I have 3 silver mercury fillings on lower back teeth. One of the teeth started hurting and I have been playing around with the filling with my tongue. I know it’s loose and my dentist told me it needs to be replaced. As each filling wears out I decided to get white fillings from now on. Anyway I was eating lunch and I felt a pain on that side of my mouth. I felt around with my tongue and the filling is gone. I must have swallowed it! I regret not getting the silver fillings placed with white fillings right away. Do I need to get my stomach pumped? – Jana
Jana – Believe it or not, it is not uncommon for people to swallow amalgam fillings that have loosened. According to the National Poison Control Center, if the filling passed through your esophagus and into your stomach, it will also pass through your gastrointestinal tract without your body absorbing it.
The Poison Control website states: “Swallowing metallic mercury from a broken thermometer, a dental amalgam preparation, or pieces of an amalgam filling would not cause mercury poisoning.”
What about Mercury Vapor from Fillings?
In contrast with ingesting small amounts of dental amalgam, the Poison Control Center cautions against inhaling mercury vapor. If mercury vapor is inhaled, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to organs throughout the body. Patients who want their amalgam fillings replaced with mercury-free fillings from a dentist often seek a provider who practices sanitary amalgam removal. During this process, at least some of the steps listed below are taken. Some dentists have extra steps in their protocol.
- Isolate the tooth
- Break up the fillings into pieces
- Use high-speed vacuum to suction out the amalgam fillings
If you want more information, you can visit the Poison Control Center’s website (www.poison.org) or call them directly. Of course, you are always free to seek medical advice or attention.
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As the above photos show, mercury-free dentistry provides a healthy option to amalgam fillings.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Steven Collins, Jr. DDS.