Amalgam Removal

David Michaels – your Woodstock Dentist – offers amalgam removal which involves a high-volume vacuum, catching amalgam particles and mercury vapours.

Woodstock Dental Centre offers amalgam removal, involving a very powerful vacuum system to minimize the exposure to mercury vapour and amalgam particles. The evacuator tip is kept close to the filling during the entire time the filling is being removed. This helps capture more of the mercury vapour and amalgam particles.

Alternative Air Source

An alternative air source is also used while your amalgam fillings are being removed. An alternative source of air isn’t necessary when the tooth is being prepared for the new filling and while the new filling is placed. But during the actual amalgam removal, you will be provided with a nasal hood through which to breathe oxygen from a tank. It’s important to concentrate on breathing through the nose and avoid breathing through the mouth while mercury amalgam silver fillings are being removed.

Removal of Mercury Amalgam/Silver Fillings

Tooth with Mercury Amalgam/Silver Filling

Rubber Dam Isolation

As well as using an alternative air source and high-volume vacuum, a rubber dental dam is placed when possible to ensure that no amalgam particles enter the mouth during filling removal. This also reduces – if not eliminates – any oral exposure to mercury vapours.

Patient with Special Needs

The consensus is to not remove mercury amalgam fillings during a pregnancy or during nursing. An alternative source of air is recommended when removing amalgam fillings from the teeth of pregnant and nursing mothers, patients who have multiple allergies and sensitivities, immune system problems, or any other health issues that could be related to chronic mercury poisoning.

Teeth with mercury amalgam fillings with rubber dam isolation

Learn more about Dental Amalgam.