Mercury Free Dentistry

In the removal and replacement of mercury fillings (amalgam), Stewart and Tom follow the protocols recommended by the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) and the British Society for Mercury Free Dentistry. Briefly, these include the following precautions:

isolation of the treatment area by a technique known as 'rubber dam'
use of high-speed, water-cooled instruments
use of externally vented suction systems to remove all mercury vapour and expel it from the treatment area
use of a specialised mercury filtration system to extract harmful background mercury vapour
use of general protective coverings
removal sessions which adhere to the recommended time intervals between visits.

"Mercury forms a large number of organic and inorganic compounds. Mercury vapour and almost all of these compounds are highly toxic. Less hazardous substitutes should be used whenever possible."

Health and Safety Executive

Tom and Stewart do not use mercury alloys in their dental treatment; there are now modern biocompatible materials available which act as a reliable substitute. Dental amalgam (silver) contains at least 50% mercury. Numerous studies show that the mercury is not "locked-in", as previously believed, but is continually released from the fillings.

The official position of both the British and American Dental Associations is that "silver" fillings are safe and that mercury is a good material to restore decayed teeth and has no proven connection with adverse health complaints.

In susceptible individuals however, mercury has been shown to be a factor in: anxiety; depression; memory loss; brain and kidney disease; birth defects; heart and blood pressure problems; infertility; and fatigue.

It can be difficult to conclusively prove the connection between health problems and mercury fillings because of the multiplicity of signs and symptoms that are seen. Over 14,000 papers have been published which suggest that mercury is a toxic material and should not be implanted in fillings. Tom and Stewart agree with this body of opinion.

Stewart and Tom recognise that the removal of mercury fillings will not guarantee a change in the health status of patients and strongly recommend that all medical complaints be thoroughly investigated by a relevant medical practitioner.

If you wish to have your amalgam fillings replaced, it is first necessary to carefully assess your dental needs. This involves a full clinical dental examination including x-rays which takes about 30 minutes and costs £45 inclusive. This includes a detailed printout which describes the current state of your dental profile and a full estimate of the cost of replacing the fillings.

For further information, or to arrange an initial examination, please see appointments page