Chronic Mercury Poisoning, Mercury Detoxification & Mercury Amalgam Fillings

Dedicated to Educating the Public about the Health Hazards
of Amalgam Filling, Chronic Mercury Poisoning, Mercury
Detoxification and the Relationship of Oral to Overall Health!

Chronic Mercury Poisoning& Mercury Detoxification

Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings and More: Questions and Answers

This is the page where I will answer questions relating to mercury amalgam fillings, chronic mercury poisoning, mercury detoxification, and their relationship to oral and overall health. I will answer the questions that I feel will have the greatest value to the largest number of people. If space is available I will answer more than one question, especially if they are related. 

I do not have time to respond to every question, either in the Q & A section or personally, but I will read them all. Experience has shown that the answers to a majority of the questions I receive can be found on the website or in my books, The Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings . . . Hazardous to Your Health! (Available April, 2008) and Mercury Detoxification: The Natural Way to Remove Mercury From Your Body.

I suggest that you start by reading these books. Follow that by searching through the menus on the Home Page and reviewing the articles in the Archives. If you can’t find the answers you are looking for, email your question to me by Clicking Here. (Information related to all other oral health issues, such as gum disease and its relationship to overall health, can be found at my preventive dentistry website, www.dentalwellness4u.com.)

Amalgam (Silver) Dental Fillings & Dental Lasers

#QA100, Sept 2004

Question: “Can dental lasers cause mercury to be released from amalgam fillings? A. Kent, Cleveland, OH. 

Answer

This is a great question because more and more dentists are using laser drills in their practices. Dental lasers are relatively new to dentistry, having been introduced in the 1980’s. Today there are many different types of lasers. They are used to treat both soft tissue, such as gums and root canal tissue, and hard tissue, such as enamel and dentin. Laser technology continues to develop new and improved lasers and when used by a skilled dentist, lasers can be a very effective dental instrument. 

I don’t feel it is productive to get into the technical aspects of dental lasers here because no dental laser is designed or used specifically to remove mercury amalgam fillings. Even though the main purpose of dental lasers is to treat gum disease, detect decay, and prepare a tooth for a filling, lasers can and do come in contact with mercury amalgam fillings. Because I am so concerned about any mercury exposure a person may have, I look at every potential source. 

Dental Lasers and Mercury Release: What You Need to Know

Here is what you need to know about dental lasers. All of them will generate heat to varying degrees, and some can actually remove amalgam particles. Very little research has been done regarding the effects of dental lasers on amalgam fillings. But we do know that heating an amalgam filling will increase the release of mercury vapor. We know that all dental lasers heat the surface of any substance they contact. One study did put the two together. It showed that when lasers were directed at amalgam fillings, the release of mercury vapor increased. 

I’m confident that more studies will be done in this area. But until we have more definitive evidence, I feel it is important that you tell your dentist, whether anti- or pro-amalgam, not to direct any laser on your amalgam fillings for any reason. There are other ways to remove amalgam fillings, and I see no reason for putting a laser in contact with them. 

I doubt if many dentists have even considered the effect a laser could have on a mercury amalgam filling. This lack of awareness could mean they inadvertently pass the laser over amalgam fillings. Remember, there is no safe level of mercury. Any amount of mercury the body is exposed to is harmful to it.   

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