Removing Old Mercury Fillings, Done the Right Way
If you have old silver fillings and you’ve been reading about mercury, you’re not alone. When it’s time to replace them, how they come out matters as much as the decision to remove them. Dr. Mersedeh Rajinia follows the SMART protocol to do it carefully.
The SMART Protocol
How We Remove Mercury Fillings Safely
Removing an amalgam filling isn’t the same as placing one. Done without precautions, the process can release a spike of mercury vapor, which is exactly what careful removal is designed to avoid.
Dr. Mersedeh follows the SMART protocol (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique), developed by the IAOMT. That means protective barriers, rubber dam isolation, high-volume suction, and supplemental air, with the filling sectioned and removed under copious cool water rather than aggressively drilled. The area is then thoroughly rinsed.
Every step is chosen to reduce exposure, for you, for our team, and for the environment.
Ask about safe removal
What’s Actually in a “Silver” Filling
Silver fillings look silver, but they’re an amalgam of several metals, and roughly half of that mixture is mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal, and that’s why so many patients today choose to have these older fillings replaced.
This isn’t fear-based. It’s awareness. People react differently, and we’re careful not to overstate what any one filling means for any one person. What we can say is this: if you’re going to remove amalgam, it’s worth removing it in a way designed to minimize exposure rather than create it. For the fuller story on the phase-out and the science behind it, read what the mercury phase-out actually means.
That’s the whole reason the protocol exists, so a step meant to support your health doesn’t work against it.
Replaced With Biocompatible, Metal-Free Materials
Amalgam doesn’t bond to the tooth the way modern materials do. Over time, small gaps can form at the edges where new decay may begin beneath the filling.
Once an old filling is removed, Dr. Mersedeh replaces it with a durable, tooth-colored composite that bonds directly to the tooth and preserves as much healthy structure as possible. The result is metal-free, blends naturally with your smile, and is chosen with your whole-body health in mind.
It’s a single visit with a clear purpose: take a real step toward a cleaner mouth, comfortably and at your pace.
Schedule your new patient exam
Once old fillings are removed, we rebuild teeth with biomimetic restorations that preserve natural structure, and many patients add ozone therapy to support a clean, healthy site.
Thinking about replacing old silver fillings? The safest first step is a conversation.
Book Your New Patient ExamSchedule Your New Patient Exam
The first step in safely removing mercury fillings is a comprehensive new patient exam. We’ll evaluate your current fillings, review your dental and health history, and talk through whether replacement is right for you, and how the SMART protocol works.
Call our office to schedule your exam:
(310) 275-1399Prefer we reach out? Fill out the form and our team will contact you to help schedule your visit.
“Doc Rajinia & the whole team are so lovely! I’m normally scared to have dental work done but they made me feel at home & very safe. The whole experience was so professional & high-end.”
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9201 Sunset Blvd #418, West Hollywood, CA 90069 · Serving West Hollywood & Beverly Hills
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