I have amalgam fillings and I want to get rid of them and replace them with the nice mercury-free fillings. I’m excited to finally have white fillings, but I’d also like to whiten my teeth. Is there a particular order to getting this done? Do I get the fillings first and then whiten my teeth or the other way around?

Milo

Dear Milo,

Sanitary Amalgam Removal

There are actually two things to consider here. The first is who will replace your amalgam fillings. It requires a special procedure in order to be done safely. You will need to go to a dentist who has the equipment and understands the procedure. This is because the mercury will liquify during the procedure unless handled properly. As it is a known neurotoxin you don’t want to swallow or even inhale the mercury vapors.  I would look for a mercury-free dentist. They only do white fillings and will be much more likely to know how to do a sanitary amalgam removal.

Matching Your Composite Fillings

As for the whitening versus the fillings. I would do the teeth whitening procedure first, especially if you have visible fillings. You can’t quite predict a perfect match with teeth whitening, but a dentist with some cosmetic skill can match the composite fillings to the color of your teeth.

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