Thoughtful Removal. Additional Protection. Smart Mercury Amalgam Removal
If an older silver amalgam filling needs to be replaced—or you have personally chosen to replace it—how it is removed matters.
Natural Focus follows the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) recommendations developed by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), using additional protective measures designed to reduce exposure to mercury vapor and amalgam particles during removal.
What Is a Silver Amalgam Filling?
Dental amalgam has traditionally been called a “silver filling,” but approximately 50% of the material by weight is elemental mercury, combined with metals such as silver, tin, and copper.
An amalgam filling does not automatically need to be removed simply because it is present. We evaluate the restoration, the tooth underneath it, your dental history, and your personal preferences before discussing treatment.
The other ~50% is a metal alloy, commonly containing approximately:
- Silver: ~20–35%
- Tin: ~12–15%
- Copper: ~6–15%
- Small amounts of zinc or other metals may also be present.
What Makes SMART Different?
More Than Simply Drilling Out a Filling
Removing amalgam can release mercury-containing vapor and particles. SMART adds multiple protective measures intended to reduce exposure to the patient, dental team, and treatment environment during the procedure.
Isolation
A sealed dental dam helps isolate the treatment area.
High-Volume Evacuation
Suction is positioned close to the tooth to capture particles and aerosols.
Clean-Air Support
The patient receives an alternative source of air during removal.
Air Filtration
At-source filtration helps manage vapor and airborne particles.
Water + Sectioning
Copious water helps control heat while the filling is sectioned into larger pieces whenever possible.
Protective Barriers
Protective coverings are used for the patient and clinical team.
Want a Broader Wellness Baseline?
For families interested in a broader wellness picture, we also offer OligoScan—a quick, non-invasive scan performed through the palm of the hand.
In just a few minutes, it provides information on selected minerals, trace elements, vitamins, and metals, including mercury, with no needles or blood draw.
It can be used as an optional wellness baseline to support conversations around mineral balance, nutrition, and overall health.
OligoScan is intended as a complementary wellness screening tool. It is not used to diagnose mercury toxicity, nutritional deficiency, or disease and does not replace appropriate laboratory or medical testing.
Restore the Tooth—Without Removing More Than Necessary
After the amalgam has been removed, we evaluate how much healthy tooth structure remains.
Whenever possible, our goal is to preserve natural tooth structure while choosing a restoration strong enough for the tooth’s size, location, and function.
Depending on the situation, we may recommend:
Tooth-Colored Filling – For smaller restorations with adequate surrounding tooth structure.
Ceramic Inlay or Onlay- For teeth requiring additional strength while preserving more natural tooth structure than a full crown.
Ceramic Crown- For teeth with significant structural loss or fracture risk.