Methods To Reduce Mercury Vapor Exposure To Both Patient and Operators During Amalgam Removal - IAOMT Approved
The Dental Protocol for minimizing mercury exposure to the patient during the filling removal.
1. The teeth are isolated with a rubber dam and /or special suction device (clean-up) to contain the pulverized amalgam and its harmful vapor.
2. The patient (and the dental team) breathes clean air during the removal process. The patient needs to be protected from the mercury vapor, which is generated in high amounts during the drilling. The air around the nose is therefore highly contaminated, so a fresh source of air needs to be imported. A nose mask attached to oxygen or air is used.
3. A high speed suction devise with charcoal filters (Denti-Vac) to filter the mercury vapor is placed in front of the patient’s mouth to direct all the mercury laden vapor from the dental removal procedures away from the patient and the dental team.
3. The filling removal is performed in sections, removing large chunks, and minimizing the pulverization (drilling) of the amalgam and thus reducing the vaporization of the mercury. ¨ Copious water is used to cool the drill and amalgam dust and thus reduce the vaporization to the mercury and remove the mercury in the water.
4. The high-speed suction is placed next to the filling being removed to remove the water and the suction the vapor.
5. The saliva ejector is placed under the rubber dam next to the area where the filling is being removed. This is a protection to suction any vapor that goes through the dam and is now on the inside of the mouth. The saliva ejector and the fact that the patient is instructed to breath only from the nose are some of the precautious we recommend to counter this problem.
6. After the procedure the dam is removed carefully and disposed. The mouth is rinsed with copious amounts of water and all amalgam dust and particles are suctioned out.
7. The high-speed suction that conditions the air is left on during the filling procedures to clean and filter the air.
8. The drills and the air/ water syringe are wiped off to remove any mercury residue.
9. The patient can be covered in a disposable drape to minimize the mercury contamination on their clothes. In addition, protective eyewear is suggested. These disposable barriers are removed and into the hazardous medical wastes.
10. The disposable contaminated suction and saliva ejectors are replaced.
11. After the Dental procedure is finished, or sometimes during the restorative procedures, an IV of Vitamin C, glutathione and other vitamins and minerals can be administered to reduce and eliminate the mercury and aid the chelation process.
(First molar with an amalgam filling)
(Section by section removal of the amalgam filling)
(first molar, free from amalgam filling)
(base material put into the exposed pulp)
(Composite materials placed on the cavity)
(After the amalgam removal and replaced by composite materials)
Procedures done by Dr. Lillian Lasaten-Ebuen.