I want to get my silver fillings removed, but my dentist said it’s not safe to remove amalgam fillings. If it’s not safe to remove, why is it safe to keep them in my body? Is there really no way to safely remove them?

Lizzie W. – San Diego, CA

Lizzie,

While the ADA has declared amalgam fillings as perfectly safe, there is some concern about the vapors released during the amalgam removal process.

That doesn’t mean they can’t be removed. If you go to a mercury-free dentist, they’ll likely have the materials required to safely remove them. There are stopper dams and other things that allow for sanitary amalgam removal.

Just make sure whomever you go to takes the proper precautions, so you don’t breathe in any mercury vapors.

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