Safe Mercury Removal (SMART)
Protecting Your Health During Amalgam Removal.
We don’t just “drill out” fillings. We follow the world’s most rigorous safety protocols to protect you, our team, and the TCI environment from mercury vapor.
Mercury is known as the most toxic non-radioactive metal to human health
Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin. Traditional removal can release a massive ‘cloud’ of toxic vapor. Our goal is to contain 100% of that exposure.
Watch how a 50-year-old filling continues to off-gas mercury vapor at room temperature.
The Critical Danger: Removal
Important: While amalgams release low levels of vapor during chewing or drinking hot liquids, an exponentially larger amount of toxic vapor is released during the removal process. This is why a ‘standard’ removal is not enough—it requires the specialized SMART/PROTECT protocols we use at Dental Arts TCI.
The "Silver" Marketing Trick
Amalgams are often called ‘silver fillings,’ but this is a marketing misnomer. In reality, these restorations contain approximately 50% mercury—the most toxic non-radioactive metal to human health—mixed with silver, copper, tin, and nickel.
A Historical Warning: "Mad Hatter Disease"
The dangers of mercury are not new. In the 1800s, ‘Mad Hatter Disease’ was a recognized illness among hat makers who used mercury to stiffen felt. Today, while amalgams are illegal to place in many countries (including the entire EU), many patients still carry these ‘off-gassing’ restorations in their mouths.
Research has linked mercury vapor to a wide spectrum of health concerns, including:
Neurological: Brain damage, memory loss, MS, ALS, and Alzheimer’s.
Psychological: Depression and mental health disorders.
Physical: Kidney and heart damage, autoimmune disorders, and chronic inflammation.
For the "Mystery Illness" Patient
Searching for Answers? Explore the Mercury Connection.
Many of our patients come to us after years of ‘normal’ lab results, yet they continue to suffer from mystery illnesses with no obvious cause. Because mercury is a cumulative toxin, it can hide in the body’s tissues for decades. At Dental Arts TCI, we believe it’s worth exploring the possibility of mercury toxicity as a root cause. By following the SMART/PROTECT protocols, we minimize exposure to the patient, doctor, and staff, providing a safe starting point for your recovery.
For Women & Future Generations
Protecting the Next Generation: A Transgenerational Approach.
Mercury is not just a personal health concern; it is a transgenerational one. Mercury can be passed from mother to child in utero and through breastfeeding. For women planning to start a family, the timing of amalgam removal is critical.
We recommend safely removing amalgams, followed by a protocol to replenish essential minerals, at least one year before conception. This ‘pre-conception detox’ ensures the best possible pregnancy outcomes and prevents passing a toxic burden to the next generation.
One Year Before Conception
Many dentists are ‘Mercury-Free’ (they don’t place amalgams), but very few are ‘Mercury-Safe’ (they have the equipment to remove them without harming the patient). Dental Arts TCI is both.
A 10-Step Safety Standard
Our Mercury-Safe Operating Standards. We utilize the most advanced physical and chemical barriers to ensure 100% containment of mercury vapor.
- 01. Bio-Binding Pre-Rinse: Before we begin, you will receive an activated charcoal or similar binder rinse to capture any microscopic particles.
- 02. External Air Filtration: The Dent Air Vac—a high-volume HEPA filtration system—is positioned inches from your mouth to vacuum up vapor and aerosols at the source.
- 03. Positive Pressure Oxygen: You will breathe medical-grade oxygen through a sealed nasal mask, ensuring you never inhale the air in the immediate treatment area.
- 04. Total Patient Draping: We protect your skin and clothing with impervious barriers, as mercury vapor can be absorbed through the skin or cling to hair and fabric.
- 05. Non-Latex Dental Dam: This "raincoat" isolates the tooth being treated, preventing any debris from entering your throat or resting on your oral tissues.
- 06. Mercury-Absorptive Barrier: We apply a specialized sealing paste around the dam to ensure no vapor leaks through the margins.
- 07. High-Speed, Low-Heat Removal: We use specialized carbide burs to "chunk" the amalgam rather than grinding it. This keeps the temperature low and minimizes vapor production.
- 08. Dual High-Volume Evacuation (HVE): Two separate high-speed suctions are used simultaneously to pull air away from the field of operation.
- 09. Copious Water Irrigation: A constant flow of water is used to keep the filling cool and trap particles in liquid form.
- 10. Environmental Filtration: Our office is equipped with a specialized Amalgam Separator, ensuring that 100% of the removed mercury is captured and recycled safely, never entering the Turks & Caicos ecosystem.
Mercury displaces essential minerals in the body. We provide post-treatment protocols to help you replenish your body burden and test your progress through Hair Mineral Analysis.