Kaufman Dental SMART Mercury Removal Process

Our mission is to minimize our patients’ exposure to mercury within our practice by implementing the safest techniques and technologies available.

We keep you safe

During your mercury removal procedure at Kaufman Dental Associates, you can expect a carefully controlled environment that prioritizes your health and safety. We use the S.M.A.R.T. (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) protocol, designed to minimize mercury exposure to both patients and staff.

Dr. Kaufman and our team begin by isolating the tooth with a non-latex dam, preventing mercury particles from contacting the rest of your mouth. Throughout the procedure, we use HEPA filtration and high-volume suction to remove mercury vapors and particles efficiently. These steps work together to ensure that exposure to mercury is kept at the lowest possible level.

To further enhance safety, both Dr. Kaufman and our staff wear specialized protective gear, including respirators, to reduce inhalation of any mercury released during the procedure. Patients also breathe through an oxygen supply to avoid exposure to mercury vapors. A steady stream of water is used on the tooth to keep it cool, minimizing vapor release.

This comprehensive approach aligns with holistic principles, ensuring your well-being during the process and leaving you confident that your mercury removal is handled with the utmost care.

Mercury Removal Process

  • Teeth with old leaky Mercury fillings

    Teeth Before Procedure

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    Teeth containing old, leaking mercury metal fillings are evaluated for treatment. Each treatment room is equipped with proper filtration and all equipment is covered prior to treatment onset. Our practice is equipped with the Solmetex NXT Hg5 Amalgam Separator in order to most effectively capture mercury particulates  and recycle the waste as safely as possible.

  • Protective Barriers

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    Our patients’ safety during this process matters most. However, it is also our mission to protect ourselves and our environment. Impermeable protective gowns, hairnets and covers will be in place for all present in the treatment room. Furthermore, my assistant and I wear respirators while removing mercury metal fillings.

  • Pure Breathing Oxygen

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    A personal mask delivering 100% oxygen will be placed in and around the nasal cavity effectively minimizing the inhalation of toxic mercury particles. Impermeable barriers are placed over the mask in order to fully cover the head and neck of our patients during treatment.

  • HEPA Filtration

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    Our practice utilizes an oral at source HEPA vacuum system in order to capture aerosol produced in close proximity to our work area. The Dent-Air Vac is placed several inches from our patient’s mouth to mitigate their exposure to mercury. This HEPA unit is used in tandem with the more traditional high and low speed dental evacuation devices

  • Tooth Isolation

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    A non-latex nitrile dental dam is placed and sealed around the teeth containing mercury metal fillings. Impermeable barriers are carefully placed under the dam for optimized protection. Every effort is made to minimize the vaporization of mercury during amalgam removal. Our method involves copious water spray to reduce heat coupled with sectioning each filling into pieces using a small diameter carbide drill.

  • BPA Metal Free Restoration

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    Once the removal process is complete, the mouth is thoroughly flushed. All contaminated materials are cleared and the room is cleaned and prepared for the restorative phase. The materials we use to restore teeth in our practice are all BPA and metal free. We carefully bond each porcelain and/or resin unit in order to achieve a beautiful and biocompatible result.