One of the most commonly given reasons for skipping regular dental visits is the cost. Yet there’s also a cost to forgoing care. For one, it considerably raises the risk of developing gum disease, caries (tooth decay), and other problems - problems that only get...
Modern technology has done wonders for dentistry, but there are some decidedly low-tech tools that can make a profound difference in your dental care. The rubber dam is one of them - a square nitrile sheet that’s used to isolate the teeth we’re working on. (Some...
When the FDA took a historic step forward last fall with its new guidance on “silver” mercury amalgam fillings, some complained that the changes didn’t go far enough. Certainly, we agree that all dentistry should be mercury-free. But creating change is a journey,...
There are plenty of reasons to choose a biological dentist for your and your family’s care. Here, Dr. Mike offers five important ones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dVSscB7VlI&feature=emb_title These critical differences between standard and biologic care...
It was a long time coming, but the FDA finally issued guidelines acknowledging that “silver” mercury amalgam fillings can and do pose a risk to human health. The agency now holds that some people “may be at greater risk for potential harmful health effects of...
Because mercury is such a toxic element, particularly dangerous when inhaled, we go to great lengths to protect the health of our patients, ourselves, and our planet whenever we remove "silver" mercury amalgam fillings to replace them with biocompatible...
Once upon a time, folks believed that the mercury that makes up the bulk of “silver” fillings stayed locked inside the alloy. We know now, of course, this isn’t the case. Some mercury is released with every bite and swallow, and every time the fillings are brushed...
Amid ever-growing awareness of the risk mercury amalgam poses to your health and the health of the environment, and with many other countries in the process of phasing it out, here in the states, the FDA has seemed stuck and silent on the issue. But last week, an...
We’re closing in on the 6-year anniversary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and while there is still much work to do, there have been some terrific developments toward a mercury-free future this past year. Most recently, researchers confirmed that while a lot...
As if we needed more evidence as to why the SMART protocol should be followed when removing mercury amalgam “silver” fillings, new research in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology provides. For the study, researchers measured staff exposure to...
Because mercury is such a toxic element, particularly dangerous when inhaled, we go to great lengths to protect the health of our patients, ourselves, and our planet whenever we remove "silver" mercury amalgam fillings to replace them with biocompatible...
Last month, landmark legislation was introduced to bar the state of Maine from using in taxpayer money to pay for mercury amalgam fillings. “If amalgam were a necessity in dentistry, it would be one thing,” wrote the bill’s sponsor, Senator Mike Carpenter with...
A couple years back, the European Union took a huge step toward the ultimate phase-out of mercury amalgam in dentistry: banning its use in kids, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. And just in case anyone needs more proof that this was the right thing to do,...
While there’s still plenty of denial in mainstream dentistry about the health risks of mercury amalgam “silver” fillings, environmental concerns like the ones we raised last week are hastening the retirement of this toxic and antique material. The Minamata...
You might think that if you don’t have any mercury amalgam “silver” fillings in your mouth, the dental mercury issue doesn’t really affect you. But if you breathe air, drink water, or eat food, you are indeed affected. That’s because dentistry is one of the biggest...
Here’s a blunt truth: Mercury amalgam fillings are no friend to your health. As we’ve discussed before, When a person has these so-called “silver” fillings, mercury vapor is outgassed with every bite and swallow. Even something as benign as brushing your teeth can...
Now that the Minamata Convention on Mercury has gone into force (yay!), maybe we’ll start to see change come at a faster clip. But for now, dental students – with very few exceptions – continue to be taught to place mercury amalgam fillings, just as earlier...
This past Friday, a requirement went into effect after years of research and concerns about mercury pollution from dental offices. All offices that regularly handle mercury amalgam now must have amalgam separators installed to keep this neurotoxin out of waste...
The impact of amalgam removal and detox is different for everyone. Some people experience quick improvement; others need months or more to fully recover from decades-long exposure to mercury. The experiences are different because people are different. Still,...
When you think about dangerous jobs, dentistry probably doesn’t spring to mind. Yet according to a recent article over at Business Insider, four of the five most hazardous jobs involve dental workers. Hygienists were found to have the riskiest jobs, followed by...