Why Mercury Free Dentistry?
Most dentists still believe that mercury dental fillings pose no threat to one’s health. They had been taught that in dental school that this material was safe and never questioned it during dental practice. State-of-the-art progressive dentists with a high degree of integrity continually read the current literature, investigate new procedures and materials, and only then will they change their practices according to new findings in dentistry and health. They do not simply take the opinion of any group or organization without sound, unbiased scientific evidence proving the issue. They do not use any material simply because they always used it or it is easier or cheaper to use. Treating patients in a BioSafeDentistry manner, in a safe environment with biocompatible materials and chemicals is the duty of all practicing dentists.
FACT:
“Overwhelming scientific and clinical studies and research have conclusively showed that:”
1. Amalgam fillings (mercury “silver” dental fillings) in teeth give off mercury vapor constantly.
This vapor is inhaled and immediately absorbed into your lungs and body. The more amalgam fillings you have, the higher the absorption of mercury into the body. The medical community has known for decades that mercury in the body causes severe health risks and damages body tissues and whole body systems.
Note cusp broken off from old mercury filling
Premolar amalgam is corroding and leaking bacteria underneath filling
” (note grey color under remaining tooth cusps) ”
Your dentist has a responsibility to read and investigate new medical and dental findings that occur every day in a field like dentistry. Most states require continuing dental education to inform dentists about newer scientific findings and procedures for patient care. Dentists must adjust their diagnosis and treatment protocols accordingly as new information is revealed. If your dentist does not keep up with current science and new dental materials, your treatment may suffer and your health may be affected. Good dentists do this for their patients without being asked.
You have every right to informed consent for a surgical procedure. You would not have a surgeon operate on your body without being told what needs to being done and why, how it is to be done and the risks, what they are using during the procedure (anesthesia, graft materials left inside, etc.) and what the alternatives treatments are.
FACT: DENTISTRY IS SURGERY! The dentist is cutting live tooth or gum and repairing or replacing a part of your body. You should have informed consent and be told exactly what is being done. A good dentist will do this as part of his treatment planning for you. A BioSafeDentist will do this for you.
Which would you rather have in your mouth?
Solid Gold Castings or White Natural Biocompatible Porcelain/Resins
(same patient before and after)
Mercury Metal Fillings or White Natural Biocompatible Porcelain/Resins
FACTS: Alternative filling materials are available to use instead of mercury amalgam, and are superior to the mercury fillings in almost every way.
Your dentist should be informing you about the alternative materials available to restore your broken or decayed teeth, materials which will last many years. In Philadelphia dentists are now required by the city to inform their patients about mercury in fillings and offer alternative restorative materials. A signature from both the dentist and patient is also required.
The material of choice for simple small to medium cavities is a bonded composite resin. This is a safe, inert material that has no detectable effect on your health if it does not contain fluoride. There is controversy in the medical community about bisphenol, a chemical that has damaging effects on overall health, especially in children. Some plastic containers must also be avoided if they contain high levels of bisphenol that can leech out into the contents of the container (like some water bottles). Almost all composite resin filling materials have minute amounts of this chemical locked inside. Studies show no detectable levels of bisphenol in the body of patients from these bonded fillings in their teeth. However some companies are working to produce a composite resin that has no bisphenol. There are not enough studies yet to indicate if these newer filling materials will last years as a dental filling.
Old Mercury fillings crack teeth and decay (left).
One composite resin filling (premolar) and two porcelain restorations (molars)
will protect teeth for years safely (right).
Full porcelain restorations are biocompatible with oral tissues and do not emit any toxic vapors. Porcelain is a relatively inert and nonreactive substance. However, the full crowns most dentists make today are a porcelain covering fused to a metal “thimble” underneath. These metals can emit toxic vapors into the body. The metal alloys used for these crowns can contain nickel and beryllium, two metals on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of pre-carcinogens and harmful to humans (pre-cancerous). Crowns listed as high noble or “gold” crowns may have as little as 40% actual gold/platinum; the remainder is other metals. Additionally the metal casting does not bond to the tooth structure. It is simply cemented over the remaining tooth and can eventually leak fluids underneath, causing tooth decay. This necessitates remaking of the crown, and possibly root canal treatment or gum surgery if the decay is too bad.
Metal margins of these crowns cause the gums to recede, exposing roots and losing bone support
In contrast to metal and porcelain crowns, full porcelain restorations can be bonded onto the remaining tooth, with chemical and physical retention, offering additional protection against future decay. They are not just cemented on the remaining tooth. The oral tissues accept the porcelain and remain healthy.
No redness or inflammation near the porcelain restorations