Another thing that cannot take the heat is dental amalgam.

Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals containing tin, zinc, copper, and silver, but about half of it is mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin, but when it is “fixed” or “bound’ by these other metals, it is considered safe by the American Dental Association. However, research from the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (I.A.O.M.T.) shows that mercury vapor is released from its “fixed” state when exposed to heat or friction such as from brushing your teeth, drinking hot liquids, chewing gum, grinding teeth, or when the amalgam is drilled out by your dentist. Dr. Griffin Cole says “Levels of mercury during removal exceed government safety limits.”

When it is time for amalgam restorations to be removed, there are safety protocols that can reduce your exposure to mercury vapors. One of the most important protocols is that the patient has an external oxygen source to prevent breathing in mercury vapors as they are released during the removal process. Use of a latex-free rubber dam helps keep particulate from entering the mouth. Rinsing with a slurry of charcoal or chlorella (algae) before the procedure and rinsing again after the procedure helps absorb mercury and decreases inadvertent exposure. Having a high-volume filtration system and a negative-ion generator to remove mercury vapor from the work space keeps patients and the dental team safe from exposure. Ecologic Dentistry is a S.M.A.R.T. (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) certified provider.