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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by janejane on January 12, 2010, at 8:18:19
Hi everyone.
I've decided to get the amalgam in several teeth replaced by a biological dentist. (To anyone who doesn't think amalgam is a big deal and I am wasting my money, please see my P.S. note below.)
Although I'm relieved to be getting this taken care of, I'm still worried about some crowns I have that I'm afraid might have amalgam under them. The dentist doesn't seem to think they pose as much of a threat as the fillings he's going to remove since they aren't exposed to saliva. Another person whose opinion I value agreed. It's hard not to be worried about them, though. Should I be? Some people say that since teeth are porous, the mercury can travel down into the root and gums.
From the x-ray it looks like one tooth has a root canal that was built up with amalgam. It's impossible to tell what's under the other crowned teeth since the crowns are ceramic on metal. You can only tell with the root canal one since it shows the amalgam going deeper down, beneath where the crown covers the view. I sort of want to ask him to do the root canal one next, though he seemed to think it was OK to wait on it (I'm not sure he thinks its even necessary). As for the other crowns, he said he can try to remove them to take a look underneath if I was really concerned about them, but there is a chance that they will break in the process, requiring new crowns to be made (extremely expensive). I like that he's not pushing me to spend more money than I have, but I wonder whether he's too conservative.
Thoughts?
Bleauberry, you out there? Do you know the answer? What supplements should I take leading up to and after my appointment? I was thinking activated charcoal before and after, and extra vitamin c and selenium for a while after, though not sure how long (a week, a month?). Would chelation be dangerous if I still have amalgam in a root canal and under crowns?
If anyone knows, please reply. I was looking at buying that Cutler book, but it's $70 at amazon and even the used ones from other sellers are a lot.
Thanks!
P.S. I know the ADA position on this. To any doubters, please do some real research (the archives here have a lot). Personally I believe it's possible that amalgam might not affect some people so much. Their bodies might be good at detoxifying. But since I have some problems, I want to see whether getting it out will be helpful. Plus the teeth I'm already planning on getting done need work anyway.
Posted by bleauberry on January 15, 2010, at 20:22:39
In reply to amalgam removal » bleauberry or others, posted by janejane on January 12, 2010, at 8:18:19
Until all amalgam is gone, the best that can be done is beef up natural detox systems. DMSA will leach too much from remaining fixtures. Protective supplements include all of the anti-oxidants...C, E, A, and selenium. Selenium helps to neutralize free mercury. Bentonite clay and/or zeolite and/or chlorella will bind mercury in the gut that your detox system sends there. So all of the above are your weapons until all amalgams are gone.Maybe it will take a year or two to afford the cost and everything, but I would definitely get the crowns and the roots taken care of so there is no doubt whatsoever that all amalgam is gone.
The biological dentist I went to used a lot of safety measures including activated charcoal in my mouth and a constant vacuum sucking vapor and particles from my mouth. He wore a gas mask and protective suit, as did his assistant. My doc had me get a Vit C IV drip immediately afterwards, but honestly I think it was a waste. I think the smarter thing to do is take activated charcoal tablets, chlorella tabs, and bentonite clay, for a few days. Start two days before and continue three days after. That will mop up most of the unavoidable exposure.
Amalgams under crowns will leach mercury through the bone and into the gums, though at a slower pace than the direct vapor contact of exposed amalgams. It would not be unusual to find the gum tissue in the root area of that tooth to be tainted metalic color. Hopefully not.
I know it is expensive. I could not possibly say leave them there and they won't be a problem. For the sake of honesty, I have to say you should get them repaired no matter the cost. It is not as urgent as amalgam fillings, so you can spread it out over a year or two.
It doesn't matter whether the dentist thinks it is ok to leave them there or not. Dentists do not agree on this issue, so it will vary depending on who you talk to.
My dentist was so anti-amalgam he gave me a huge price cut and squeezed me in his busy schedule by opening the shop an hour early for me. My regular mainstreet dentist didn't think there were any worries. Rather than debate with him, I asked him, "where would you dispose of the amalgam material you remove from my mouth?" His answer was that it has to go to a hazardous waste dump. But it's ok to stay in my mouth?
My point is, it is your life, your body, your teeth, your money, your insurance, so you can decide for yourself as a customer what you want done and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It isn't their mouth and it isn't their mercury to worry about. It's all yours.
When someone is perfectly healthy without symptoms, this isn't a big concern. Sooner or later most people will get symptoms, but it will be named something else (arthritis, alzheimers, parkinsons, heart disease, etc) and be considered normal aging. I propose strongly that whatever disease it was, it would have been significantly postponed, diminished, or prevented by not ever having mercury in the first place.
So we kind of have to be our own advocates sometimes, because if we don't, no one else is going to do it for us.
Posted by janejane on January 16, 2010, at 6:52:45
In reply to Re: amalgam removal, posted by bleauberry on January 15, 2010, at 20:22:39
Bleauberry,
Thank you so much. This is exactly the information I needed (and why you're such a great asset to babble). I'm going to order the charcoal, bentonite, and chlorella to take before and after the procedure. Should I also take extra Vitamin C? Did I miss anything?
What dosages of the antioxidants and selenium should I take on an ongoing basis? Is what's in a basic multi good enough or do I need extra? I guess I need to add either the bentonite or chlorella to my daily regimen too. I'll probably choose the least unpalatable one, or maybe rotate.
When I go in, I'm going to ask the dentist about doing the root canal tooth next. I get the impression that one might turn out to be really expensive, depending on whether the crown breaks upon removal. If I can afford it this year, and it goes well, I'll ask about the others. I think they will probably have to wait until next year, though. At least I know I'm getting the worst ones out in a couple weeks.
Posted by floatingbridge on January 16, 2010, at 12:11:47
In reply to amalgam removal » bleauberry or others, posted by janejane on January 12, 2010, at 8:18:19
Janejane,
Good for you. Hope your procedures are smooth.
Do you know if all dark colored bases for crowns are toxic amalgam? (I was dismayed to read that dental amalgams need to be removed prior to chelation. Sigh. )
fb
Posted by janejane on January 16, 2010, at 12:37:08
In reply to Re: amalgam removal » janejane, posted by floatingbridge on January 16, 2010, at 12:11:47
fb, do you have any?
Posted by floatingbridge on January 16, 2010, at 12:53:44
In reply to Re: amalgam removal » floatingbridge, posted by janejane on January 16, 2010, at 12:37:08
> fb, do you have any?
Two crowns on dark bases, and an old, o.k., ancient, filling. A family member has been on my case about chelation....
Posted by janejane on January 16, 2010, at 13:20:35
In reply to Re: amalgam removal, posted by floatingbridge on January 16, 2010, at 12:53:44
I'm not sure the dark bases necessarily mean amalgam. I think nickel and some other metals are more common in crowns. (Not that those can't be problematic.) The bigger issue seems to be amalgam that may be hiding underneath.
Posted by floatingbridge on January 16, 2010, at 13:37:26
In reply to Re: amalgam removal » floatingbridge, posted by janejane on January 16, 2010, at 13:20:35
> I'm not sure the dark bases necessarily mean amalgam. I think nickel and some other metals are more common in crowns. (Not that those can't be problematic.) The bigger issue seems to be amalgam that may be hiding underneath.
Oh. Great. Please post what
your dentist discovers.I could contact my old dentist....
Good luck!
fb
Posted by desolationrower on February 2, 2010, at 3:27:13
In reply to Re: amalgam removal, posted by floatingbridge on January 16, 2010, at 13:37:26
have you looked into the amount of metal that is released in the removal process?
-d/r
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