Lansing’s Premier Source for Mercury-Safe Dentistry
Bechtel Dentistry is a dedicated mercury-free dental office offering mercury-safe removal services. That means that we do not place any mercury fillings and are certified to safely remove mercury fillings, utilizing a specific protocol, for patients throughout the Lansing area.
IAOMT Certification and Training
Dr. Bechtel is SMART (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) certified from the IAOMT, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. The SMART certification entails a successfully completed training course in regards to proper mercury removal and understanding of the harmful, damaging effects of mercury use in dentistry. Traditional dentistry typically does not adequately protect patients from absorption of harmful mercury vapors and particles during removal of these fillings. This harmful heavy metal can cause ill effects in certain areas of the body, especially for those who have a hypersensitivity to Mercury.
SMART— The Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique for Lansing Patients
The SMART Mercury Safe removal protocol was created by IAOMT to ensure safety for patients and dental staff. Improper removal of silver fillings can result in extreme mercury toxicity vapors that are over one hundred times stronger than the maximum levels of mercury vapor allowed by all government regulatory agencies. We fully utilize the comprehensive SMART method, which includes:
- Proper installation of an amalgam separator in order to fully collect mercury waste
- Ensuring the procedure takes place in a high-volume air filtrated room that’s capable of removing all mercury vapors and filling particles
- Proper protective gowns and covers for everyone involved in the procedure
- Our staff utilize non-latex nitrile gloves, proper face shields, hair coverings, as well as properly sealed, respiratory grade masks designed specifically to capture mercury vapors
- Our patients are protected in an impermeable barrier that protects both skin and clothing
- The external air source is delivered via nasal mask for our patients to ensure they don’t inhale any mercury vapors
- Dental dams / Isodry isolation systems and saliva ejectors are placed in the patient’s mouth to further reduce mercury exposure
- We utilize a special, high-speed mercury vacuum as well as copious amounts of water to reduce release of Mercury vapor and the thousands of micro and submicron particles released into the air when cutting out the fillings.
Understanding the Risks of Mercury Fillings for Patients
The ADA and FDA continue to maintain a position that these fillings are safe and effective. Our profession is currently divided on the safety of amalgam, mercury-containing fillings. This is due to the fact that there aren’t studies available where both groups of people are identical in all parameters except for one group that doesn’t have mercury dental fillings while the other one does. The symptoms of mercury exposure can express itself through various, cascading symptoms, impacting each patient in different ways over a long period of times.
However, we do know that mercury is a serious neurotoxin. Mercury is especially dangerous for younger patients whose neurological systems have not fully developed. There is also no known safe level for mercury in the human body. Meaning that mercury is harmful to tissue at any level. Contrary to traditional dentistry practices, mercury vapors are released from mercury fillings during the entire lifespan of the filling and when placing and removing them.
Mercury has a unique form of toxicity to the brain, being one of the only toxins that can disrupt the structural protein of the Axon called tubulin. This can create neurofibrillary tangles, which is the primary biochemical pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A University of Calgary study noted the toxicity dental amalgam mercury fillings.
Learn More about the Effects of Mercury
Our differing body chemistry allows each of us to handle toxins in our own way. While some may be able to expel mercury through the urine, gut, skin, etc., others, unfortunately, can’t. Patients who don’t have the ability to expel mercury undergo serious, adverse side effects due to this toxin. Many can still have residual levels of mercury elevated in their blood stream for months after conventional removal techniques. Even though mercury fillings remain an ongoing debate in our field and the fact that body chemistry differs from patient to patient, Bechtel Dentistry embraces the philosophy that optimal overall wellness and true holistic care can be better achieved by practicing mercury-free dentistry.
Testing Mercury Toxicity for Lansing Patients
Testing can be done to determine if you are experiencing mercury-related health concerns. Patients can take a challenge test, this test includes a chelating agent which is given to individuals. Urine is then collected over a period of hours and is analyzed for mercury levels. Unfortunately, the concern with this type of test is that it doesn’t always tell a complete story. Also, introducing significant amounts of toxins to the body without first preparing it can be very dangerous. Advancements in technology offer the ability to study mercury markers in blood chemistry profile in order to evaluate the presence and effects of mercury. These markers can identify the extent of mercury exposure, providing an accurate timeline of how long mercury has been present in the system. One individual who has spent a lifetime studying and identifying these markers is Sam Queen, CCN from Orlando, FL. He can be reached at designed2win.com
Mercury-Safe Protocol for Proper Removal
We follow the comprehensive guidelines provided by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, IAOMT, for removing mercury dental fillings. While we can’t make any guarantees or claims regarding health improvements for mercury dental filling removal, we can promise you the following:
- Dr. Bechtel and our team will provide the best care in meticulously removing all the mercury safely with minimal to no exposure to you and our team.
- Once we’ve completed the task of removing all mercury-containing fillings, you won’t be putting your body at risk anymore for mercury exposure from your mouth.
It’s important to note, that a comprehensive blood panel is the only way to know if mercury has impacted your health. Without blood work, we are unable to recommend supplements for before or after your mercury removal procedure. While we trust the established mercury removal protocol provided by the IAOMT for protecting you and our team from mercury vapors, we are not in the position to recommend supplements. Our team is committed to holistic wellness and understand the potential dangers of randomly taking supplements without proper evidence.
Whenever mercury is removed from a patient’s mouth, we have to follow a strict safety protocol for its disposal. Mercury can’t be disposed of in the normal trash or even in a medical waste bag. Disposed mercury has to be stored in a sealed container and removed by a specialty disposal company for proper safety measures. We are then given a certificate to verify proper disposal. This offers a major discrepancy that many in our society would be okay with placing mercury in our mouths, yet view mercury as a serious environmental hazard once removed from our bodies.
Schedule Your Dental Appointment Today!
Dr. Bechtel and our Lansing, Michigan dental team are committed to providing exceptional care and empowering our patients with information about their dental health. If you have any questions about our mercury-safe services or would like to schedule an appointment, we invite you to contact us at 517-882-7132. Our holistic dentistry offers comprehensive treatments that promote overall wellness for our patients living throughout Lansing, Holt, Okemos, Mason, Grand Ledge, Dewitt, Haslett, Williamston, St. Johns, Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, East Lansing, and Potterville.
