LiveLikeTim
Inspirational Life Wellness
Tim's Amalgam Removal Routine & Story |
||
Pre- and Post-Appointment Considerations |
||
It is recommended that you follow a detoxification routine similar to Tim’s Natural Mercury Cleansing Routine for 3-6 months before getting your amalgams removed. Many experts recommend modifying your general cleansing routine 2 weeks before amalgam removal. In addition to my natural cleansing routine the following discusses the changes I used prior to removing my 3 “silver” fillings. I needed:
Selenium Increase I purchased this supplement from my local health food store and took 200mcg per day in addition to my current intake from other sources. 1 Week Before Vitamin C Mega Dose Vitamin C is a critical antioxidant. It is water soluble so excess amounts should be passed through the urine easily. My dosage increased to 8,000mg per day, spread out at meal times. On the day before my appointment I increased this dose to 16,000mg. 2 Days Before Chlorella Increase Building up stores of chlorella will help capture the flood of mercury about to hit your system. I took the equivalent of two large scoops of powdered chlorella (about 60 capsules) per day spread throughout meals and snacks. Three days (including the day of removal) of chlorella mega doses are the body’s limit. I didn’t get diarrhea but did experience some gas, so if you reach your tolerance level back off the dosage to the highest tolerable amount. Day of Removal Chlorella Before and After I took a large scoop of chlorella (about 20-30 capsules) in the morning, then another scoop immediately before the procedure. Even with the rubber dental dam, water, suction, and vacuum there is still mercury hanging around the mouth. I brought some powdered chlorella to the dentist's office and swished with it at the end. I kept the mixture in my mouth for a few minutes to allow the chlorella to absorb the free floating mercury before it had a chance to enter my body. If you do this—SPIT IT OUT, do not swallow! Rinse the remaining chlorella out with water. I repeated this step 2 more times the rest of the day. At dinner I took another large scoop of chlorella in water. Selenium Before and After My daily intake of selenium increased to 500mcg for the day spread throughout meals. Vitamin C After Taking vitamin C before the procedure could interfere with anesthesia. I pumped my body full of 6000mg the rest of the day. Post Removal Your mercury levels will most likely remain elevated for months or years afterwards unless you follow a cleansing routine. Typically people will need 3-6 months to detoxify. Common reactions to amalgam removal are mild flu or allergy-like symptoms for 2-3 days after the appointment. Selenium Maintenance I maintained my extra selenium levels of 500mcg per day for a full week. I then tapered off the selenium supplements over the next several weeks, reducing from 300mcg for weeks 2-4, 200mcg for week 5, and finally 100mcg for week 6. I continued the routine described in Tim’s Natural Mercury Cleansing Routine for the next 6 months which included adequate selenium supplements. Chlorella Maintenance Chlorella will continue to mop up the extra mercury. I slowly tapered off my chlorella intake for the next week until it was back to my normal cleansing amount. Vitamin C Maintenance Be careful to taper off Vitamin C after amalgam removal so you don’t get “rebound scurvy". I dropped my intake from 1000mg the day after down to the normal cleansing routine amount in 10 days (1000mg per day less).
To find a natural biological dentist click on one of the following links: IAOMT Biological Dentist Finder
I used the IAOMT Biological Dentist finder to search my area and found several reputable dentists within a half hour drive. Most were in the ritzy coastal San Diego neighborhoods like Encinitas and Del Mar, and they charged $300 - 450 per tooth. The dentist I chose was in Escondido, an inland city that has an average income level for the county. Prices here were much more reasonable at $150 - 300 per tooth, so the additional 20 minute drive saved me several hundred dollars. After speaking with the receptionist I checked on availability and was able to get an appointment within 2 days. Before I scheduled it I took the time to check 2 review sites - Yelp and GoogleMaps (type in the doctor's name and city to get reviews). I also went to the dentist's website directly. All 22 reviews I found were excellent, so I called back and confirmed the appointment.
On the day of the appointment I pounded down an even bigger glass of chlorella and swished it around my teeth. Sure I looked like a vampire that just attacked the Jolly Green Giant, but my green smile was worth the peace of mind knowing I'd have lots of microscopic chlorella mitts floating around to catch free roaming mercury. The dentist I selected was Dr. K. Andrew Kim, who was especially knowledgeable and informative. He spent nearly a half hour speaking with me about safe amalgam removal and the techniques he would use. I found his calm, confident demeanor especially appealing. His staff was very friendly and helpful as well.
The entire procedure took about 2 hours to complete. The discomfort was minimal and I was entertained the whole time by a tour of Europe playing on the strategically placed television. The removal was no vacation, but it wasn't torture either. I'm not sure if it was the oxygen or standing up quickly, but I was a bit light headed and wobbly when I stood up for the first time. The feeling quickly passed and I made it to the bathroom easily. I'm glad I went there to swish my chlorella instead of rinsing in the little sink next to the chair. As if I just had a stroke, the entire right side of my face was numb and droopy, and I had trouble keeping my swollen lips closed. "Swishing" turned into squirting and drooling bright green water all over the bathroom (and my face)! As if I were an Irishman drinking green beer on St. Patrick's Day, the chlorella penetrated every crevice of my mouth and again turned my mouth bright green. That was the point however, and I knew the chlorella would be absorbing the all the microscopic mercury particles hanging around in there. The novocaine wore off after a few hours and my gums remained sensitive for a few days. A few wedges that looked like carrot sticks had been crammed between my teeth during the procedure. One had particularly stubborn to remove. As if I were a salmon getting a fishhook removed, Dr. Kim had to pry the wedge out with a large set of metal pliers. At the time it didn't hurt, but in the days after I had to be careful not to brush or eat in the area or risk bleeding. Dr. Kim had recommended over the counter pain pills to minimize the pain, but I didn't find that necessary. In the days afterwards I have felt great. I experienced no flu-like side effects. However, I did notice an issue that concerns me. Subconsciously I have always chewed on my left side. I never knew why I preferred this side, but I now believe it is because all my mercury fillings were on the right. The one sided chewing had caused an imbalance in my jaw and I have developed TMJ, a clicking and popping in the jaw joint when I chew. Dr. Kim warned me about this problem and urged me to chew on both sides, which I now feel comfortable doing since my fillings have been replaced. The TMJ had become much more evident and a problem I need to address. If I had gone another 20 years with the same habit the TMJ would be much worse! I may have avoided a second unforeseen medical issue with this dentist appointment. I have felt a HUGE weight off my shoulders. My 61 years old mother, a former dental hygienist, heeded my warnings and committed to replacing her fillings. She had 17 fillings, many larger than mine, and even on a limited fixed income had already gotten half of her replacements thus far. I had no excuse for not getting the removal done sooner, especially since the entire thing only cost me $275! I know, deep down inside, that a few hundred dollars saved me tens of thousands of future medical bills. The mild discomfort of a dentist's visit is nothing compared to the horrible side effects that my mother experienced from 3 rounds of chemotherapy because she developed hairy cell leukemia due to storing mercury in her bone marrow -- or the 20 years my grandmother spent in senility from Alzheimer's before she passed away -- or the learning disabilities that my friends have suffered with throughout their whole lives -- or the Parkinson's that my friend's father has developed -- or the family stress caused by the autistic siblings that countless numbers of my friends have. You get the picture, every one of us has been tragically affected by this criminally destructive element. I knew I had a choice to replace my fillings and reduce my mercury intake, and the relief I feel knowing that I have chosen to protect myself is priceless. | ||
back |
top |
next |
I had three mercury fillings in my mouth all on the right side (two upper and one lower). I first called my insurance company to review my benefits. I was covered for 80% of the amalgam replacement if it was in the back molars or premolars, but the percentage was for the "customary" amount of a silver filling. The white composite replacement costs more, and I was responsible for the difference. If the tooth was in the front I was covered 80% for the white filling. Fortunately I found an in-network provider and was not responsible for additional out-of-network costs. I also had a $50 deductible. 
The was perfect timing! I had been cleansing with chlorella for about 6 months, but had been holding off on the more advanced cilantro detox until I had the amalgams fixed. I knew I was close to scheduling the appointment so I had already increased my selenium supplementation in the weeks prior. I increased my selenium dose for the day to 600mcg (that is 100mcg over my normal recommendation). I was a bit behind on vitamin C so I took a megadose of 8000mg immediately, followed by another megadose of 8000mg in the evening. My vitamin C pills were 500mcg each, so I took 16 pills each time. I've always loved the taste of vitamin C so I chewed all 16 pills like candy. I know, I'm weird. It proved to be pretty dumb because I developed canker sores on my tongue the following day. I recommend swallowing the pills whole a few at a time throughout the day's meals. I also gulped down a huge glass of chlorella water. It certainly wasn't fresh squeezed orange juice, but was palatable enough. It reminded me of chewing on a large piece of meadow grass when I was a child. About a half hour later I had a mild rumbling in my stomach from the chlorella, and I developed a bit of gas. It was worth the temporary discomfort and self-imposed daylong quarantine to protect against permanent brain damage from the increased mercury levels that inevitably come from amalgam removal.
After the novocaine, he started with an oxygen tube to my nose and a mouth rest to help me keep my jaw open during the procedure. I've been to more than a dozen dentists in my life and nobody has ever offered the jaw rest before, which was a welcome surprise. Next came a metal facial frame that resembled the headgear "braceface" kids wore in 1980s movies. Then a green rubber dental dam was installed which barricaded my offending teeth from the rest of mouth. A liquid seal was also applied around the tooth to insure no mercury slipped past the dam. Finally, a long white vaccuum was positioned a foot away from my face to suck up and exhaust mercury vapor from the drilling. The sheik outfit was completed with a pair of super sweet shades. Good thing I didn't have to sneeze!
Dr. Kim paid great attention to detail while removing the amalgams. He used the "chunking" technique to minimize excess mercury vapor from the drill. I was surprised how much corrosion was underneath the amalgam, which Dr. Kim said was very common. Nearly all amalgams have bacteria hiding in the crevices, which can cause a major problem if it spreads to the root and causes an abscess. I was lucky that my fillings were small because there was a risk of fracturing the tooth if the filling comprised more than 50% of the tooth surface area. In that case I would have needed a crown instead of a replacement filling. 
Dr. Kim took great care to clean out all bacteria and corrosion before packing in the new composite material.  |
