How can I get my metal fillings removed safely?
The system our dentists abroad follow when removing mercury amalgam fillings is designed to minimize your exposure to mercury vapor and particles.
Safe Amalgam Filling Removal:
- We keep the fillings cool during removal. Drilling out an amalgam filling generates a tremendous amount of heat, which causes a dramatic increase in the release of mercury, both as a vapor and in amalgam particles, during the entire removal process. Cooling the filling with water and air while drilling dramatically reduces the amount of mercury vapor the filling releases. This involves less drilling, because the dentist only drills enough to cut the filling into chunks, which can then be easily removed by a hand instrument or suction.
- We use a high-volume vacuum evacuator that helps capture the mercury vapor and particles together with a continuous flow of air and water.
- We let lots of fresh air into the surgery which is more important for the dentist and assistant than the average patient.
- We use a rubber dam. A rubber dam isolates the tooth or teeth being worked on. This reduces the amount of mercury vapor inhaled through the mouth and makes it easier to dispose of the filling material and prevent amalgam particles from being swallowed. As long as the patient breathes through the nose, little if any mercury vapor will pass through the rubber dam.
- Metal fillings are usually then replaced with white fillings, inlays / onlays or possibly a crown in the decay is very severe.
Here you can read more about having white fillings abroad.
If you have any more questions about metal filling removal, please feel free to ask in the comments box below.