Why I had my Amalgam Fillings Removed

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Why I had my Amalgam Fillings Removed | Real Food RN

Unfortunately I had quite a few cavities when I was younger (I attribute that to a heavy grain and poor-quality dairy laden diet). To make it even worse, my fillings were amalgam. Hey, I get it, the silver fillings were free and my parents didn’t want to pay for a ton of dental work. I pretty much had silver in some part of all of my back molars on the top of my mouth. Little did I know that they could be causing me health problems.

This issue is very controversial among the dental communities. The arguments are mainly between the ADA (American Dental Association) and the IAOMT (International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology). Many people believe that there is a “Mercury cover-up” going on, where the ADA and FDA are denying that mercury is toxic in amalgam fillings, claiming that it is harmless. Some camps believe that the whole mercury cover-up is an even bigger cover-up than what Big Tobacco did. My question is: why are 50% of dentists now mercury-free? Isn’t that an admission to the toxicity of mercury? If the truth about mercury and it’s real toxicity came out there would be a lot of money lost and a lot of legal action going down. So, that being said, let’s talk about Mercury.

About 75 percent of adults have dangerous “silver” fillings. There is approximately 1,000 mg of mercury in the typical “silver” filling. This is nearly one million times more mercury than is present in contaminated sea food. Most people don’t realize that the mercury amalgams slowly release mercury vapor. Every time you chew, mercury vapor is released and quickly finds its way into your bloodstream, where it causes oxidative processes in your tissues. Oxidation is one of the main reasons you develop disease, as well as the primary reason you age. Oxidation in your body leads to inflammation… it also hampers your body’s ability to detoxify itself, which makes you even sicker. (source)

Common symptoms of mercury poising include: 

  • pins & needles, or burning sensation in extremities (peripheral neuropathy)
  • skin discoloration (pink cheeks, fingertips and toes)
  • swelling  and shedding of the skin
  • profuse sweating
  • increased heart rate (tachycardia)
  • increased salivation
  • elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
  • hair loss (alopecia)
  • transient rashes
  • muscle weakness (hypotonia)
  • increased sensitivity to light
  • memory impairment and brain fog
  • kidney disfunction
  • insomnia and mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, and emotional lability
  • tremors

Health related symptoms and their relation to dental fillings

Why I had my Amalgam Fillings Removed | Real Food RN

The mercury in our teeth is actually considered a hazardous toxic material once it is removed from our mouthes and the dental staff has to dispose of it properly. So, when in the mouth it’s harmless and seconds after removal its considered toxic waste? Something’s fishy here.

The WHO (World Health Organization) reports that mercury from amalgam and laboratory devices accounts for 53% of total mercury emissions into our environment. The EPA recommends that dentists use amalgam separators to catch and hold excess amalgam waste, to decrease the release of mercury into the sewer system. (source)

After reading numerous books and scientific papers on the topic of oral health and listening to hours of audio via podcasts, youtube, and the like I decided that I wanted to have my old amalgam fillings removed. Being that I am of childbearing age and plan to have more children, I did not want to run the risk of mercury exposure while pregnant.

A recent CDC report reveals that nearly one in 10 US women could have levels of mercury in their blood that are close to hazardous. Exposure to dangerous levels of mercury can result in permanent damage to the brain and kidney. Exposure is particularly risky for women of childbearing age, because a fetus is highly susceptible to adverse effects. (source)

If this is something you are considering doing, I encourage you to educate yourself. Start by watching these Youtube videos:

Dr. Mercola interviews Dr. David Simone (this is a 5-part series)

Also watch “Smoking Teeth”

…..one more video….

For more information on oral health and how to take care of your teeth, please check out the following books:

Resources: Mercury Poisining, Mercola, Dr.Oz, Mercola, Toxic Metals & Silver Fillings

Don’t forget to check out my other two posts about my amalgam filling removal: 

Order supplements through my Fullscript store.

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60 Replies to “Why I had my Amalgam Fillings Removed”

    1. Thanks Arsy! Glad you found it helpful. Believe me, I scoured the web before having them removed and now I just want to return the favor to those in search.

  1. But haven’t they now also proven that the ceramic fillings contain BPA the same stuff we are trying to avoid from the linings of canned food? And what are the risks of removing the mercury (which I am sure has to be drilled out)? Wouldn’t that cause large amounts of exposure? Just wondering??

    1. I made sure that the composite that my dentist used was BPA-free and aluminum-free. Full discloser. Better that Mercury! You can be exposed to a large amount of mercury when you have them removed if the dentist doesn’t take the necessary precautions. My dentist had all the necessary equipment. I am doing a detox too. It took my dentist about 3 minutes to get the fillings out, very little drilling. Awesome!

      1. Hi I have been looking for aluminium free composites and not been able to find any what is it called and where can I get this I live in England
        Sandy Robertson

          1. Hi can you ask your dentist for me please I have just been so sick from my last glass ionomer filling with aluminium toxicity symptoms I would appreciate this greatly Sandy

  2. Great article and glad to hear you’ve had your mercury fillings removed. I know from personal experience that they can cause health damage. As you mention, definitely educate yourself before going through it and make sure you have a safe dentist who removes them properly.

    1. Do you mind if I ask what you had cleared up by having them removed? I had some serious TMJ going on and its now completely gone!

      1. I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. My doctor advised me to have them removed because it was one of the toxic sources in my body that was causing greater harm to my health. My MCS symptoms are much better. I still have some issues, but not near as bad as I had. I have TMJ too. It’s been better, but I’ve had adjustments done by my chiropractor for it. Maybe the mercury removal helped that too. I hadn’t contributed it to that. Glad you’re seeing improvements!

        1. Yeah, my chiro had been really working on my TMJ too. Just got another adjustment today and she is so excited that we no longer need to work on my jaw! Me too!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  3. Thx for helpful info Kate. Due to stress, TMJ, and grinding my teeth most of my molars have been capped because they cracked. Would capping them remove the amalgam since the dentist had to grind the teeth down? I still have the above symptoms and use a mouth guard at night to help prevent further damage to my teeth.

    1. I’m not entirely sure as I do not have any caps. I would assume that they are mercury free though. You might want to consider seeing a cranio-sacral therapist to work with the structural aspects of your face and neck. Sometimes a mis-aignment can lead to TMJ and teeth grinding.

  4. As someone who has gone through this experience I wanted to share with you some tips:

    1. I think it is important to chelate (before, during and after) your procedure. Use vitamin C, chlorella, zeolite, whatever. I used my detox foot pads (I don’t want to promote them here, but am just telling you about them because they are proven to pull out heavy metals including mercury). I used them DURING the procedure, as well. Within 2 hours they were filled with tons of goo. Normally it takes a full night to pull that much goo out.

    2. INSIST on a rubber dam and a mask to cover your nose. Your dentist wears one to protect him from the mercury vapor (and to make sure he doesn’t spit in your mouth, haha!) but you should, as well. If your dentist refuses, go somewhere else. There are holistic dentists but the ones in the Twin Cities are super expensive and are cash only. You can find them at DAMS (I don’t know the website but it is a nonprofit organization that educates and gives resources to those looking to remove amalgams from their mouth.) It stands for Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome.

    3. Be educated yourself. Two of my teeth, when the fillings were removed, became SUPER SENSITIVE. In fact, as a result, one of my teeth died and I ended up getting a root canal. Is a root canal worse or better than the original filling? I don’t know. Dr. Mercola has a lot to say against root canals as well. This is a large risk. I also had increased sensitivity in my mouth, still do. I drink any cold beverage with a straw, and am limited to the acidic foods (like pickles) that I can eat without my teeth screaming from sensitivity.

    4. Afterward, continue your detox. You HAVE to get the mercury out of your body. Super important.

    Good luck.

    1. Like Rebecca, I too am having super sensitivity (ALL of my teeth) since removing my (2) amalgam fillings 3 weeks ago. I sure hope that’s not a thing for life, because I never had it prior to the removal 🙁
      I have not done a detox, although I have been drinking DE in a glass of water every morning for almost 2 months. I’ve heard that helps. Any other suggestions?

      ~Karen

  5. I would LOVE to have mine out someday, sooner than later! Would you mind sharing what you are doing to detox after having them removed?

  6. Hello,

    I came across your post via pinterest. I am currently a dental student and I find this post concerning. Did you know that in removing your amalgam fillings, you are actually exposing yourself to MORE mercury than when they are in your teeth? Most dentists wear respirators while performing this process to avoid exposure. Also, don’t you think that if amalgam were so dangerous, that dental health care providers would be concerned about their own occupational exposure? You seem to have forgotten that dentists who place amalgams are exposed to it every day, yet there is no scientific evidence that this occupational exposure causes problems. Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence that amalgams in your mouth cause medical issues. I know this to be true because I personally investigated this as a capstone for my undergraduate degree in biology and also because we look at scientific data in dental school. You cannot just make claims based on opinions. You must look at scientific journals and data. Dental practices are based on evidence and data. You can even go to the ADA’s website and look into what we call EBD (evidence based dentistry). This is what is preached in school, this is what we practice by to create safe and effective practices. We do not want to cause harm to patients; please do not demonize the ADA. There are other problems in this world far worse, like the processed foods and sugary snacks that caused your cavities in the first place.

    Most amalgams are 50% mercury, 50% silver-tin alloy with other metals as well. If you put all of your fillings in a pile, how much would that be? It’s probably a small volume. This is also something to consider when it comes to composites, which I will discuss later. Secondly, if mercury was poisoning everyone in the world with silver fillings, don’t you think we would all be having some serious problems? I’m sorry – until you personally look at every research study published on this topic, I don’t see how you can make this conclusion. You also cited that the fact that so many dentists don’t use amalgam anymore should be testament to this supposed poisoning – have you ever considered that the reason why it’s abandoned is for aesthetic purposes? Many patients do not want ugly silver fillings. Most insurance companies will pay for almost the entire price of composite fillings. Dental plastics have drastically improved over the years to where it is now ok to use composite in posterior teeth (they were too brittle when first developed). Lastly, disposing of amalgam is an extra hassle that some dentists may not want to deal with. I think these are all excellent reasons to discontinue amalgam use and personally, this is why I would not use amalgam myself (also because I’m interested in aesthetics).

    On to composites… as one commentor pointed out – yes, they contain BPA. Why? Because initially to make plastic hard, BPA was added. However, with recent research, they can now make hard plastics that do not have BPA, as we are well aware of with all the BPA free water bottles, etc out there. So let me ask you this – if you are going to be concerned about the BPA in your composite fillings, are you as concerned about all the BPA you encounter in the rest of your life? What about water bottles in the trunk of your car, steeping out all the BPA? I could name a million ways we are exposed every day, yet you are going to make a fuss about the teeny tiny blob of composite in their tooth that PALES in comparison to the water bottles you may drink out of every day? You can’t blame the dentists for this – the problem lies in the materials production companies – the sheer quantity of plastic used in dentistry is so so small compared to the quantity of plastics used in other industries. Think about it – if you were out to create a plastic producing business, what industry would you want to tap into? One with a ton of turnover and money or one that puts teeny specks of plastic into people’s mouths? The dental plastics area is so small and therefore there is limited money devoted to it. We can only give our patients what exists and right now the options are limited. Researchers are working on finding the safest materials out there, I promise!

    1. Leah, Thank you for your very detailed response! In response to “Did you know that in removing your amalgam fillings, you are actually exposing yourself to MORE mercury than when they are in your teeth? Most dentists wear respirators while performing this process to avoid exposure.” Yes, I am aware of the mercury exposure beig increased during removal which is why I took the precautions that I did. Also, I am aware that some dentists wear respirators….which is why I want that toxic stuff out of my mouth! If they need to take special precautions when removing it, then why would anyone want to live with it in their body? I didn’t, so I had it removed.

      I did look at scientific studies and did an extensive amount of research before undergoing the removal. There is a lot of information out there and it was a lot of work searching through it all to find what I thought to be the “right” answer. I also work in the medical field and I have seen “medical evidence” skewed in the best interest of the pharmaceutical industry so I always take care to really search for the source of the studies too. The ADA has it in it’s best interest to save face, so when mercury comes out at a toxic substance that is linked to health concerns for people it does not reflect well on the ADA. As mercury is slowly being removed from common dental practice, one might ask why? They sure don’t have the answer. I doubt it is because people don’t want ugly silver fillings. Some people pay good money to have metal put in their mouths (“grills” are very trendy right now).

      With regard to BPA, I am well aware of the dangers of it. This is why we do not use plastic containers in our household. I store and cook everything in stainless steel, cast iron, or glass. I use a stainless steel or glass water bottle. We even store all of our homemade cleaners in glass bottles and jars. Very little plastic.

      I am very happy with the decision I made and I did take the time to do my research. I went to college where I learned how to sift through medical studies, and I did that before making my decision.

      Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed resonse and good luck in school!

      1. I love this! I’ve always went against the grain when it comes to debating “doctors”. And, typically… I find myself improving after having done so. I’ve battled autoimmunity issues for many years, but it has gotten better with very strict dieting and exercise. I attribute my health issues to the mercury in my teeth. Intuition tells me something is up….

      1. How much does it cost to get amalgams removed? I have 6 that need to come out.
        I don’t have insurance either.

  7. Hi Kate!

    I just removed two resin composite fillings yesterday because right after I placed them a month ago, I started having severe endocrine disrupting symptoms. I’m very sensitive to synthetic hormones and I figured it was the BPA in the fillings that was causing this. I have done tons of research and have really a great deal on this subject. I know anything with Bis-GMA and Bis-DMA among other components hydrolyze into BPA and the filings I had contained Bis-GMA. Some companies claim their products do not contain BPA just like the company that made my fillings but in reality the chemicals that they are using turn into BPA when in contact with saliva. I have temporary fillings right now and I feel much better. I am trying to decide what I will replace these with. I know Porcelain is a good option but the resin cements they use to bond it to the tooth also contain BPA. Can you please tell me the name and details of the BPA free composite your dentist used. It would be so greatly appreciated!!! Thank you very much 🙂

    1. Wow, great work figuring out what was causing you problems! I honestly do not know more than my dentist telling me that they were “BPA-free composite” fillings. Wish I could answer your question.

    2. Hi,
      Were you able to find a cement that didn’t have or convert to BPA? I have the same problem. Having some of my silver fillings replaced seemed like a good idea but the composite materials create new and awful problems for me. I have completed the biocompatible blood testing but somehow there is still a problem when the materials are put in. So frustrating – thank you for sharing your experience.
      Rebecca

  8. Kate, I live in the Twin Cities also and have several fillings I want to have removed and also a tooth that had a root canal years ago. Can you give me the name of the dentist you used for your filling removal?

    Much appreciated!!

    Shelah

    1. I went with Boger Dental in Plymouth. But Tooth By the Lake in Hopkins is supposed to be the BEST. I could not get an appt there in time.

    2. I had mine done at Imagine Smiles in Blaine. I was very happy with the work they did and the precautions they used. I found them through the OraWellness site.
      P.S. The teeth sensitivity went away fairly quickly. I did break out in a pretty bad (body) rash, but drinking lots of water seemed to help move everything out and clear it up in a few days.

        1. I used to live in Ham Lake!! Now I live in Panama (Central America) I have not been to the dentist out here yet…

          But I did use Tooth By the Lake on Mainstreet in Hopkins for a couple services. They even use a medical grade ozone generator at least back in 2004-2005 when I used their services. They were cash only back then, probably still are. About $300+ per tooth I think… a little too rich for my blood as I was finishing up grad school. You know, starving student and all…

          That is why I went with my regular dentist who took my insurance but made sure to wear a mask over my nose, a rubber dam in my mouth and did all the chelation that I talked about in my previous post. 🙂

          p.s. I used to live in St. Louis Park so I am familiar with the Hopkins area — I believe there was a Dr. King on Excelsior Blvd. as well but he was expensive even more so than Tooth by the Lake.

  9. Doing a bunch of research on this as my mother is considering having her fillings removed to help with some health issues. I really want to believe that amalgams are bad but so far I haven’t seen much credible evidence. For example the video you’ve posted supposedly showing a tooth off-gassing mercury is pretty clearly bogus. They say in the video they just dunked in water. Mercury vapor is more dense than air so the gas would be sinking rather than rising. Water vapor does rise as we all know. So gas coming off the tooth is water vapor… Anyway, I’d really like to be convinced but I haven’t yet been able to find studies more credible than blogposts and podcasts.

  10. How many fillings you had during pregnancy . I have two teeth filled with amalgam and I’m 28 weeks prego I’m scared to effect the baby

      1. May I ask how long you waited to get pregnant after having the fillings removed? I’m would like to get mine removed, but also would like to get pregnant in a couple of months.

  11. Hi Kate! So much useful information on this site. I have been doing a TON of research for the past 6 months regarding amagalm fillings and I am truly convinced that I must remove them. I found your post very useful in solidifying my decision. Thank you for sharing your story!

  12. Hi kate, I am a 29 year old male. I have peripheral neuropathy, and I am about to get a root canal, dental filling and a crown, on one of my teeth. Could you please advise me on the dental material for filling and crown that I should ask my dentist to use, which is generally the most biocompatible, since you have done so much research on it? Thanks.

  13. I was wondering with the research on this who actually is funding it. Is ir the same companies providing the mercury base product. Are the reports in these studies tainted like the drug study reports in favor of the companies. Basically they don’ t care about the consumers, but profits. I feel if you want to have them removed, go for it. the problem is that many people are sick and don’ t know it. our bodies were not made for all this imitation crap these companies push. If it makes money let us do whatever we need to to endorse the product, let’s create reports in our favor, keeping the consumer uneducated and under our control. mMant of these so called reports are not accurate. Just because the dental community says a little is safe, is not necessarily true. i plan on having all if mine removed. yes ever little but i can do to get any pouson out if My body will make me one step better.

  14. I have two amalgam on my mouth and 4 weeks pregnant. I know that removing it now can cause more harm than good. What recommendations can you give me to avoid that mercury leach. Im taking a Omega supplemental from Nordic and Code raw prenatal vitamin Can I take chlorella, spirulina or cilantro or I should take it after delivery the baby. Any special toothpaste that blocked the mercury when I brush both tooth. ??? Thanks

    1. Hi Olga, I really can’t give any advice with regards to supplements with removal, that would be considered medical advice. But, there is a lot of information out there. Try searching Dr. Pompa, he is an expert on detoxification and chelation

  15. I just had my amalgams removed this week. https://iaomt.org/ is a great resource to find a dentist with training in safely removing amalgam fillings. I had mine replaced with a BPA-free, ceramic, biocompatable composite that just recently came on the market in America called Admira Fusion. My mouth feels great and I am not noticing an increase in mercury toxicity after amalgam removal the proper way (given activated charcoal, rubber dam in mouth, oxygen, and a hepa vacuum near mouth).

  16. Thank you for shedding light on a situation that many people with amalgam fillings worry about. It is important to become as informed as possible anytime you have a medical or dental treatment done. And, while there is always going to be contradicting evidence to anything you feel, it is always best to do what you feel is good for you and your family. Discussing the option of removing all of your old amalgam fillings is something you should do with your trusted dentist. In addition, if you feel amalgam fillings are a health hazard, it is best to have nothing but composite fillings done on your teeth going forward. Thanks again for sharing!

  17. I was at a health conference. A vendor had a handheld mercury detector, the same one used by EPA to measure minute levels of mercury in the air. They measured the air in the room before measuring the air in my open mouth which contained a toxic level of mercury compared to “0” in the surrounding air (the highest they’d measured in several conferences, much higher than my colleagues and considered extremely hazardous per the EPA limits). Wouldn’t that be proof enough that mercury fillings were dangerous?

      1. Hi! How long did you wait to conceive after you removed your fillings?

        Thanks in advance for a quick response! Getting mind out today! ?

          1. Did the dentist take special precautions, such as rubber dams and high powered suctions, when you had your amalgam fillings out?

  18. H Kate – are you able to recommend a dentist in the NYC/New Jersey area that would be able to help me take these nasty toxins out of my mouth? I am now 30 years old and have been struggling with ongoing clinical hypothryoidism since I was 20. Greatly appreciate any insight.

  19. Hey kate would you be able to lay out the procedure they used so I can insure the right Precautions are took as I’m planning to have mine removed

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