SMART-certified protocol with full isolation, filtration and protective barriers — the layers of safety that separate safe removal from ordinary drilling.
Dr. Pint uses IAOMT SMART protocols for safe mercury amalgam removal
Why replace mercury amalgam fillings?
Take Care of Your Body and Your Health Patients are demanding dental materials that are less toxic and biocompatible.
At Bonita Dental Studio, Dr Pint offers a variety of options to meet this demand. Dr Pint is committed to protecting your oral health and your overall health. Safe Guards are available that allow you to minimize exposure to dental materials you feel unsure about.
What are silver amalgam fillings made of?
Metal Free / Mercury Free ! Silver amalgam fillings are a combination of metals, including Mercury. They have been used for decades as a durable metal filling. Studies report that mercury is extremely toxic and when vaporized, can cross the blood brain barrier.
What does the FDA say about amalgam?
The FDA has set amalgam placement restrictions on certain patient populations.
Read the FDA issued Mercury Amalgam filling warning here.
Patients don’t want to risk the exposure when a filling needs to be replaced and we understand their concern. Instead, we have available BPA-free Composite resin fillings, Ceramic and Zirconia crowns, and non-fluoridated oral healthcare alternatives. If you have questionable amalgam fillings that need to be replaced, removal should be done with caution. After a careful analysis of the risks and benefits, IAOMT amalgam removal protocols are used for your safety.
How Dr. Pint removes amalgam safely
These protocols are further defined within the
SMART-certified removal process, which outlines the specific steps taken to minimize mercury exposure during treatment.
As part of our commitment to biological dentistry, we focus on both safe removal and the selection of compatible replacement materials.
Common questions
Do I need to be a “holistic” patient to come here?
No. Plenty of our patients wouldn’t describe themselves that way at all — they looked at what’s actually in an amalgam filling and decided they’d rather not have it in their mouth. Some patient have had tooth structure fracture around an amalgam filling, and decide to have treatment with precautions in place. That’s common sense, not a belief system. You’re welcome here whether you arrive in Birkenstocks or boots. With a detox protocol and a practitioner, or just a practical question about your fillings.
Is it safe to have mercury fillings removed?
Drilling out an amalgam filling does release mercury vapor — which is exactly why the technique matters more than the decision. Dr. Pint follows the IAOMT’s SMART protocol on every removal: a rubber dam isolating the tooth, a separate fresh oxygen supply so you aren’t breathing at the site, vacuum filtering harmful vapor at source, heavy water irrigation to keep the filling cool, and the filling sectioned out in pieces rather than ground away. Every step exists to reduce exposure during the procedure.
How many appointments will I need?
It depends how many fillings you are replacing and where they sit. A single filling is usually one visit; several are often staged across appointments by quadrants . Dr. Pint will map out a sequence at your consultation — patients working alongside a detox practitioner sometimes prefer to spread removals out deliberately.
What goes in place of the amalgam?
Usually a biocompatible, BPA-free composite. If the tooth has lost enough structure that a filling will not hold, a metal-free zirconia crown is the alternative. Which one is right depends on how much healthy tooth remains, and Dr. Pint will talk that through before treatment.
Should I start a detox program first?
Many patients simply want the mercury out, or need it out as the teeth break down. But if you are already working with a functional medicine practitioner or are on a protocol — Pompa, Cutler, Huggins or Quicksilver among them — Dr. Pint will coordinate timing with your health team rather than working around them.