Safe Amalgam/Mercury Removal
Procedure
Many people are deciding they
want to have their silver amalgam (mercury) fillings removed, but
this can cause a tremendous amount of mercury to be absorbed by
their body and make them ill. To help prevent this, safety
precautions should be used so the person won't swallow or breathe
mercury vapor while the fillings are being drilled out.
Mercury vaporizes at room
temperature. As soon as the dentist touches the filling with a
drill, the temperature soars and the mercury vapor comes pouring
off the fillings. Then when you take a breath it goes right into
your lungs. To prevent this from happening, we take the following
safety precautions:
-
Safety glasses are put over your eyes to
protect them from settling mercury particles and vapor.
-
We have you breathe
pure oxygen through a nasal cannula
(tube). This will minimize your breathing the air
right around your face, which is full of mercury vapor. Your
nose will be covered with a dental mask to help keep the mercury
vapor from going into your nostrils.
-
A
rubber dam will be placed over your mouth.
This is a sheet of rubber that helps keep the mercury from going
down your throat.
-
A
high-powered suction system is used to quickly
remove the mercury vapor.
-
Copious amounts of
cold water will be
constantly squirted on the filling as it's being drilled out, to
keep the temperature down.
Cost of Treatment
(Additional to regular costs for filling replacement)
