Question: I have three fillings I got in my late teens and early 20s (I am now 38 years old). I assume they are mercury fillings. I am in good health, but do you recommend having mercury fillings removed as a preventive measure?

Dr. Brownstein's Answer:

Mercury fillings are referred to commonly as amalgam. These types of fillings are approximately 50 percent mercury by weight. Conventional dentists will tell you (often with a straight face) that amalgam is safe to put in your mouth. When a dentist tells you amalgam is safe, the first step you should take is to find a new dentist.

Amalgam is not safe. It is a toxic item that should never be placed in any living being’s mouth. Studies have shown clearly that amalgam leaks mercury, and this mercury is absorbed easily in the body. Unfortunately, the more amalgam you have, the more mercury you have in your body.

I do not, however, recommend amalgam removal unless it is supervised by a healthcare provider and a dentist who is knowledgeable about safe ways to remove amalgam and mercury detoxification.

Improper removal of amalgam can result in an increased mercury release in the body. Finally, if the mercury filings are old (greater than 10 years) it may be better to leave them in and replace them when they begin to fall apart.