The infamous “silver filling” is also known as a dental amalgam or mercury filling. The modern dental amalgam was first conceived in 1816 by the French dentist, Dr. Auguste Taveau, but earlier versions go back to the Tang Dynasty. Amalgams contain different combinations of silver, zinc, copper, and tin inside a mercury matrix. Are dental amalgams safe? Well, that depends who you ask.
The main exposure of the mercury in a dental amalgam is from mercury vapor that is released during its placement, the act of chewing on it, and later removal of the amalgam. This mercury vapor is essentially inhaled into the lungs and is absorbed and accumulates in various organs such as kidney, brain, lung, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and the exocrine glands. Some believe that this material can cause multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune dysfunctions in the body. More and more dentists are excluding mercury fillings from their practices. Amalgams are a very hard dental material and can last over twenty years before the material starts to corrode and leak thereby allowing pathogens from your mouth to contaminate your tooth. The bigger problem with the hardness of the amalgam is since it is more rigid than your own tooth, your tooth will naturally flex around this mercury filling causing stress cracks, which can ultimately compromise the overall health and well-being of the tooth.
So, you think want to remove your mercury fillings? It is very important that if you want to remove your dental amalgam, you do it correctly. There are organizations that claim they have “protocols” for the proper removal of mercury fillings, and they have paid members that are supposedly specially trained in this. Let me tell you that ALL dentists are trained to do this. The critical factor in the correct removal and replacement of a dental amalgam is using a skilled and competent dental practitioner. Do not assume all dentists have the same level of skill and expertise. Unfortunately, they do not. At Integrative Dental Specialists of Long Island, Dr. Etess and his team can help you make the correct decision in regard to your existing dental amalgams and other dental issues. Our office has the specialized dental skill set and the most modern equipment to ALWAYS treat you with the best and safest care. We always use the most premium dental materials available today, which are always biocompatible. We do it correctly, or we do not do it at all. Integrity is doing what is correct, even when no one is watching. Dental integrity is what Dr. Etess represents.
Your mouth is a wear and tear machine that requires maintenance, and teeth with amalgam fillings even more so. People forget that all machines require maintenance, and that all moving parts including teeth may eventually require repair or replacement, no matter how well you take care of them. Dr. Etess utilizes the most effective disinfection protocols and the most current dental materials available in the restoration of your teeth. Even more important are the master skills and precision techniques that Dr. Etess incorporates into his care which are necessary for the perfect repair. Anything less will not be successful in the long term.
There is nothing better than your own natural teeth, but for patients requiring tooth replacement, Dr. Etess offers world-class treatment options. We use the revolutionary Khoury™ grafts, which utilize your own harvested bone along with Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) from your blood, containing growth factors, healing cytokines, and the all important regenerative stem cells, to allow you to heal optimally and rapidly. State of the art zirconia, titanium, and Roxsolid® (titanium / zirconium hybrid) dental implants offer our patients the best replacement options.
Remaining on the cutting edge of the newest dental advancements is a full-time task and a top priority for Dr. Etess. In order to provide our patients with the most sanitary environment possible, we employ ENHANCED proactive ultraviolet air and surface office disinfection protocols. Do not assume all dentistry is the same. Dr. Etess prides himself on bringing you top notch, unmatched care. We work toward one standard, the HIGHEST standard. The time for excuses has passed. If you are looking for the finest, safest, healthiest and most predictable results to correct your dental issues, supported by the most advanced dental technology, contact Integrative Dental Specialists to make an appointment with Dr. Etess today.
Jeffrey Etess, DMD, NMD, IBDM, graduated in the top 10% from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. An IVY LEAGUE trained Certified Endodontic Specialist/Implant Specialty Surgeon with a dual degree in Dentistry and Board Certified in Naturopathic & Integrative medicine & certified in biomimetic cosmetic dentistry to provide a broad array of biological dentistry covering all facets of restorative, cosmetic, prosthetic, surgical, endodontic, pediatric, periodontal, and implant dentistry for his patients for over 25 years.
