The Difference between a Mercury Free & Mercury Safe Dentist
First, we want you to know that our practice is both Occupationally Mercury Safe and Mercury Free (amalgam silver filling free) and we feel it is very important for our patients to know that there is a big difference between dentists who are only Mercury Free and dentists who are both Occupationally Mercury Safe and Mercury Free.
Strictly speaking, the term “Mercury Free” refers to dentists who do not put mercury amalgam/silver fillings in their patients’ teeth. However, the term Mercury Free isn't an accurate description because even dentists who don't place mercury amalgam fillings still have to remove them. This is important because removing them unsafely releases excessive and unnecessary amounts of poisonous mercury vapor - many, many times higher than the maximum levels of mercury vapor allowed by government regulatory agencies at the workplace. (And our office is considered a workplace.)
This of course has created a dilemma for patients who have believed that dentists who say they are Mercury Amalgam Free also meant they were also occupationally Mercury Safe. Bottom line . . . you can’t assume that a dentist who advertises his or her practice as being Mercury Free, is also Occupationally Mercury Safe – unless you ask!
The Main Difference between an Occupationally Mercury Safe Dentist and a Dentist who is Only Mercury Free
It is important for patients to know what really separates occupationally Mercury Safe dentists from dentists who are only Mercury Free (amalgam filling free). Mercury Safe Dentists know that:
- When unsafely removed, amalgam fillings release unnecessary and excessive amounts of poisonous mercury vapor.
- The mercury released from unsafe amalgam filling removal negatively affects the dentist, the patient, the staff, and the environment.
- If a mercury separator isn't used, unsafe levels of mercury will be released into the wastewater and harm the environment.
- They will do all they can to protect their patients from excessive exposure to toxic mercury vapor during the amalgam filling removal process.
- As an Occupationally Mercury Safe dental office, we have the specialized equipment, training, experience, and skills necessary to minimize our patients’ exposure to mercury during amalgam filling removal. If you want to protect yourself from excessive and unnecessary occupational exposure from toxic mercury vapor at the dental office you want to make sure your dentist is not just mercury amalgam free - but also Occupationally Mercury Safe!
Another advantage of going to a Mercury Safe dentist is that you won’t have to debate why you believe your amalgam fillings are a health hazard, why you want them removed, or why you want to minimize your exposure to mercury during the removal process. In fact, no regulatory agency, scientist, or health professional would ever suggest not doing everything possible to minimize your exposure to mercury, regardless of its source; except for one group—pro-amalgam dentists. This in spite of the fact that the American Dental Association (ADA) actually encourages dentists to make their offices occupationally mercury safe. To learn about the ADAs support of Mercury Safe Dentistry Click Here.
Amazingly, the dental profession uses more mercury per year than any other business. In fact, it's the only industry using elemental mercury that isn't regulated by the government. Hopefully that will change soon. But in the meantime, we can dramatically minimize your exposure to mercury vapor during amalgam removal by making sure they are removed as safely as possible!
That is why we consider it important to make sure our patients know that our dental practice is both Occupationally Mercury Safe & Mercury Free. We would appreciate it if you let your family and friends know about this important difference! and we would also appreciate your referrals!
