Safe mercury filling removal

Why mercury fillings matter

Mercury can reach cells throughout the body. Exposure has been associated with a range of nervous, digestive and immune concerns, and some people are more sensitive to it than others.

When we evaluate a patient who has been exposed to mercury, we consider:

• The type of mercury
• How much exposure
• Age at exposure (younger people face more risk)
• How long the exposure lasted
• How it happened: swallowing, breathing or skin contact

The world is moving away from amalgam

Several countries, including Norway, Sweden and Denmark, stopped using mercury amalgam years ago, and the European Union banned most dental amalgam from January 2025. In 2020, the FDA recommended that higher-risk groups, such as pregnant women and young children, avoid new amalgam fillings when possible. Yet many American dentists still place them.

Why SMART removal is different

Many offices describe themselves as mercury-free, but standard removal methods can release mercury vapor and particles, increasing exposure for both the patient and the dental team.

Dr. Wright follows the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) and the accredited protocols of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, plus the additional protocols of his mentor, Dr. Hal Huggins. These measures reduce exposure to mercury particles in the air throughout the procedure.

Replacing what's removed

Removed amalgam is replaced with BPA-free, tooth-colored composite material. In lab tests, this type of filling has been shown to strengthen a tooth significantly compared with the old silver filling it replaces.