What is Mercury-Safe Dentistry?
At Greenbelt Dental Health in Austin, Texas, our practice is equipped to ensure that we can provide mercury-free and mercury-safe dentistry to all our patients. Our office has been providing Mercury Safe Dentistry for over 20 years. In the past, and still today, many dentists use materials that are not safe for the human body. That includes mercury and other toxic materials used in dentistry. Not only are amalgam fillings toxic, but they structurally compromise teeth, causing fractures that lead to more root canals and extractions than are necessary. A special process of removing and replacing these fillings was designed by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology who created the SMART system. SMART is an acronym for Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique. That is a particular method and technique used to safely remove silver amalgam fillings from the smile and replace them with other more desirable materials such as composite resin or porcelain. Mercury Safe dentistry is defined by an office who does not place amalgam fillings and removes them safely.
Mercury Safe Office at Greenbelt Dental Health
Mercury fillings are not placed by dentists today. Watch this video as Dr. Christopher Naranjo of Greenbelt Dental Health talks about what it means to be a mercury-safe office.
Why Do I Need SMART Silver Amalgam Removal?
The SMART technique is important because silver amalgam fillings are made of approximately 50% mercury. We do not use mercury in thermometers anymore, nor in medicine anymore (in the form of mercurochrome), so why do people continue to use it in dentistry? It has also shown to be detrimental to the environment as waste. When mercury is heated or drilled, it can release toxins. Heating can occur just by chewing, causing mercury fillings to release toxins into the body. Our team follows specific protocols designed by the IAOMT to remove mercury fillings to ensure minimal exposure to patients and staff in the treatment room. Dental amalgam removal must be done in a certain way to ensure safety while replacing it with the safest dental filling materials—and more aesthetic! One of the main materials we use to replace dental amalgam fillings and for regular fillings is a ceramic based restorative material that is of the highest quality and is extremely biocompatible compared to other composite resin fillings.
Mercury Detoxification
Safely removing mercury amalgam fillings puts a stop to ongoing mercury exposure from the fillings, but further steps must be taken to remove residual mercury from your body. We can provide guidance on how to help your body eliminate mercury in a process called mercury detoxification. These are a few of the natural supplements, products and practices that we may recommend for mercury detoxification:
- Taking chlorella – Chorella has been shown to eliminate mercury from the gastrointestinal tract, muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, bone, and skin and 2-5 grams can be taken daily.
- Eating fiber – Adopting and maintaining a fibrous diet can help in mercury elimination.
- Eating foods containing sulphur – These include garlic, cilantro, and broccoli.
- Taking supplements – Supplements we may recommend include Taurine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, N-acetyl cysteine, glutathione, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.
- Following helpful practices – These include sweating, exercise, Infrared Sauna, Lymphatic Massage, and Clay Baths.