Mercury-Safe SMART Removal

Why Choose Mercury-Safe SMART Removal at Holistic Dental Associates

The SMART protocol was developed by the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) based on decades of research into mercury vapor dynamics during dental procedures. Our protocol includes every element of the IAOMT's recommended technique:

1. Rubber dam isolation — a latex or nitrile barrier is placed around the tooth being treated, sealing off the rest of the mouth from mercury particles and vapor. 2. High-volume evacuator — a wide-bore suction tip is positioned right next to the tooth to capture mercury vapor and amalgam particulate at the source. 3. Supplemental oxygen — you breathe clean oxygen through a nasal mask throughout the procedure, ensuring you are not inhaling mercury vapor. 4. Activated charcoal — administered before the procedure to help bind any mercury that might be swallowed. 5. Full protective draping — your skin, hair, and clothing are covered to prevent mercury particle contact. 6. Protective eyewear — for both patient and team. 7. Room ventilation and air filtration — medical-grade mercury vapor filtration systems clean the operatory air. 8. Cold water irrigation and sectioning — the amalgam is sectioned into chunks rather than ground out, and cold water spray minimizes heat-generated mercury vapor. 9. Proper mercury waste disposal — all amalgam waste is captured, sealed, and disposed of according to EPA and environmental regulations.

After removal, the tooth is restored with a biocompatible material — typically BPA-free composite resin, ceramic inlay/onlay, or a CEREC zirconia restoration. When indicated, we perform serum biocompatibility testing to confirm the replacement material is well-suited to your body chemistry.

Benefits of Mercury-Safe SMART Removal

• Full IAOMT SMART protocol — every safety element implemented
• Supplemental oxygen — you breathe clean air, not mercury vapor
• Rubber dam isolation — mouth sealed off from mercury particulate
• High-volume evacuation — captures vapor at the source
• Activated charcoal — binds mercury in the GI tract
• Sectioning technique — minimizes vapor-generating drilling
• Cold water irrigation — reduces heat and mercury vaporization
• EPA-compliant mercury waste disposal
• Biocompatibility-tested replacement restorations

Who Is a Good Candidate for Mercury-Safe SMART Removal

SMART mercury removal is appropriate if you:

• Have mercury amalgam ('silver') fillings you want removed safely
• Are experiencing symptoms you suspect may be related to mercury exposure
• Are planning pregnancy and want to reduce your body's mercury burden
• Have autoimmune or neurological conditions and want to eliminate potential toxin sources
• Simply prefer not to have a known neurotoxin in your mouth

How Mercury-Safe SMART Removal Fits Into Holistic Dentistry

Mercury amalgam sits on specific teeth that correspond to organs and body systems via the meridian tooth chart. In biological dentistry, we consider not just the toxicity of the mercury itself, but the energetic disruption that a mercury-laden restoration may create on the meridian pathway it occupies. When we remove amalgam safely and replace it with biocompatible material, we are addressing both the chemical and energetic burden on the body.