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.; 8809 Meadow Road SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
PHONE: 1-800-877-DENT

Special Equipment for the Dental Practitioner

Readily-available Respirator

HEPA filter/respirator is readily available at local home/builder stores. These masks are reported to remove at least 99 % of mercury vapor. The filtering system has a convenient visible indicator strip which turns brown when the filter becomes saturated with mercury vapor. Filter replacements are readily available and easily replaced.

Mask Cost: $25.00. Replacement filters: $12.00
Manufacturer: MSA Safety Works • 888-672-4692