Safe Removal of Amalgam Fillings

Amalgam fillings have been used for over 150 years and are still used today. Amalgam is a dental filling consisting of combined metals, including silver, mercury, tin and copper; these fillings contain 50-55% mercury, one of the most toxic nonradioactive elements on earth.

Keeping You Safe

Since amalgam fillings contain mercury, Dr. Keanna does everything possible to reduce exposure to mercury vapor during amalgam removal. He adheres to the strict protocol of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), including isolating the teeth with a rubber dam, using a high speed suction device to filter mercury vapor and removing the filling in large chunks to reduce to vaporization of mercury.

The Dental Protocol for minimizing mercury exposure to the patient during the filling removal includes:

Isolating the teeth with a rubber dam and/or special suction device (clean-up) to contain the pulverized amalgam and its harmful vapor.
Enabling the patient (and the dental team) to breathe clean air during the removal process. The patient needs to be protected from the mercury vapor, which is generated in high amounts during the drilling. The air around the nose is therefore highly contaminated, so a fresh source of air needs to be imported. A nose mask attached to oxygen or air is used.
Placing a high speed suction devise with charcoal filters (Denti-Vac) in front of the patient’s mouth to filter the mercury vapor and direct all the mercury-laden vapor from the dental removal procedures away from the patient and the dental team.
Performing the filling removal in sections, removing large chunks, and minimizing the pulverization (drilling) of the amalgam and thus reducing the vaporization of the mercury.
Using copious amounts of water to cool the drill and amalgam dust and thus reduce the vaporization of the mercury and remove the mercury in the water.
Placing the high-speed suction next to the filling being removed to remove the water and the suction the vapor.
Placing the saliva ejector under the rubber dam next to the area where the filling is being removed. This is a protection to suction any vapor that goes through the dam and is now on the inside of the mouth. The saliva ejector and the fact that the patient is instructed to breath only from the nose are some of the precautious we recommend to counter this problem.
Carefully removing and disposing the dam after the procedure. The mouth is rinsed with copious amounts of water and all amalgam dust and particles are suctioned out.
Running the high-speed suction that conditions the air during the filling procedures to clean and filter the air.
Wiping off the drills and the air/water syringe to remove any mercury residue.
Covering the patient in a disposable drape to minimize the mercury contamination on their clothes is suggested. Protective eyewear is also suggested. These disposable barriers are removed and disposed as hazardous medical wastes.
Replacing the disposable contaminated suction and saliva ejectors.

Keeping our Staff Safe

We are equally committed to keeping our staff safe during amalgam removal. The high speed drill used during amalgam removal releases considerable mercury vapor and evidence strongly suggests that the dental team is a high risk for health problems from mercury toxicity.

The following are the tools and techniques our office employs to minimize the mercury exposure for the Dental Team:

The Denti-Vac suction is placed as close as possible to the patient’s oral cavity during the amalgam removal. Afterwards the suction is left on during the restorative phase to filter thoroughly the operatory air.
The Dental Team wears gas masks during the removal process to eliminate and potential of breathing the mercury vapor.
The Dental Team wears protective disposable clothing, during the removal. Mercury from the vapor will cling to clothing, which is then worn home to potentially contaminate the dental team’s homes and family.
The high-speed suction is used to suck as much of the mercury vapor from the drill, thus containing the vapor as much as possible at the originating site.
The gloves are removed after the removal procedure and the hand-pieces, instruments and air/water syringes are rinsed and the suction tips are replaced.
The protective disposable gowns are removed after the amalgam removal.
An ionizer is continually utilized to remove the mercury and other heavy metals that have escaped into the dental operatory.
The dental operating rooms can be continually monitored for mercury contamination with a (Jerome) mercury vapor analyzer.

Keeping the Environment Safe

Proper disposal is part of safe removal of amalgam fillings. We are a health-conscious dental practice committed to doing our part to protect the environment. The following is the equipment and protocols we use to prevent mercury contamination of the environment from amalgam removal:

An ISO certified Mercury Waste Water Separator has been installed at the end of our suction lines; thus, the majority of mercury from our dental office is NOT dumped into the sewer lines.

Contact Dr. Keanna for Safe Removal of Amalgam Fillings in Albuquerque

If you have mercury amalgam fillings that you would like removed, contact Dr. Keanna. After thoroughly assessing your oral health and conducting a biocompatibility test to determine the best composite for your unique health makeup, Dr. Keanna will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your treatment.

Call 505-292-8533 to learn more about safe removal of amalgam fillings.