Mercury Fillings and Human Health
Did you know that mercury fillings and human health can be linked? Brisbane holistic dentist Dr Rachel Hall explains why amalgam filling removal needs to be done safely via safe amalgam removal protocols and why mercury in your fillings can impact your health.
All dental amalgam mercury fillings contain about 50% mercury and can pose a danger to human health.
Amalgam Fillings, Mercury and Your Health
All silver-coloured fillings are dental amalgam fillings, and each of these fillings is approximately 50% mercury. Although a number of other countries have banned or limited their use, dental mercury amalgams are still being used in many regions of the world, including in Australia.
Mercury is continuously emitted from dental amalgam fillings, and it is absorbed and retained in the body, particularly in the brain, kidney, liver, lung, and gastrointestinal tract.
The output of mercury can be intensified by the number of fillings and other activities, such as chewing, teeth-grinding, and the consumption of hot liquids.
Mercury is also known to be released during the placement, replacement, and removal of dental mercury amalgam fillings.
Human Health Risks Linked to Mercury Amalgam Fillings
Dental mercury and its vapour have been scientifically linked to a number of health risks that demonstrate the danger of dental amalgam mercury fillings.
Individual response to mercury varies, and some of the factors known to potentially impact those exposed to mercury include their allergies, diet, gender, genetic predispositions, the number of amalgam fillings in the mouth, and concurrent or previous exposures to other toxic chemicals such as lead etc.
Scientific studies have identified dental mercury as a potentially causational or exacerbating factor in the conditions included in this table:
Pregnant women and children are known to be susceptible populations to the danger of mercury from amalgam fillings, and researchers have also demonstrated danger to dentists and dental personnel who routinely work with dental amalgam mercury fillings.
At-Risk Groups to Mercury Exposure from Dental Amalgam
It has been widely known and advised that the following groups avoid getting dental amalgam whenever possible and appropriate:
- pregnant women and their developing foetuses
- women who are planning to become pregnant
- nursing women and their newborns and infants
- children, especially those younger than six years of age
- people with pre-existing neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease
- people with impaired kidney function
- people with known heightened sensitivity (allergy) to mercury or other components of dental amalgam
Steps to Reduce Dental Amalgam Danger
Holistic and mercury-free dentists no longer place amalgam fillings and use available alternatives. Mercury-safe dentists like Dr Rachel of Evolve Dentist Brisbane apply special techniques to remove existing amalgam fillings.
These techniques are known as SMART, developed by IAOMT which has rigorous recommendations for removing existing dental mercury amalgam fillings to assist in mitigating the potential danger of mercury exposure to patients, dental professionals, dental students, office staff, and others.
The Evolve Dental Healing team is certified and highly trained in providing these SMART recommendations and protocols to ensure your safety during the amalgam removal process.
Amalgam Removal Dentist Brisbane
Dr Rachel Hall has 30 years of experience as a general dentist and has provided safe amalgam removal at her Brisbane dentist office for over 20 years.
If you are looking for a dentist you can trust to take the best care of you and your teeth call us today at 07 3720 1811 or contact us online HERE.
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Dr. Rachel Hall
Rachel is the founder and principal dentist at Evolve Dental Healing with over 30 years experience, practising holistically since 2001. Not your typical dentist, Rachel is a passionate opinion leader, challenging convention to empower people to make better dental and health choices, helping thousands to have healthy natural smiles. A respected writer and presenter on holistic dentistry, health and wellness it is Rachel’s mission to revolutionise the way people look at their dental health.
