Facts:

• "Silver" or amalgam dental fillings contain 48-55% mercury, 33-35% silver, and various amounts of copper, tin, zinc, and other metals. Since mercury is the major component of the material, and representation of the material should include the word "mercury." Thus, in our office, we refer to them as "mercury fillings."
• Mercury is a powerful poison. Published research has shown that mercury is more toxic than lead, cadmium, and even arsenic. Furthermore, there is no known toxic threshold for mercury vapor and world renowned mercury toxicologists have stated that no amount of exposure to mercury vapor can be considered totally harmless.
• Scientific research has demonstrated that mercury, even in small amounts, can damage the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, pituitary gland, blood cells, enzymes and hormones, and suppress the body's immune system. Mercury has been shown to pass the placental membrane in pregnant women and cause permanent damage to the brain of the developing baby.
• Mercury is continually released from mercury dental fillins in the form of mercury vapor and abraded particles. This process is stimulated and can be increased as much as 15-fold by chewing, brushing, hot liquids, ect. The World Health Organization concluded  that the daily intake of mercury from dental amalgam fillings exceeded the combined daily intake of mercury derived from air, water, and food (including fish)
• The mercury released from mercury dental fillings is absorbed very rapidly and thoroughly in your body, primarily by inhalation and swallowing.
• In human autopsy studies, it has been found that there is a direct correlation between the amount of mercury found in the brain and the number of surfaces of mercury fillings in the teeth.
• Mercury causes normal intestinal microflora to become mercury resistant and antibiotic resistant. Mercury resistant bacteria cause mercury in the intestinal tract to be converted back into vapor recycled back into the body. Antibiotic resistance is becoming a major medical concern.
• Recent scientific research has shown high levels of mercury in the brains of individuals who had died of Alzheimer's disease. Other research is demonstrating mercury can cause similar pathological effects in the brain as that seen in Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) and Alzheimer's Disease. 

For more reading, check out these sites:

http://www.holisticmed.com/dental/amalgam/

http://www.talkinternational.com/scientific-facts.html

http://www.talkinternational.com/mercury-symptoms.html

Safe Mercury Removal

In our office, we take every precaution we can to ensure both the patient and staff are protected from unnecessary mercury exposure. We use a dental dam to protect against mercury particles entering the patient's system orally and also an extra filtration system in close proximity to the mercury removal to ensure any vapors that are released are being removed from the surrounding air. Please contact our office with any further questions regarding safe mercury removal and subsequent mercury detoxification options.