I have a mouth full of silver fillings. Not only do I find out that they’re loaded with mercury (not from my dentist), but I’m also told because of how long I’ve had them they could start leaking and poison me (again not from my dentist). At first, I thought my sister was just trying to pull one over on me, but I looked it up and she’s right. Shouldn’t dentists have to tell patients before they put toxins in someone’s body? I want to have them removed so I asked my sister. She said to find a Holistic Dentist covered under my insurance because they’re the only ones who know how to safely remove them. I checked and there isn’t one holistic dentist listed in my insurance book. Are they the only dentists who can do this?
Amanda
Dear Amanda,
First, I want to assure you that your dentist didn’t go into your fillings with the mindset of secretly putting toxins in your teeth. The truth is the American Dental Association (ADA) has and still does consider silver amalgam fillings perfectly safe. When your dentist placed them he likely felt exactly the same way.
Lately, more dentists are starting to see newer test results which make them wonder. Additionally, many are switching to a mercury-free practice and only doing white composite fillings for their patients.
There probably is a holistic dentist somewhere in your insurance plan. You don’t see them listed because they’re not actually a recognized specialty. It’s more a philosophy of practice where they strive to consider the whole body during treatment and not just the teeth. In your place, I’d do an internet search for holistic dentists in your area and then see which of them are on your insurance. You may also want to try the terms “natural dentist” and “biological dentist”.
If You Can’t Find a Holistic Dentist
Let’s say you do that and there truly isn’t one single holistic dentist in your area within a reasonable distance. That won’t mean you’re trapped with your amalgam fillings. The key is finding a dentist who knows how to do a sanitary amalgam removal. This process protects you from inhaling or swallowing any mercury or mercury vapors.
There are many mercury-free dentists who also know how to do that safely. So, that would be my next internet search. Again, it won’t be listed in your insurance book like that. You’ll do a search and then see who is covered by your insurance.
I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan M. Dennis.