Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (IAOMT)

Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) Technique

Information from the IAOMT - The International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

All dental amalgam restorations contain approximately 50% mercury, and reports and research are consistent that these fillings emit mercury vapors. Scientific research demonstrates that dental mercury amalgam exposes dental professionals, dental staff, dental patients, and/or fetuses to releases of mercury vapor, mercury-containing particulate, and/or other forms of mercury contamination.

Furthermore, mercury vapor is known to be released from dental mercury amalgam fillings at higher rates during brushing, cleaning, clenching of teeth, chewing, etc. and mercury is also known to be released during the placement, replacement, and removal of dental mercury amalgam fillings. Utilising the available scientific evidence, the IAOMT has developed extensive safety recommendations for the removal of existing dental mercury amalgam fillings, including detailed protective measures that are to be utilised for the procedure. The IAOMT’s recommendations build upon traditional safe amalgam removal techniques such as the use of masks, water irrigation, and high volume suction by supplementing these conventional strategies with a number of additional protective measures, the need for which have only recently been identified in scientific research. Such as the use of a dental dam, charcoal mouth rinse prior and after and a patient oxygen supply.

It is important to note that the above is for the average person and we can run bespoke blood testing to see what burden the metals in your mouth are having on your system, once understood we can remove them safely as per the guidelines.

It is important to note that as a safety precaution, the IAOMT does not recommend amalgam filling removal for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding and that the IAOMT does not recommend that dental personnel who are pregnant or breast-feeding conduct work that disrupts amalgam fillings (including their removal).

You can read more about the removal process HERE