What could be wrong with those little silver fillings many dentists still use? You probably know that they contain mercury and have heard that mercury is toxic to the human body.
If your body is strong and healthy, it can continue to eliminate the toxins released from the metal fillings. But, if your health becomes compromised from too many environmental, chemical, viral/bacterial pathogens, you’ll need help.
The need to remove those fillings and subsequently use the mercury toxicity detox protocol occurs when the detoxification system has become overloaded and the body is no longer able to clean out toxins naturally. It can start slowly with fatigue, poor digestion, aches/pains, and other symptoms. At the tipping point, many people experience a rapid decline in health, all due to toxicity buildup and inflammation.
When systemic inflammation starts, your body will have a more complex and challenging time keeping up. At this point, even a healthier diet, exercise, and basic detox protocols may offer a temporary solution. Still, the root cause of mercury toxicity hasn’t been fully resolved because metals are difficult to eliminate once they have accumulated to a critical point.
This toxicity can lead to a predisposition to inflammatory (autoimmune) diseases, including Alzheimer’s, MS, Parkinsonism, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic pain syndromes, cardiovascular misadventures, viral insult, cancers, and rapid aging.
Three Phases of Detoxification: From Mercury Detox Fact Sheet by Chris M Turf, R. Ph.
“The process of detoxification proceeds in three parts or 'phases', Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. Dysfunction of the human detoxification system is the most common and insidious root cause of toxic element and compound accumulation in the body. Proper health requires that all systems function and balance; otherwise, the whole system cannot work correctly. (1) Heavy metals' metabolism and subsequent excretion from the body depend on the presence of antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbate, etc.), which are associated with the quenching of free radicals that often disrupt the activity of critical detoxification enzymes, including catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (among others).
The glutathione "supersystem" is your body's primary defense against toxins and oxidative stress. Glutathione binds to heavy metals and other toxins but requires the assistance of enzymes, antioxidants, and transport proteins. Old age, impaired genetics, poor diet, and toxic exposures of all kinds impair your glutathione system. Efficient detoxification depends on a series of seamless reactions that bind toxins to shuttle molecules and "escort" them out through a series of “doors”. For your glutathione detoxification system to operate well, it requires the following three elements. Suppose any one of these three key elements is not operating efficiently. In that case, your cells lose their resistance to heavy metals and toxins, so they may accumulate and make you sick:
- Adequate intracellular glutathione levels: Phase I: Glutathione synthesis within cells is an energy-dependent process that requires multiple functioning enzyme systems, nuclear transcription factors, and sufficient levels of the amino acids cysteine, glutamine, and lysine. Genetic variation and heavy metal toxicities can significantly impair these factors, making glutathione supplementation necessary to maintain adequate levels.
- Glutathione S-transferase (GST): Phase II: Glutathione S-transferase is a Phase II detoxification enzyme that removes mercury from cellular proteins and conjugates it to glutathione in the cell. Stimulating the production of necessary system components within cells is an ideal way to enhance the glutathione system.
- Fully functional Phase III detoxification transport system: A series of transport proteins (MRP 1 & 2 and OATP) are responsible for moving the mercury/glutathione conjugate out of your cells and into your blood, as well as from your blood into your liver and small intestine so it can be eliminated. Interestingly, Phase III detoxification can often be considered a rate-limiting step in detoxification, as intestinal inflammation hampers toxin elimination by causing a strong downregulation of the body’s natural detox pathways. Exposure to certain toxins and heavy metals, such as mercury and dental amalgam, contributes to inflammation and impairs the function of critical transport proteins. There are multiple perspectives on detoxing from heavy metals, but few closely examine the body’s natural systems, which are perfectly designed for this purpose. Supporting and enhancing the three “phases” of detoxification is the most efficient way to help your body naturally eliminate toxins.
Returning to vital health and wellness.
After eliminating as many toxins from their homes and diets as possible, many people remove their silver/amalgam fillings and replace them with composite, natural-colored fillings. Here at Studio Z Dental, we use a strict system for filling removal.
Most people believe that having a silver/amalgam filling removed is safe, but how it is removed is crucial. Did you know that removing a silver filling exposes you to mercury levels at least 1,000 times the EPA’s safe level of exposure?! However, when this procedure is performed in a mercury-safe environment, we can significantly reduce your exposure. Read more on our Mercury Filling Removal Page.
After the removal of silver or amalgam fillings, we recommend a Mercury Toxicity Detox with a trained professional. Many health professionals offer mercury detox protocols. We prefer to work with professionals who use Dr. Chris Shade’s Quicksilver Scientific products. These products are highly effective and at the forefront of current research that works with the 3 Phases of Detoxification in a way no other products can. We will offer several excellent referrals for this work. These products have been very effective for our patients. They have also been well-documented as safe and gentle.
We value your health and wellness and will gladly help you return to full, vital health.
For more information, please contact us at Studio Z Dental.