Removing Dental Amalgams Safely and Effectively Clinical research by Dr. Hal Huggins, The International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and other groups have put forth specific guide lines: Removal of the most negatively charged mercury fillings must be done first: since the more actively charged fillings give off mercury, silver, tin and copper as a result of galvanic currents. This electrical current comes from the electrical battery that is created from the interaction of the various metals in the filling and the electrolyte provided by the sodium chloride in the salvia. Serum Compatibility Test: Since the available resin materials used in restoring the teeth are petroleum based products, the potential exists for allergic reactions. A laboratory analysis provides the dentist with a comprehensive list of dental materials that are safe for the patient. If a patient is going to put themselves through the time and expense to replace the mercury fillings, he or she should make every effort to enhance the body's immune system. Placing materials that are compatible with the immune system will enhance healing and potentially have a positive impact on any existing medical problems. Anti-Oxidant Vitamins: A patient must start taking the recommended vitamin protocol to boost the body's immune system and start chelating (removing the mercury through bonding of mercury with the nutrients) the existing mercury in the tissues. Since mercury vapors have been entering the body for as long as the fillings have been present, the mercury remains in tissues and nerves even after the mercury fillings have been removed. DMPS (sodium 2,3 dimercaptopropane-1- Sulfonate): This compound is a chelating agent (binds mercury making it water soluble and pulls it out of the body via the kidneys) that has been researched in Germany, Russia and Japan for over 40 years. DMPS has been used successfully in these countries for the past 25 years and its safety and effectiveness has been clinically demonstrated. When combined with the antioxidant protocol, DMPS has proven to be the most effective means of pulling mercury out of the body. Any side effects that occur are the result of the mercury coming out of the system. DMPS is highly recommended even for those patient's who had their mercury fillings previously removed. Caution must be used with patients who have liver, kidney and a weakened immune system. Patients with these conditions will usually get worse with DMPS injections since these organs help detoxify the body and will be unable to completely remove the bound mercury thus depositing it in different parts of the body. With the help of a nutritionist, a nutritional program can be developed to detoxify and rebuild the body. Depending on how sick and nutritionally deficient the patient is, such a process can take 6 to 9 months or longer. Intravenous Vitamin C: Your detoxification program can be enhanced if a mixture of 1.5 grams of EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) is used with 25 grams of vitamin C in a slow (not more than 45 drops per minute) intravenous treatment given once per month. Use of DMPS has the potential of causing a reaction following the removal of your mercury fillings. The reappearance of your original symptoms can occur. In most cases this episode is of short duration and probably due to the rapid excretion of the toxic metal. Oral use of Chlorella: At the end of each dental session for the removal of mercury fillings, it is recommended that you open six capsules of Chlorella and place in your mouth for a period of five minutes. After the five minute period thoroughly rinse your mouth out with good quality water. The Chlorella is high in sulfur and will chelate (bond) any residual mercury, silver, copper, or tin that may be present in your mouth from the removal process. When undergoing intravenous treatment (I.V.) for mercury removal, the use of B-12 either in solution for I.V. use or oral (dose over 12 micrograms) MUST NOT be used. B-12 has the ability to INSTANTLY convert the dangerous mercury ions into methyl mercury, which has a high attraction for and ability to damage the nervous system. DMSA (meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) Chemet This compound is an effective oral chelating agent for removing heavy metals. Chemet is available by prescription only. DMSA (Chemet) is the only chelating agent given orally and a substitute, although not as effective as I.M .and I.V, DMPS (most effective means of chelating mercury out of the body). DMSA should NOT be given to pregnant or nursing mothers or children under one year of age. Chemet crosses the the blood brain barrier and is not suited for patients with high body burdens of neuro-toxic heavy metals. DMSA has more reported side effects than DMPS (sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane -1-sulfonate) or EDTA. It would be wise to have your doctor closely monitor laboratory data and your symptoms. A physician should be utilized as part of the integrated team . Prior to treatment the physician should run the following lab tests: SMAC-20 CBC with differential and platelet counts; Creatinine Clearance; hair analysis or Red Blood Cell Minerals. DMSA requires a prescription and is available from Hopewell Pharmacy (800) 792-6670. Dosage: 500mg three times per week (to be taken on alternating days; Mon., Wed., Fri. first week then Tues., Thur. and Sat. the next week) for eight weeks; stop for two weeks; continue 500mg three times per week for another eight weeks; stop for two weeks; last eight week protocol of 500mg three times per week. Note: Patients with abnormal creatinine or elevated liver enzymes should not be treated with DMSA. For the sick patient with documented mercury toxicity it is recommended that a course of DMSA be given using a dosage of 50 milligrams instead of 500 milligrams on alternate days for the same three 8 week segments. For the debilitated patient also with documented mercury toxicity it is recommended that 50 milligrams of DMSA be dissolved in 10 ounces of distilled water and sipped through out the day. Clinical Procedures For Effective Mercury Removal Rubber Dam The rubber dam is a latex material that is "draped" around the teeth during the mercury removal process. Although recommended by many practitioners as being the most effective means of isolating the teeth and mouth tissues during mercury removal, this author believes its use has a major hazardous flaw. If the dam does not completely seal the areas around each tooth perfectly, the mercury and other metal particles will pass through and lie in contact with the tissues of the mouth for the duration of the removal procedure. This will permit absorption into the patient's body creating additional exposure to mercury. Special High Speed Suction Device This ingenious device fits around the tooth which is to have the mercury filling removed. Since it is connected to a high speed suction system, the mercury vapor and other metal particles are quickly removed during the drilling process. If any mercury or other debris escapes, it can be seen and quickly removed. (CLEANUPTM available from BioProbe; 800-282-9670) Ion Generator The ion generator is designed to produce a continuous stream of negative ions which attach themselves to the mercury vapor. A positively charged large rubberized mat is positioned on the opposite wall. The negatively charged mercury vapor is quickly drawn away from the patient's mouth thus reducing exposure. Filtering units that improve the quality of air in the dental work place The Emmex 50C unit is a sophisticated chairside filter that draws the polluted air away from the patient's mouth during removal of mercury fillings; the air is then passed through a specially treated filtering system and clean air is then exhausted back into the room. The smaller Emmex 50B unit is a portable bench top model designed to operate 24 hours a day within the dental operatory. Its purpose is to filter the polluted air within the work area. Emmex Systems; 30 Wren Court; Strathclyde Business Park; Bellshill, ML4 3NQ, Scotland; tel: 44 1698 746900; fax: 44 1698 845123 Foust Room Air Purifier Model 160R2 will filter a room up to 20' x 20'; the company provides a convenient exchange service for its removable filter cartridges; the purifier has an activated carbon filter, "Purapel®" which destroys formaldehyde, ethanol, petrochemicals like phenol, and other chemical pollutants; pulls out mercury vapor from dental operatory during removal of mercury fillings; traps particulates down to 1/2 micron. A laboratory of the Foust air purifier produced the following results: Pulls Out Mercury Vapor Formaldehyde 10 ppm reduced to a trace in 15 minutes Phenol 5 ppm reduced to a trace in 15 minutes Ozone 600 ppb reduced to a trace in 4 minutes Hexane (Car exhaust) 150 ppm reduced to a trace in 30 minutes Nitrogen Oxides 5ppm reduced to a trace in 30 minutes E.L. Foust Co., Inc.; Elmhurst IL; 1-800-225-9549 DentAirVac System IV This portable air filtration system is available with an optional Mecury Vapor filter. It's compact (11.24" x 23" x 25"), has a lighted status control panel, low voltage foot control, whisper quiet operation, HEPA hospital and cleanroom filtration system, hands-free adjustable intake hose, portability, solid state electronics, configured for foreign or domestic use, UL or CSA approved components. DentAirVac Corp.; LaGrange TX 78945; 800-849-9029 Special Equipment for the Dental Practitioner Readily-available Respirators Simple toxic dust filter/respirator (left) and HEPA-filter/Respirator (right) are usually available at your local home/builder supply store and can be a very economical means of additional protection from toxic metals dust and/or fumes.