Importance of detoxifying the body while removing amalgams

The Safe Removal of Amalgams: What You Should Know

As the years go by, medical research evolves, and we learn that what we once considered common practice, we come to learn can actually be damaging to the body. This can certainly be said for amalgams, a type of dental filling consisting of mercury. Now, while it isn’t something you should stay awake at night worrying about if you don’t have the means to get your own removed, it is definitely something to consider if you can.

Recent research has shown that mercury in the mouth can lead to increased mercury levels in the brain, blood, urine, muscles and even toenails (source). Mercury in the brain has been linked to illnesses such as dementia (s) and even multiple sclerosis (s). While it’s hard to say whether or not the amount of mercury in a filling is able to cause these illnesses, a fact of mercury is that it is more than capable of lowering the body’s natural antioxidant defences. Put simply, it does this due to certain enzymes preferentially binding to the mercury as opposed to your own, natural metal ions.

Things You Should Know Before Your Appointment

When an amalgam is put in, it has already cooled and bound to the correct medium – rendering it harmless to you, aside from the eventual slow release into tissue we spoke about above. However, during its removal there is a chance that the mercury can be quickly released into your body and have negative effects. There are a few ways you can counter this possibility, and you may find peace of mind in confirming that your dentist uses these methods.

1.      Use of Rubber Dams

A rubber dam is situated around the single tooth that needs to be worked on, and so isolates the area from the rest of your mouth. The use of a rubber dam can significantly decrease the amount of harmful vapour that is inhaled by the patient.

2.      High Flow Oxygen

An alternate source of oxygen also helps to eliminate the likelihood of inhaling the vapour or fumes released from the mercury. In addition, a well-ventilated room is sometimes recommended to ensure extra safety of every person in the room.

3.      Cutting Instead of Drilling

Using a drill during the removal process generates a lot of heat, which has been proven to really increase the amount of mercury being released from the amalgam and makes the vapour dangerous. Your dentist might decide to use a cutting or ‘chunking’ method, or constantly apply water where the area is being drilled to ensure that the mercury stays cool.

What Else Can You Do To Ensure A Safe Experience?

Detoxifying the body before, during and after the amalgam removal process is essential to making sure you’re cleansing yourself of any leftover mercury and making sure no free radicals are sticking to anything they shouldn’t be! As with any nasty and unnatural addition to the body, a detox can clear it out and have you feeling back to a1 in no time. So, what can we do to detox?

•   Vitamin C and NAC– Are two powerful antioxidants to use before and after the removal
•   Bio Trace – Concentrated Mineral Drops  – helps to replace minerals previously absorbed by the mercury
•   Clay  – To help mop up and bind to any left overs
•  Chlorella  – fantastic for removing heavy metals (yup, like mercury!) from the body