves safety measures that go far beyond those of traditional dental practices. These include
- Specialized air filtering to capture mercury vapor and particles.
- Oxygen supplementation for patients.
- Protective barriers and coverings to prevent mercury contamination.
- Proper sectioning of the amalgams to minimize mercury release.
- Amalgam separators to prevent mercury waste from entering the environment.
- Thorough decontamination protocols for the treatment area.
Mercury-Safe Dentistry: More Than Just Removal
Many people think mercury-safe dentistry is only about amalgam removal, but that’s just a part of it. Mercury-safe practices are essential whenever dental work is being done on anyone with amalgam fillings, whether that’s something as simple as a cleaning or as complex as oral surgery.
Amalgams constantly release mercury vapor, especially when disturbed by drilling, polishing, or vibrations from an ultrasonic scaler. Proper precautions are needed here, too. It’s not just for the patient’s safety. It also protects our dental team and anyone who comes into our office. Being mercury-safe is essential to our maintaining a clean, healing environment.
With Dr. Jana’s SMART certification and our commitment to mercury-safe practices, you can be assured that whether you’re seeking amalgam removal or simply need routine dental work, your oral health is in the safest possible hands.
