Amalgam Removal And Holistic Dentistry

Holistic Dentist Amalgam Filling Removal Brisbane

At Evolve Dental Healing Brisbane Holistic dentist, we provide caring, high-quality holistic dentistry and safe amalgam removal in a relaxed, fun and friendly environment.

We focus on the physical effects of dental health on the body and vice versa but also understand that for many patients having dental treatment brings up numerous emotional issues and stresses. We are sensitive to the needs of the individual and incorporate a system of health care leading towards the attainment of physical, chemical and emotional aspects of health.

By looking at the whole person; which includes physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values; it is our aim to educate and encourage responsibility for personal efforts to achieve balance and wellbeing.

What is holistic dentistry?

Holistic dentistry includes mainstream dentistry in conjunction with a focus on diet and nutrition, the use of supplements where appropriate along with techniques to improve emotional and energetic wellbeing.

Quality dental care is provided utilising aesthetic composite resin or porcelain fillings and crowns whilst aiming to safely minimise exposure to mercury and heavy metals during the removal of existing amalgam or metal restorations. Rubber dam, air filtration with mercury removal system and high vacuum suction are used as a standard during amalgam removal to ensure contact with and inhalation of mercury vapour is greatly reduced.

All areas of conventional restorative and preventative dentistry are offered; except amalgam or metallic restorations are not used.

We are an amalgam-free dental practice, as we believe that dental amalgam is not biocompatible and therefore unsuitable for use in today’s dentistry.

Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam is a mixture of silver and tin plus other metals mixed with 50% mercury. Once combined as amalgam the mercury is supposedly bound within the filling material. However, research shows that the mercury escapes and can accumulate in your system.

Mercury is known to be an extremely toxic heavy metal and can reduce kidney, liver and thyroid function, be related to depression and mood swings, can suppress the immune system and is implicated in many nervous system disorders just to mention a few of the health implications. See Amalgam Why We Choose Not To Use It.

Please note we are not claiming that dental amalgam makes you sick however there is enough scientific evidence to link mercury exposure to reduced health and that the link between mercury vapour release from amalgam fillings is thus heavily implicated. Many of the patients who seek amalgam removal treatment with Evolve Dental Healing Brisbane Holistic Dentist do so due to medical reasons and health concerns.

It is our recommendation that: a) patients avoid having further amalgam fillings placed as there are many other filling materials available that are equally durable making the need to use amalgam obsolete. and b) if amalgam needs to be removed, for example, because there is decay or a problem with the filling, that it is done following our safe amalgam removal guidelines.

Amalgam Removal Protocol

Whenever an amalgam filling is drilled or replaced mercury vapour is released which without special measures you would normally inhale and absorb into your body.

The amalgam turns into fragments and a sludge that splatters over the tissues of your mouth. These tissues are highly absorbent and will take up mercury from the sludge; plus it is very easy for you to swallow and ingest the amalgam fragments.

In order to minimize your exposure to the mercury vapour, all amalgams are replaced following strict protocol that involves the use of rubber dam and air filtration with IQAir dental air mercury filtration and flex vac device.

A rubber dam is a sheet of rubber which is stretched around the teeth being treated. Holes are punched which allow only the teeth to be worked on to be exposed. It acts as a physical barrier that prevents you from inhaling mercury vapour through your mouth. Rubber dam also acts as a shield stopping amalgam particles, water and dental decay contacting your mouth tissues thus preventing ingestion and absorption of particles.

It is an incredibly simple way to prevent either inhalation of vapour or ingestion of amalgam particles. The use of a rubber dam is one of the most important parts of the amalgam removal protocol. It also allows for more rapid removal of amalgam. Most patients feel more comfortable with rubber dam as they do not end up with a mouth full of amalgam particles and water.

Air Filtration involves the use of a filtration machine with flexible vacuum arm or suction duct which captures the aerosol and vapours from the drilling process.

At Evolve Dental healing by using the Dental Hg FlexVac machine which is a mobile air cleaning system with a flexible suction duct designed to capture drill aerosols, abrasion powder and mercury vapours during dental procedures, we can greatly minimise exposure to mercury vapour. The flexible suction duct is typically placed on the patient’s chest, below the chin from where it directly captures drill aerosols and mercury vapours before they can spread and be inhaled by the patient or members of the dental team.

The best way to prevent inhalation of mercury and amalgam particles is to have the air flow directed away from the patient and use high volume suction in the mouth with a rubber dam applied to the teeth to be worked on.

Special burs: The dental drill uses a variety of tips for differing purposes. Diamond burs grind the tooth. They are smoother and take longer to cut than tungsten carbide burs. They will, therefore, produce far greater levels of mercury when drilling. It is essential to use carbide burs which shatter the amalgam into large lumps when drilling. We always use tungsten carbide burs when removing amalgam for exactly this reason.

Water: It has been demonstrated numerous times that massive water flows onto the tip of the cutting bur is essential to reduce the level of mercury vapour created in the cutting process. All water used in the Evolve Dental Healing surgery is demineralised and filtered.

Air Filtration and Extractors: Each surgery and room within the practice is equipped with air filtration and high volume extractor fans that vent the air out from the practice quickly thus minimising inhalation and skin contact with the mercury vapour that may otherwise linger in the surgery.

Supplements such as Vitamin C, Magnesium, Zinc and B Vitamins etc may be recommended in order to support your immune function and detoxification systems during extensive amalgam removal treatments.

Environmental Dentistry We are pleased to announce that we have a new amalgam separator fitted by CMA Eco-cycle. This means that we now capture 99.99% of our amalgam waste instead of it going into the water supply. Without an amalgam separator, the sludge and fine particles from drilled out amalgam go into the suction the out into the water supply polluting it with silver, tin, copper and MERCURY. Our practice is not only mercury free (as in we do not use amalgam) but we are also mercury SAFE.

Practitioner Network

We have over the years developed a network of doctors and practitioners from a broad range of modalities who share our philosophy and approach to health so that we can offer you more than dental treatment alone and provide you with the care and support that you may need.