Safe Amalgum | Silver Removal
The Dangers of Amalgam & Silver Fillings
We are very serious about the dangers of amalgam fillings and are diligently educating our patients in a variety of methods. The information on our website will provide you with a strong basis of knowledge regarding these “silver” fillings. Take time to listen to Dr. Enlow’s YouTube debut song titled “Tampa Dentist Amalgam Blues” or read our detailed blog titled “Dental Amalgams” on WordPress.
Ever since their introduction in this country in the 1850’s, dental amalgam (silver) fillings have been a source of controversy. The crux of this controversy is centered on the well-documented toxicity of one of the key ingredients of these fillings – mercury.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, one of the most common sources of exposure to mercury for an individual is through the mercury released from their silver fillings in the form of mercury vapor. Mercury vapor is absorbed into the bloodstream and is then quickly distributed to all major organs of the body, especially the kidneys and brain. Though some researchers claim that the amount of mercury released is negligible, others insist that it is substantial and constitutes a level far above what is considered acceptable. What is even more significant is that silver fillings represent a constant exposure until they are removed. See the Video Below this article for a visual demonstration of mercury vapors being released from the dental amalgam on an extracted tooth.
The harmful effects of mercury toxicity are well documented and could play a role in the development of diseases that have come to be viewed by the medical community as chronic conditions for which there are no known causes. These conditions include Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis to name a few. Especially disturbing is a study out of the University of Calgary (see Video Below this article) that describes a mechanism by which low levels of mercury cause degeneration of nerve tissue.
The potential for greatest exposure to mercury exists when the silver fillings are removed. Therefore, we take special precautions to eliminate the possibility of our patients swallowing the remnants or breathing the vapors, which are generated during removal.
Because of the availability of better, non-toxic restorative materials, we do not place amalgam fillings in our office and we now strongly recommend that our patients have their amalgam fillings safely removed and restored with a safe material.