For decades dentists have been placing “silver” fillings to repair cavities and halt tooth decay. Despite the common “silver” moniker, these fillings contain very little silver at all. Instead, they are a mixture of metals that create an amalgam. One of those metals is arguably the most toxic metal on Earth: Mercury.

Every day around the world dentists continue to place fillings that contain mercury despite the proven links between mercury and dementia, birth defects, Alzheimer’s, and more.

So why, if these fillings are so toxic, are they still placed in patient’s every day? The answer is simple: economics.

There are 4 major reasons why a dentist still uses mercury fillings.

1. Mercury fillings are easy to do for a dentist. It is not as technique sensitive than say a composite or plastic filling.

2. Mercury fillings are covered by most insurances.

3. Customers or patients will pay for these fillings because they are cheaper.

4. Mercury fillings last a long time without any physical symptoms.

None of the reasons should trump your long-term health and the long term health of other patients that visit the dentist (mercury vapors can remain in the air up to 30 minutes after a filling is placed, so if you visit the dentist after someone had a filling placed, you could be inhaling toxic mercury vapors).

How To Choose A Mercury-Free Dentist

Many dentists advertise that they are mercury free. To them, it means the dentist doesn't place mercury fillings. But the truth is, many dentists don’t or haven’t placed mercury fillings in years because amalgam mercury fillings are unsightly.

Simply not placing mercury fillings doesn't mean the dentist is mercury-free. Mercury can be found in the air, on the surfaces, in the water, and on the equipment for a long time after a mercury filling is removed. If proper precautions aren't implemented, other patients can be affected by the mercury from prior patients.

Because mercury is tasteless, can’t be smelled, and can’t be seen when in vapor form, it is difficult to know if it is present.

What’s important is for the dentist to take extreme precautions to minimize the amount of mercury in the entire office… not just refrain from placing it in people’s mouths.

Ensure any dentist you choose has a protocol which minimizes the patient's AND the office's exposure to mercury vapors. Studies have shown that mercury vapors released when mercury is being extracted can linger in the air of a dental operatory for more than 30 minutes. How would you like to get your teeth filled in a room where the patient before you had several mercury fillings removed? You are inhaling and toxifying your body because you just wanted a filling or a cleaning at your general dentist office.

Be aware that because a dentist advertises that they are mercury free, that does not mean that the office is free of mercury.

True mercury-free dentists will have and utilize a mercury ionizer, an IQAIR air filtration system with mercury filters, full dental dams, mercury removal protocol like the IAOMT protocol, and written, implemented protection protocols that he or she should allow you to see.