Why patients in Lexington-High Point should consider mercury-safe dental care

Have you heard of a silver filling? Also known as amalgam, this type of filling has been a standard of care in many dental practices for decades. Amalgam fillings are made of a mixture of several metals including silver, tin, and mercury. Being mercury-safe means that the practice is equipped to safely remove amalgam fillings and replace them with a biocompatible alternative. At Virtue Dental Care, we follow strict protocols for the removal of mercury fillings to ensure the safety of our patients and our staff. Individuals near Lexington-High Point who are interested in mercury-safe dentistry should call our office at 336-606-0040.

Our goal is to improve the health of our patients. In the following article we will examine the benefits of mercury-safe dental care, and the mercury-safe removal practices we use.

The trouble with mercury

Like we mentioned earlier, amalgam was long considered the “go-to” solution for repairing damage from tooth decay. The mixture of metals was considered strong, long-lasting, and affordable. Mercury is used in the amalgam fillings as a binding agent for the mixture of metals.

Our mercury-safe removal practice

When patients undergo mercury filling removal, we take every precaution we can to ensure a safe experience. Some of the most common reasons for removing amalgam fillings are:

• The filling must be replaced anyway due to a fracture or further decay
• The patient is concerned about the harmful effects of being exposed to mercury vapors
• The filling is in a highly visible area and the patient is unhappy with the aesthetics of a silver filling.

The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) has published a series of safety regulations to follow before, during, and after the removal of mercury fillings. At Virtue Dental Care, we follow these guidelines very closely to make the entire process safe. Some of our safe removal practices include:

• Use of high powered ventilation system to remove any mercury vapors
• A dental dam to isolate the area
• Alternative air source to ensure the patient is breathing quality air
• Protective gear for dental personnel and the patient
• An amalgam separator to collect mercury waste
• Use of non-latex gloves
• Use of water to minimize heat and reduce vapor emission
• The removal of amalgam in large pieces (also known as chunking)

Once the removal process is complete, we will place a new biocompatible. The benefits of biocompatible fillings include:

• Beauty – Amalgam fillings are often very visible in the smile due to their silver color. Biocompatible fillings are matched to your natural tooth enamel, so the filling blends in.
• Strength – Biocompatible fillings are placed directly into the tooth and bind with the remaining tooth structure, making them durable and long lasting. Biocompatible fillings do not expand with temperature to the extent amalgam does.
• Conservative – Amalgam fillings require the removal of more natural tooth structure than biocompatible fillings require.
• Protection – Because biocompatible fillings bind with the tooth, they do not wear down. This allows them to protect the remaining structure of the tooth from bacteria buildup and additional decay.

Not yet convinced about the benefits of mercury-safe dentistry? Allow us to summarize. The silver filling is very visible to others and can impact the beauty of the smile.

The entire team at Virtue Dental Care loves sharing the benefits of mercury-safe dentistry. If you are near the Lexington-High Point area, please call us today at 336-606-0040 to learn more.