What is an amalgam (filling)?
Amalgam or filling refers to the material used to fill the cavities resulting from the removal of tissues contaminated by dental caries. Dental amalgam in its gray (or metallic) form contains lead. It was used widely in Europe until the 2000s. It is now banned in many countries (not yet in France) because it contains heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
Toxicity of amalgams (fillings)
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The toxicity of lead and mercury amalgam has been proven in numerous studies. But how do you know if you have toxic amalgam? At a glance, it is easy to tell since there are two easily recognizable types.
Small reminder on the toxicity of heavy metals:
Heavy metals can affect health when ingested by the human body. It mainly affects the nervous system, kidneys, as well as the respiratory and hepatic system. The latest studies have shown that even at small doses, prolonged exposure can cause serious conditions such as kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, psychological disorders, neurodegenerative and neurological diseases as well as various types of cancer.
Lead amalgam:
You will easily recognize it in your mouth by its color, it is gray or black and you can sometimes feel the โbatteryโ effect by running your tongue over it. It is made up of one gram of mercury, a very toxic metal that evaporates above 37 ยฐ C. However, in its heart, mercury is retained and may be released if the seal breaks or wears out. Given this toxicity and faced with the risk of cancer and other diseases, the social security of many European countries covers this replacement. This is not yet the case for France.
White amalgam:
It is produced by photopolymerization and does not contain any heavy metals or toxic products. It is the latter that is used when replacing toxic lead amalgam. When done correctly, the same color as the natural tooth, it is absolutely invisible.
Replacement of metal fillings
Replacing fillings is a risky procedure for both the patient and the dentist. In fact, during removal, the dust caused by filing or cutting releases a large amount of lead and mercury. In order to replace amalgams and fillings safely, a heavy metal decontamination procedure must be implemented. A special cabinet is used to capture the dust contained in the air. The dentist and his assistant wear a full oxygen mask while the patient wears a nasal oxygen mask, which prevents them from breathing the toxic mercury particles contained in the dental amalgam. A separation field allows the amalgam to be removed without any particles touching the tongue and other mucous membranes.
alt: replacement of amalgam fillings with white lead
Where to replace toxic amalgams?
Dental clinics specializing in heavy metal decontamination can be counted on the fingers of one hand and the price in France is often very high.
Decontamination with heavy metals contained in amalgams is recognized as a precautionary principle by many European countries such as Switzerland. Anveli Dental is one of the pioneers in heavy metal decontamination. The procedure can be performed at our dental center in Switzerland or Bulgaria.
If you want to have your toxic fillings removed at your dentist, make sure he uses sterile separation drapes, oxygen masks and a specific room.
