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Mercury Free Fillings

Why should you choose Mercury Free fillings?

The time honored and lowly “silver” filling is a toxic time bomb. Our amalgam removal process includes the following:

  • Use of a dental dam for your protection. Furthermore, this results in a much more durable restoration. The moisture in the mouth inhibits bonding of the materials resulting in a weaker situation.
  • Additionally, we use a negative ion generator to help remove, from the operatory environment, ionic mercury that is liberated from the fillings during the removal process. For large amalgam removal treatments or for those individuals who are known to be Mercury toxic, we fully gown them and place a head bonnet for additional protection.
  • Oxygen is used to give an alternative air source during the removal process.
  • Pre-treatment and Post-treatment rinse with homeopathic mercury chelator.
  • Use of additional chelator for placement on the rubber dam for point of source capture.
  • Ozone

With so much to say, where does one start? Perhaps with a little history. In the mid 1800’s the Cracour brothers, dentists from France came to America with a new “filling” material for teeth. It was composed of approximately 50% Mercury, 35% silver, 15% tin and zinc. They came on the scene and found favor with many of the dentists of the time. But some dentists opposed them on the grounds that Mercury should not be used in the body at all! These dentists tried to enforce this by having the members of the National Dental Association sign a pledge that they would not use this vile new mercury filling material for teeth. Their numbers were not sufficient however and the adherents to the “new material” won out. They banded together and formed what today is known as the American Dental Association. So it is out of this that the political structure of American dentistry and government exist today.

With so much to say, where does one start? Perhaps with a little history. In the mid 1800’s the Cracour brothers, dentists from France came to America with a new “filling” material for teeth. It was composed of approximately 50% Mercury, 35% silver, 15% tin and zinc. They came on the scene and found favor with many of the dentists of the time. But some dentists opposed them on the grounds that Mercury should not be used in the body at all! These dentists tried to enforce this by having the members of the National Dental Association sign a pledge that they would not use this vile new mercury filling material for teeth. Their numbers were not sufficient however and the adherents to the “new material” won out. They banded together and formed what today is known as the American Dental Association. So it is out of this that the political structure of American dentistry and government exist today.

Up until recently the American Dental Association owned several patents on the formulation for the mercury amalgam filling components.

Silver / Mercury fillings are not FDA approved

Did you know that the mercury fillings placed in the mouth are not even FDA certified? That’s right! It’s not even certified by themselves (the ADA). It’s hard to imagine.

Due to a technicality, the Dental Association has gotten around the approval process by saying that since the dentist is the final manufacturer of the material, taking place just prior to placement in the tooth of a patient. The dentist is the responsible party for any problems that arise. It seems strange to me that they certify all of the other admixed products used in a dental office, mixed by the dentist at the time of use, but not the mercury. Go figure.

Mercury is one of the most neurotoxic elements on the planet. There is no safe level for the body. This means that it is harmful at all doses. Comforting thought isn’t it? The profession for years has taught us that the mercury is bound up in the filling and it does not leak out. Perhaps with the science of the day when it was first used that statement could stand because there was no way to refute it. Today however, it has been conclusively shown that Mercury leaks out of the filling over time from the moment it is inserted! And where does it go? Well, into your kidneys, brain, gut, and more.

metal fillings diagram

Aside from the overt bodily damage it isn’t that great of a filling material. In freshman dental materials class, we learn that silver fillings expand three dimensionally over time. Thus it is said to be self-sealing. There are two sides to every coin aren’t there? The flip side to this is while it is doing its sealing by enlarging inside the tooth it is also creating some very great forces on the internal aspect of the tooth. So depending on the size of the filling, you have implanted a “crown seed”. That is when you have a larger filling present, there will almost always follow a crown in the future. The tooth will fracture at its weakest area and that is located where we were taught to put in “retention” to help hold the filling. This was really an undermining of the tooth cusp to lock the filling in. See the following diagrams.

What else is up with metal / amalgam fillings in your mouth?

How about a little extra energy? Did you ever think of your mouth as a little power plant? By definition a battery is formed when there are two or more dissimilar metals are in the presence of an electrolyte. In ones mouth, it is not uncommon to find up to a dozen (12) different metals present. Mercury fillings have 5 elements present, some crowns also have 3-5, partial denture frameworks have at least 3, and a few more can also be found. You can see in the picture here there is a flow of energy being generated by the dissimilar metals present.

These can be measured and are used as an adjunct in determining the sequence of removal of the fillings. Research by Dr. Hal Huggins, a retired dentist from Colorado, has shown that it is more healthful or body friendly to remove the highest electronegative fillings first.

A negative electrical current recording means the opposite deep within the tissues. That is positive. This means that ions of copper, mercury, tin, zinc and silver are continually being released from the filling and are being driven into the body tissues; including the nerves, bone, blood and lymph producing a potentially toxic effect on cells. This affects local and distant organs and tissues.

There is a phenomenon known as an amalgam tattoo.  The picture below on the left shows this phenomenon at work.  In this picture you can plainly see the purple like spots on the gum tissue above the front tooth.  These are commonly, but not exclusively, found in tissue adjacent to a crowned tooth. Their origin is simple; the metallic ions are carried out of the silver containing mercury filling via a galvanic current and plated out into the tissue just as inexpensive jewelry is plated with gold or silver to make look nicer.

amalgam tattoo

BEFORE & AFTER 
Unsightly mercury amalgam tattoo. The tattoo was removed and a new prosthesis was placed.

Options and treatments for Mercury Free fillings

Direct Filling Materials or Resin Bonded Ceramics
These are, as the name implies, a ceramic filler held together in a resinous base. These are technique sensitive and not desirable in all applications. After the caries (decay) has been removed from the tooth, the exposed surface is conditioned with a combination solution of dilute phosphoric acid etchant and bonding agent. This causes the tooth to become acceptable to the resin. The material is cured and followed by the application(s) of the “filling” material. Depending on the depth of the cavity, one or more applications might need to be placed. After each layer a bright LED light is directed to the material to cure it. After the last layer has been applied, the surface is formed as needed, a coating is applied, to assure a complete cure of the surface, and the curing light is applied again. When those steps are completed the bite is checked and adjusted as necessary.

Indirect Dental Restorations
In circumstances where a direct restoration is not suitable; some of these reasons are: strength; cosmetics; durability; size of repair; location (access); preference. Indirect restorations, made in a laboratory under more ideal conditions are used. These usually provide greater durability and a much higher level of fit. During the preparation of either of these types, a laser or ozone may be  used to sterilize the exposed cavity walls. There is an added benefit of tooth desensitization also.

Some types of Indirect Restorations are:

  • Inlay-fits completely within the tooth
  • Onlay- restores the cusps of the tooth leaving more natural tooth (Millennium Dental prefers restoration where able)
  • Crown- restores the cusps but resides at or below the gum line and can be a source of chronic irritation to the gums.
  • Lumineer- A trademarked brand of no or minimally invasive veneer
  • Veneer- a more generic term that describes usually a relatively thin ceramic piece made to overlay the front surface of a tooth leaving most of the solid tooth intact.

Our practice is geared as a “non-metal” practice. The above examples are primarily ceramic based however, at times a 98% gold alloy is used for the treatment when needed.

We have a book available at the office for your further education, Solving the Puzzle of Mystery Syndromes by Mary Davis. The book is a compilation of real life stories of victims of mercury toxicity overload.

For information from the American Dental Association about Mercury Fillings go to www.ada.org.

Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any further questions or concerns. You can find our contact information here.

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