Though the past couple years have been rough going, they’ve included some great developments, as well. For one, the FDA finally acknowledged that dental amalgam - the mercury alloy used to make “silver” fillings - is NOT, in fact, safe for everyone. They now say roughly two-thirds of the US population should avoid them due to the risks they pose to human health.

Since then, the two major dental supply companies here in the US have chosen to stop making and marketing amalgam. 

Meantime, an amendment to the Minamata Convention - a global treaty to reduce mercury pollution - was recently accepted, requiring nations to discourage the use of mercury amalgam in children under the age of 15 and in pregnant and nursing mothers.

Fortunately, it’s something we’ve practiced in our office for many years. After all, mercury is a neurotoxin, dangerous to the brain, and it’s off-gassed with every bite and swallow. Once that vapor is inhaled, it's a quick trip from the lungs into the bloodstream and from there to organs that have a special affinity for attracting heavy metals, particularly the kidneys and brain. 

“Mercury-Free” Is Not Enough

When people learn about the health hazards posed by dental amalgam, they naturally favor healthier - not to mention more aesthetic - alternatives. This consumer demand has inspired more dentists to quit the material even before the changes of the past couple years. 

But mercury-free isn’t mercury-SAFE, and safety is paramount when it comes to removing old amalgams, whether that removal is due to wear or breakage, or because a patient chooses it for health reasons. 

Such exposure could make a healthy person sick and a chronically ill person even sicker. Instead of solving the problem, you’ve created a worse one.

Special precautions MUST be taken when removing mercury amalgam, to protect the health of patients, dental workers, and our planet. 

Our Doctors are Certified in Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal 

The gold standard for safe mercury removal is SMART, which stands for “Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique.” This science-based protocol was developed by the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology, a professional association devoted to biocompatible, biological dentistry. 

While any dentist can follow the IAOMT’s strict guidelines, the only assurance of having your amalgams removed safely is by choosing a dentist who is SMART-certified. 

At the Holistic Dental Center of New Jersey, all our dentists are SMART-certified practitioners.  

About the Holistic Dental Center of NJ

For over two decades the Holistic Dental Center has provided exceptional biological dentistry with surgical expertise in a friendly, home-like environment. To learn more about mercury amalgam filling removal give us a call at 908-206-7848 or visit www.holisticdentalcenternj.com