Amalgam Removal

Amalgam fillings are a type of dental fillings that aren’t used very often for a number of reasons. Most of our Team Dental dentists used white fillings instead. At Team Dental, we can offer you safe amalgam removal if you would like it.

Amalgam fillings have a strong silver appearance and contain a combination of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and zinc. These materials in the fillings mean that not only are amalgam fillings less aesthetically pleasing than white fillings, but they can be considered less safe too.
There is research that suggests amalgam fillings are not 100% safe. People with multiple amalgam fillings can be found to have higher levels of mercury in their blood and urine. This being said, we cannot offer any health benefit to you by replacing your amalgam fillings.

Amalgam fillings also have a bright silver appearance, as opposed to the more natural-looking tooth-coloured fillings more commonly used. Because of this, some people opt to have their amalgam fillings removed.

Here at Team Dental, we can remove your old amalgam fillings. Dr. Mike Simon is a Dentist at our Papamoa branch who provides safe amalgam removal for any patients who request it.

Dr. Simon has a wealth of experience, with experience replacing patients’ amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured alternatives since the early 1990s. Amalgam removal with Team Dental means you can rest easy knowing you are safe and in capable hands.

Before we begin with amalgam removal, it is helpful to carry out an initial consultation appointment. In this consultation, a full dental examination is carried out and any necessary tests are performed to work out what is best for you. From this examination, we can formulate a treatment plan. This treatment plan includes the order of filling removal (if multiple amalgam fillings are to be removed) and decides the most compatible materials to be used for your replacements.

If you want an initial consultation, please let our receptionist know when you make the booking. We allow up to an hour for the initial consultation.

To make the process more comfortable for you during the amalgam removal, a rubber dam sheet is placed to isolate your tooth from the rest of the mouth. We also ensure your comfort and protection from any mercury gasses released with medical oxygen through a nose mask throughout your amalgam removal.