Patients may request their mercury amalgam dental fillings (“silver fillings”) be removed, either because of decay or cracking of the teeth or due to heavy metal toxicity issues. Patients with mercury amalgam fillings have constant mercury vapor being released into their mouth from the “silver fillings”—mercury vapor which can be inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the tissues in the mouth.

What are the symptoms of mercury exposure?

Symptoms of mercury toxicity can be generalized or specific. General symptoms of fatigue, chronic sickness and colds, poor memory or mood swings are not uncommon. Specific symptoms such as tremors or shaking, food allergies, thyroid, kidney or bladder problems, hair loss and skin rashes may appear. Cardiac effects such as arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies also are noticed. Stomach and intestinal disorders appear along with leaky gut syndrome or Crohn’s disease. Infertility issues are reported frequently. Chronic long-term mercury exposure has been linked to Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s diseases. Children show mercury toxicity effects much quicker than adults since their lower body weight allows a lower amount of mercury to cause problems. Autism Spectrum Disorders, neuropsychological effects, and motor control effects are observed, often following injections of vaccines containing thimerasol (a mercury based preservative) or after a mercury filling is placed in a cavity by a dentist.

Why do some people get ill from mercury vapor and some show no signs of health problems?

The answer is in our genes. Like most attacks on our bodies, how well we fight these insults depends on our genetic makeup. In the case of mercury exposure, people with certain genetic coding—allowing them to produce specific proteins and enzymes—can detoxify mercury and excrete it more efficiently from their bodies. Those people without this enhanced capability—for example, those without as much cysteine in their system—retain more mercury. Although mercury is stored mostly in body fats, it gradually invades all tissues of the body and eventually can cause many types of disruption to normal body functions.

Can I tell if I excrete mercury efficiently?

At this time there is no definitive test to determine how well one can eliminate mercury (or any toxic substance) from their body. There are only indirect methods of evaluating how efficient a person’s detoxifying and excreting systems are. We must treat ALL patients as if they excrete toxic substances poorly and protect everyone the same way. This is no different then the concept of universal precautions in surgical procedures. ALL patients are assumed to have a contagious disease, therefore precautions are taken on EVERYONE who is treated. This protects patients, doctors and staff from possible exposure to infections and diseases.

My dentist wants to remove my mercury fillings and replace them with white ones. Is that safe?

Absolutely not without proper precautions ! Replacing mercury fillings is a good idea, however simply drilling out the old mercury fillings and placing bonded white resin or porcelain fillings is not a good—or safe—option. The concentration of mercury vapor released into the mouth and surroundings during the drilling procedure can be 1000 times higher than the mercury vapor level at rest. Consequently, basic precautions must be taken to protect the patient, the dentist, and his staff from exposure to toxic vapors.  That is the essence of BIOSAFEDENTISTRY.

Does taking basic precautions fully protect me from additional exposure to mercury?

Using basic precautions, some mercury particles and mercury vapor can be captured while removing the amalgam fillings. However, in the mouth a small amount of mercury vapor can be inhaled and mercury can be absorbed through the gums (just like it can be absorbed through your skin) even with the best mercury capture techniques. You must PROTECT YOURSELF WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS TO HELP YOUR BODY EXCRETE THIS ABSORBED MERCURY. (see “How Can the Patient Protect Themselves From Mercury Toxicity”)

What precautions does the dentist take to protect against mercury exposure while removing a mercury dental filling?

Following strict guidelines developed by Dr. Robbins, dentists and toxicologists is essential for mercury removal. As a fellow of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), Dr. Robbins follows recommended safety procedures and has added additional safeguards of his own design based on his patients and research. See:

http://www.thetoxicdentaloffice.com

(Protocols are listed in Dr. Robbins book)

http://www.iaomt.org/documents/Safe Removal of Amalgam Fillings1.pdf

HOW CAN THE PATIENT PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM MERCURY TOXICITY?

BIOSAFEDENTISTRY goes beyond basic biologic dentistry by protecting the patient in many ways designed to maintain and help improve their overall body health.  Our universal protocol during mercury filling removal helps prevent most of the mercury vapor from being absorbed by the patient. However some mercury will be inhaled or absorbed through the skin or mucosa during the procedure. To help the patient excrete this excess toxic mercury before it is absorbed into body tissues, we suggest that patients take specific supplements and vitamins to support their health. Our healthy patients will usually be taking combinations of supplements such as:

1. Vitamin C High Potency Buffered Powder (levo-ascorbic acid formulation)
   Most Vitamin C tablets do not provide a high dose of reduced vitamin C and can cause acid indigestion or bloating. The buffered powder form has no such gastrointestinal side effects. It is important that patients take the levo-form of vitamin C (instead of the dexo-form) since this form is better utilized by the patient’s body systems and causes less stomach motility and diarrhea.
2. Alpha-Lipoic Acid Capsules
3. Reduced Glutathione Capsules
4. Selenium Capsules
5. Reduced Glutathione Sublingual Lozenges or Transdermal Gel
6. B12/Folate Sublingual Tablets
7. ProTect Pak A and B (available www.biosafedentistry.com), developed by Dr. Robbins for easy ingestion of the basic combination of supplements.

Vitamin C is started 1 week before amalgam removal and taken daily, as instructed, until after all the mercury dental fillings are removed.  Supplements 2,3,4 are taken for five days at the time of mercury removal.
Supplement 5 (reduced glutathione sublingual lozenges or gel) is added for those cases where the patient is ill or debilitated from poor health or has a high body burden of mercury. The lozenges are taken the day before, the day of, and the day after each removal procedure (as prescribed by Dr. Robbins). 

The fifth supplement (Protect Pak A and B) developed by Dr. Robbins, contains several supplements, to be taken in a specific order during the time the fillings are removed. This protocol can detoxify and capture metals before they enter your cellular structure, by daily use, at home, over a few months if necessary.  For more information or to order any of these supplements from your home go to:

www.biosafedentistry.com

The above recommendation are not designed to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease of disorder.  We recommend consultation with an appropriate doctor for individual medical care.

Read Dr. Robbins Articles on the National Autism website:
http://www.autism.com/ari/dental.htm