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Healthy Dentistry: Enlightened Dentists Are Getting the Mercury Out
July 2009
Features
by Dr. Oksana Sawiak, DDS, MAGD, AIAOMT
Dentistry that is based on biologic principles takes the integrity of the oral cavity seriously and uses materials and procedures that are biocompatible, non-toxic and takes the health of the whole body into account.
Many people still do not realize that each silver amalgam filling contains more mercury than a thermometer used to. Mercury is a poison more powerful than lead, cadmium or arsenic. There is no known safe level of mercury.
Today, many dentists use a different type of filling such as composite (white) fillings, which are mercury-free. Though 52 per cent of dentists do not use amalgam fillings any more, silver amalgams are still presented as the dental restorative of choice by the University of Toronto, and still considered safe by the Ontario Dental Association, the Canadian Dental Association and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. In the realm of public health (school dentists), silver amalgams are placed in children’s teeth routinely, and many dental insurance companies still will not cover the cost of a white composite filling in a back tooth.
The University of Toronto and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario are of the opinion that, once placed in the mouth, silver amalgam fillings give off only a negligible amount of mercury vapour, which is not enough to cause any health problems unless a person is allergic to it.
But if it was arsenic instead of mercury being used, how would this sound: “The arsenic being given off is in very minute amounts, therefore it will not harm you unless you are allergic to it.” Does this make sense? Yet mercury is much more toxic than arsenic. It is the most toxic non-radioactive material in the world. Before it is mixed into the amalgam filling, it has to be stored as a hazardous material in the dental office. The material safety sheet that comes with amalgam warns dental personnel that mercury is toxic and should not be handled by pregnant women or those of childbearing age. This is because mercury causes infertility and birth defects.
Once an amalgam filling is removed from the tooth, it has to be stored as bio-hazard waste under water because of the mercury it emits.
Mercury vapour is released from these fillings at room temperature for their entire lifespan, a process which is increased by heat (such as hot coffee), acidity (orange juice) and chewing. This tasteless, odourless, colourless gas is then absorbed into the blood stream and poisons our system. The World Health Organization has stated that amalgam fillings are the main source of mercury toxicity in the body and that it accumulates over time, poisoning our organs, enzyme systems and brain. Under laboratory conditions at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Boyd Haley found that mercury produces brain cell damage identical to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
Of particular concern is the fact that even an extracted tooth which contains amalgam cannot legally be discarded in a landfill site. Yet dentists are taught that amalgam is not harmful when it is in the mouth.
What To Do About Your Fillings
If you are considering pregnancy, have symptoms that may relate to mercury toxicity, or want to prevent future problems, removing the source of the mercury (ie. old dental fillings) makes sense. However, do not jump from the frying pan into the fire. Removal of silver amalgam fillings can and does cause a significant disturbance of the mercury in the fillings, therefore removal needs to be done properly, safely, and appropriately.
This is why a wellness consultant can be helpful in guiding you through the process in the safest way possible. Then, along with your physician, naturopath, nutritionist or health therapist, make sure you are properly detoxified from any accumulations from past and present mercury exposures. Each individual is unique and may require different supplements and detoxification protocols prior, during and after mercury removal.
What Does Safe Removal Entail?
Protocols that are recommended by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IOAMT) are based on science rather than tradition or belief system. Check out the articles on their website (www.iaomt.org) and ask if the dental office you choose uses these.
The office needs to have proper mercury vapour removal technology available, such as Mercury Vapour Ionizers. As with usual protocol in a responsible dental office, patients need to be protected with a rubber dam, draping and an alternate source of air to breathe. There should be copious amounts of water and high power suction used in the drilling of the amalgams. The amalgams should be removed in large chunks to minimize the generation of mercury vapour and amalgam particles. The dentist and staff should be protected with respirators or an alternate source or air.
Working with a wellness coach or other knowledgeable practitioner to help supplement and detoxify before and after this removal process is very helpful, since even safe amalgam removal will disturb and disseminate extra mercury. Also, the language of dentistry can be somewhat confusing. The dental wellness coach can offer support with this language that allows the dentist to provide you with exactly what it is that you require.
If you already have a dental office that is knowledgeable, follows the IAOMT or similar protocol, and you have your safety net of therapists in place, you are on your way. Make sure you follow the suggestions of your naturopath, nutritionist, clinical ecologist or complementary physician in terms of detoxing any mercury that may have entered the bloodstream during the amalgam removal process. Along with your dentist, they can protect you from the exposure and further accumulation of mercury.
After 42 years of dentistry, Dr. Sawiak DDS., MAGD., AIAOMT., became an Integrative Wellness coach in order to help people through the maze of health information that they encounter in their research. Dr. Sawiak was the first woman in the world to attain the prestigious Master of Academy of Dentistry Award and practised Biologic Dentistry. She now lectures in Biologic Dentistry and Wellness. Contact Dr. Sawiak at the Integrative Wellness and Detox Centre, (905) 279-6619.
by Dr. Oksana Sawiak, DDS, MAGD, AIAOMTDentistry that is based on biologic principles takes the integrity of the oral cavity seriously and uses materials and procedures that are biocompatible, non-toxic and takes the health of the whole body into account.
Many people still do not realize that each silver amalgam filling contains more mercury than a thermometer used to. Mercury is a poison more powerful than lead, cadmium or arsenic. There is no known safe level of mercury.
Today, many dentists use a different type of filling such as composite (white) fillings, which are mercury-free. Though 52 per cent of dentists do not use amalgam fillings any more, silver amalgams are still presented as the dental restorative of choice by the University of Toronto, and still considered safe by the Ontario Dental Association, the Canadian Dental Association and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. In the realm of public health (school dentists), silver amalgams are placed in children’s teeth routinely, and many dental insurance companies still will not cover the cost of a white composite filling in a back tooth.
The University of Toronto and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario are of the opinion that, once placed in the mouth, silver amalgam fillings give off only a negligible amount of mercury vapour, which is not enough to cause any health problems unless a person is allergic to it. But if it was arsenic instead of mercury being used, how would this sound: “The arsenic being given off is in very minute amounts, therefore it will not harm you unless you are allergic to it.” Does this make sense? Yet mercury is much more toxic than arsenic. It is the most toxic non-radioactive material in the world. Before it is mixed into the amalgam filling, it has to be stored as a hazardous material in the dental office. The material safety sheet that comes with amalgam warns dental personnel that mercury is toxic and should not be handled by pregnant women or those of childbearing age. This is because mercury causes infertility and birth defects.
Once an amalgam filling is removed from the tooth, it has to be stored as bio-hazard waste under water because of the mercury it emits.
Mercury vapour is released from these fillings at room temperature for their entire lifespan, a process which is increased by heat (such as hot coffee), acidity (orange juice) and chewing. This tasteless, odourless, colourless gas is then absorbed into the blood stream and poisons our system. The World Health Organization has stated that amalgam fillings are the main source of mercury toxicity in the body and that it accumulates over time, poisoning our organs, enzyme systems and brain. Under laboratory conditions at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Boyd Haley found that mercury produces brain cell damage identical to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
Of particular concern is the fact that even an extracted tooth which contains amalgam cannot legally be discarded in a landfill site. Yet dentists are taught that amalgam is not harmful when it is in the mouth.
What To Do About Your Fillings
If you are considering pregnancy, have symptoms that may relate to mercury toxicity, or want to prevent future problems, removing the source of the mercury (ie. old dental fillings) makes sense. However, do not jump from the frying pan into the fire. Removal of silver amalgam fillings can and does cause a significant disturbance of the mercury in the fillings, therefore removal needs to be done properly, safely, and appropriately.
This is why a wellness consultant can be helpful in guiding you through the process in the safest way possible. Then, along with your physician, naturopath, nutritionist or health therapist, make sure you are properly detoxified from any accumulations from past and present mercury exposures. Each individual is unique and may require different supplements and detoxification protocols prior, during and after mercury removal.
What Does Safe Removal Entail?
Protocols that are recommended by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IOAMT) are based on science rather than tradition or belief system. Check out the articles on their website (www.iaomt.org) and ask if the dental office you choose uses these.
The office needs to have proper mercury vapour removal technology available, such as Mercury Vapour Ionizers. As with usual protocol in a responsible dental office, patients need to be protected with a rubber dam, draping and an alternate source of air to breathe. There should be copious amounts of water and high power suction used in the drilling of the amalgams. The amalgams should be removed in large chunks to minimize the generation of mercury vapour and amalgam particles. The dentist and staff should be protected with respirators or an alternate source or air.
Working with a wellness coach or other knowledgeable practitioner to help supplement and detoxify before and after this removal process is very helpful, since even safe amalgam removal will disturb and disseminate extra mercury. Also, the language of dentistry can be somewhat confusing. The dental wellness coach can offer support with this language that allows the dentist to provide you with exactly what it is that you require.
If you already have a dental office that is knowledgeable, follows the IAOMT or similar protocol, and you have your safety net of therapists in place, you are on your way. Make sure you follow the suggestions of your naturopath, nutritionist, clinical ecologist or complementary physician in terms of detoxing any mercury that may have entered the bloodstream during the amalgam removal process. Along with your dentist, they can protect you from the exposure and further accumulation of mercury.
After 42 years of dentistry, Dr. Sawiak DDS., MAGD., AIAOMT., became an Integrative Wellness coach in order to help people through the maze of health information that they encounter in their research. Dr. Sawiak was the first woman in the world to attain the prestigious Master of Academy of Dentistry Award and practised Biologic Dentistry. She now lectures in Biologic Dentistry and Wellness. Contact Dr. Sawiak at the Integrative Wellness and Detox Centre, (905) 279-6619.