Mercury safe dentistry

Nurturing wellness through mercury-safe, holistic dentistry

About our mercury safe practice

Distinguished as holistic practitioners, Dr. Gerry Curatola and the Rejuvenation Health team embody the principles of mercury-safe and mercury-free (amalgam/silver filling-free) dentistry. Our unwavering commitment centers on fostering a safe and health-focused approach to dentistry. Guided by a profound mission, we prioritize treating our patients with the utmost natural care, infused with holistic principles. Beyond the clinic, we are passionate about sharing comprehensive insights into holistic dental wellness, empowering our patients to make informed decisions about their oral health journey.

Save mercury amalgam/silver fillings, removal protocols

Dr. Curatola and team Rejuvenation Health recognizes the adverse effects of mercury vapor, dental infections, and TMJ (bite) issues on both oral and overall health. Our practice removes mercury amalgam (silver) fillings with the utmost safety.

Our commitment extends beyond patient well-being; it encompasses the safeguarding of the environment and the well-being of our staff. We are resolute in our approach to minimize unnecessary and excessive exposure to mercury during the amalgam removal process. This dedication aligns with the guidance of esteemed dental organizations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), emphasizing the significance of creating an Occupationally Mercury Safe dental environment.

We employ proven amalgam removal protocols that are grounded in the recommendations of authoritative bodies such as the International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists (IAMSD), the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), and other distinguished biological and holistic dental organizations. These protocols not only prioritize patient safety but also underscore our responsibility to uphold ethical and health-oriented practices.

Opting for a mercury-safe dentist is key. At our practice, your well-being and safety are at the heart of our approach to dental care.

Why our practice is mercury safe

TO OUR VALUED PATIENTS:

Dental schools still teach dentists to use mercury amalgam (silver) fillings and the American Dental Association (ADA) continues to tell the public they are safe. But recently more and more questions have been raised about the safety of the mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings while their are in a person’s mouth. This has resulted in a controversy and an ongoing debate about them – with some dentists saying they are safe and more and more saying they aren’t. This has now evolved to the point where over 60% of practicing dentists are no longer putting mercury amalgam/silver fillings in their patients’ teeth. Also of interest is that three countries, Norway, Sweden and Denmark have banned the use of mercury fillings in the dental practice.

This controversy has made me rethink what I was taught in dental school. After extensive research (including reading Dr. Tom McGuire’s book; The Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings . . . Hazardous to Your Health), articles on his website www.mercurysafeandmercuryfree.com, and information provided by the ADA, I concluded it would be in the best interests of my patients, myself and my staff, and the environment, to no longer offer mercury amalgam/silver fillings as a dental filling material and become a Mercury Free (amalgam filling free) dental practice. Of note is the fact that the ADA also supports occupationally mercury safe dentistry.

ONE STEP FURTHER: BECOMING MERCURY SAFE AND MERCURY FREE

In addition, because it has been scientifically proven that high levels of poisonous mercury vapor are released when amalgam fillings are unsafely removed, I’ve made my office as Occupationally Mercury Safe as possible. To that end, I use state-of-the art technology, equipment, and safe removal protocols, to protect my patients, my staff, myself, and the environment from excessive, and unnecessary, occupational exposure to occupational mercury at my office. Thus, I’ve now made my practice both Occupationally Mercury Safe and Mercury Free (amalgam filling free). Click Here to review our amalgam removal protocols.

Becoming both a Mercury Safe and Mercury Amalgam Free dental practice was my decision to make. But I believe that deciding whether or not to have your existing amalgam fillings removed and replaced must be your choice. Because I place great importance on Patient Education, I feel it is my responsibility to educate my patients about the important relationship of oral to overall health and to provide them with the information required for them to make educated decisions about their oral health. That is why we recommend Dr. McGuire’s book to learn more about the pros and cons of removing, or keeping, these fillings. But again I want to make it clear that the decision to remove and replace these fillings can only be made by you. My staff and me would be happy to answer any questions you have.

Safe guidelines for removing mercury amalgam/silver fillings

First, we want you to know that our practice is both Occupationally Mercury Safe and Mercury Free (amalgam silver filling free) and we feel it is very important for our patients to know that there is a big difference between dentists who are only Mercury Free and dentists who are both Occupationally Mercury Safe and Mercury Free.

Strictly speaking, the term “Mercury Free” refers to dentists who do not put mercury amalgam/silver fillings in their patients’ teeth. However, the term Mercury Free isn’t an accurate description because even dentists who don’t place mercury amalgam fillings still have to remove them. This is important because removing them unsafely releases excessive and unnecessary amounts of poisonous mercury vapor – many, many times higher than the maximum levels of mercury vapor allowed by government regulatory agencies at the workplace. (And our office is considered a workplace.)

This of course has created a dilemma for patients who have believed that dentists who say they are Mercury Amalgam Free also meant they were also occupationally Mercury Safe. Bottom line . . . you can’t assume that a dentist who advertises his or her practice as being Mercury Free, is also Occupationally Mercury Safe – unless you ask!

The main difference between occupationally mercury says dentist and dentist. You are mercury free

It is important for patients to know what really separates occupationally Mercury Safe dentists from dentists who are only Mercury Free (amalgam filling free). Mercury Safe Dentists know that:

  • When unsafely removed, amalgam fillings release unnecessary and excessive amounts of poisonous mercury vapor.
  • The mercury released from unsafe amalgam filling removal negatively affects the dentist, the patient, the staff, and the environment.
  • If a mercury separator isn’t used, unsafe levels of mercury will be released into the wastewater and harm the environment.
  • They will do all they can to protect their patients from excessive exposure to toxic mercury vapor during the amalgam filling removal process.
  • As an Occupationally Mercury Safe dental office, we have the specialized equipment, training, experience, and skills necessary to minimize our patients’ exposure to mercury during amalgam filling removal. If you want to protect yourself from excessive and unnecessary occupational exposure from toxic mercury vapor at the dental office you want to make sure your dentist is not just mercury amalgam free – but also Occupationally Mercury Safe!

Another advantage of going to a Mercury Safe dentist is that you won’t have to debate why you believe your amalgam fillings are a health hazard, why you want them removed, or why you want to minimize your exposure to mercury during the removal process. In fact, no regulatory agency, scientist, or health professional would ever suggest not doing everything possible to minimize your exposure to mercury, regardless of its source; except for one group—pro-amalgam dentists. This in spite of the fact that the American Dental Association (ADA) actually encourages dentists to make their offices occupationally mercury safe. To learn about the ADAs support of Mercury Safe Dentistry Click Here.

Amazingly, the dental profession uses more mercury per year than any other business. In fact, it’s the only industry using elemental mercury that isn’t regulated by the government. Hopefully that will change soon. But in the meantime, we can dramatically minimize your exposure to mercury vapor during amalgam removal by making sure they are removed as safely as possible!

That is why we consider it important to make sure our patients know that our dental practice is both Occupationally Mercury Safe & Mercury Free. We would appreciate it if you let your family and friends know about this important difference! and we would also appreciate your referrals!

The difference between mercury free and mercury safe dentist

Our Occupationally Mercury Safe office makes every effort to remove mercury amalgam/silver fillings in the safest way possible. We follow the recommendations of the International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists, the Intentional Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, the American Dental Association, and other holistic dental organizations.

The following basic amalgam removal protocols are what most Mercury Safe dentists utilize to protect the patient and we will provide a basic explanation of each. Keep in mind that while protecting you from excessive and unnecessary exposure to mercury vapor during amalgam removal is our primary goal, we are also concerned about protecting ourselves and the environment. Thus, some of the protocols we utilize, that aren’t listed here, are meant more to protect us as they are you. Please know that our goal is to do all we can to protect you, our dentist, our staff, and the environment from mercury! Let us know if you have any questions.

1. KEEP THE FILLINGS COOL DURING REMOVAL
Drilling out an amalgam filling generates a tremendous amount of heat, which causes a significant increase in the release of mercury, both as a vapor and in amalgam particles, during the removal process. Cooling the filling with copious amounts of water and air while drilling substantially reduces the amount of mercury vapor, and particles, the filling releases.
2. CUTTING THE AMALGAM INTO CHUNKS
Most Mercury Safe dentists use a removal process that’s commonly referred to as ‘chunking’. This involves less drilling, because the dentist only drills enough to cut the filling into chunks, which can then be easily removed by a hand instrument or suction.
3. USE A HIGH-VOLUME EVACUATOR
Most mercury safe dentists use a more powerful suction system than the type used by most pro-amalgam dentists. We believe this is an important protocol in preventing mercury vapor and amalgam particles from entering the room. The evacuator tip should be kept close to the filling during the entire time the filling is being removed. This helps capture more of the mercury vapor and particles. Chunking, and keeping the filling cool, and evacuation during removal are three essential parts of the safe removal process because they are preventive in nature. Meaning they capture most of the mercury vapor and amalgam particles before they leave the area of your mouth..
4. PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF AIR
We provide you with an alternative air source while your mercury amalgam fillings are being removed. An alternative source of air may not be necessary when the tooth is being prepared for the new filling, or while the new filling is being placed.
5. USE A NON-LATEX RUBBER DAM – OR EQUIVALENT ISOLATION SYSTEM

A rubber dam isolates the tooth or teeth being worked on and allows us to have better access to the tooth. It was once believed that the traditional rubber dam would protect a patient from breathing mercury vapor in through the mouth. We now know that mercury vapor can readily pass through a rubber dam made out of latex, the most commonly used rubber dam material. It can also pass around the rubber dam. Many patients have heard that the rubber dam offers a great deal of protection and should absolutely be included as part of the safe removal protocol. Some people will even insist on its use to protect them from mercury vapor.

But because the rubber dam does not protect you from inhaling some mercury vapor through your mouth during the removal process, it does not absolutely have to be used when removing amalgam fillings. There also may be situation where a dental procedure can’t be completed with a rubber dam in place. Each situation is unique and we will adjust as necessary. With or without a rubber dam, incorporating the first 4 steps listed above will provide you with the greatest source of protection from mercury vapor.

A NOTE TO YOU
We ask that, during the actual removal process, that you concentrate on breathing through your nostrils and avoid breathing through your mouth while your mercury amalgam silver fillings are being removed. We ask this because breathing through your nostrils offers more protection against mercury vapor than breathing through your mouth. Also, some patients have some anxiety about the dental visit and tend to want to breathe through their mouths.
6. POST REMOVAL CLEAN UP
We will follow up amalgam removal by thoroughly rinsing the patients mouth, removing and safely disposing of the protective covering we used to protect you. We then thoroughly clean the equipment and instruments used in the removal process. Everything that is disposable is safely recycled.
Smart certified

The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) has evolved the standards for safely removing mercury amalgam dental fillings by significantly reducing the unnecessary and excessive exposure to mercury released from these fillings. The IAOMT’s recommendations are known as the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART).

Based on up-to-date scientific research, the IAOMT has developed rigorous recommendations for removing existing dental mercury amalgam fillings to assist in reducing the potential negative health outcomes of mercury exposure to patients, dental professionals, dental students, office staff, and others.

At this time, Dr. Gerry Curatola is one of a small, but growing, number of IAOMT members who qualifies as a SMART Certified IAOMT dentist. With the SMART designation you can be confident that he is fully qualified to safely remove mercury amalgam (silver) fillings.

You can watch videos of Dr. Curatola discussing the Safe Removal of Amalgam Fillings by Clicking Here!

Meet Your Biologic Dental Team

Book a consultation with Dr. Gerry Curatola and team

STEP ONE Comprehensive telehealth consultation with Rejuvenation Health Team
STEP TWO Customized treatment plan development and review
STEP THREE  Treatment Scheduling with a dedicated Patient Coordinator

Anxiety-free dentistry

At Rejuvenation Health, your overall physical and emotional wellbeing are as important to us as your oral health. As a biologically driven multi-specialty dental team, we consider how what we do impacts all of you—not just your mouth. We offer all major sedation methods from local to general anesthesia, our practice is synonymous with sedation dentistry in New York, NY so that you can relax through your appointment without fear or pain.

We use local anesthesia, the foundational level of sedation, to numb treatment sites before a minor procedure. You remain completely alert under its effects.

We’ll prescribe a medication for you to take either before your visit or during it. The level of anxiety you have will determine the kind of medication we provide as well as the level of comfort you experience.

We administer nitrous oxide, sometimes referred to as laughing gas, through a mask. Nitrous oxide keeps you alert but relaxed throughout your treatment, and its effects wear off quickly after the mask is removed.

Administered intravenously, IV sedation puts you in a sleep-like state, though you’re not actually asleep. You won’t feel any sensation during your procedure, nor will you remember anything about it afterward.

Usually reserved for use during the most complex dental and medical procedures, general anesthesia is a combination of medications that renders you fully unconscious for the duration of your procedure.

PST is kinder to your body than traditional methods of gum restoration, allowing you to avoid scalpels, sutures, and grafting. It really is revolutionary. See for yourself!