Safe Mercury Amalgam Removals Woodland Hills

What You Should Know About Mercury Amalgam Removal

For many years, mercury amalgam was the go-to filling material for dentists treating patients with cavities. These silver-colored fillings were durable and affordable, making them a widely used option for treating tooth decay. Unfortunately, mercury amalgam isn’t the safest thing to put in your mouth, as there is a risk of toxicity. That’s why many patients are opting to have their silver fillings removed and replaced with composite resin. In addition, composite resin blends right in with the shade of the natural tooth, making it an aesthetically pleasing alternative.

Reasons to Consider Mercury Amalgam Removal

Silver amalgam is a blend of materials, including mercury, silver, tin, copper, zinc, and palladium. The reason why mercury—a substance widely known to be highly toxic to human health—is included is because it helps make the compound pliable and easy to mold. Extremely low levels of mercury exposure may not necessarily be harmful to human health. Higher levels can cause everything from anxiety and irritability to memory loss, renal failure, and death. While research is ongoing regarding whether the mercury in dental fillings can be hazardous to human health, some patients have opted to be proactive and get them removed, just in case.

Preparation for Mercury Amalgam Removal

Before you decide to get your silver fillings removed, ask if your dentist adheres to the standards of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and the Huggins Alliance. These standards help ensure your safety during the removal procedure. You can also ask if there’s anything you can do to prepare. Your dentist might recommend taking activated charcoal shortly before your appointment. Activated charcoal binds to toxins, allowing them to be safely expelled from the body. 

If you’re thinking about getting your mercury fillings removed and replaced, you can schedule an appointment at the holistic dentistry practice of Dr. Pearl Zadeh. Dr. Pearl and her staff strictly follow the mercury amalgam removal guidelines of the (IAOMT) and the Huggins Alliance. Call (818) 716-6722 to request an appointment at our full-service dentistry practice in Woodland Hills, CA.