I finally decided to have my teeth done.

I had several cavities filled , and I made sure I told the dentist
atleast twice I would like to have the amalgam completely removed.

So what does he do ?  He shaves it down and puts a white composite
filling in there.

When they removed the rubber dam from my mouth, I asked if they
removed it...and they said they grinded it down and put the white
composite filling in.

I was soo friggin angry at that moment.  but couldnt do much...

All I had for protection was that rubber dam, while they both had
masks on.  Plus I had a lot of saliva build up when the rubber dam was
on..and had to swallow on a couple occasions.

They said the mercury was caught by the rubber dam , so I had nothing
to worry about..

The last week or so i've been tired and headachey all the time.  Think
I have the rights to sue this dentist ?

and is there an easy over the counter way to get my mercury levels
tested ?  maybe one of those hair test kits ?

This was the dentist I had the 2nd opinion with, and I chose him
because he seemed more decent.  looks like I was wrong.

All this paranoia over this and I still get screwed.   Im pretty PO'd
at the moment.

YOU GOT IT!!

;-)
D

    This is a very, very old story on this newsgroup, and I long ago
wearied of discussing this.
    The main reason is that in a forum like this, issues involving
alternative medicine quickly devolve into yelling matches, and few
people have their minds changed in any meaningful way.
    The issues here are many--some are legitimate questions about the
contribution of amalgam dental restorations to the overall load of
mercury in the body.  This is potentially a valid area for
investigation, but generally the partisans cherry-pick studies that seem
to support their own pre-formed positions.  Likewise, there are
legitimate (and almost certainly more important) issues of occupational
health, to those of us who potentially breathe this stuff every work
day.  This gets little study, and is usually only raised in the context
of how risky the material is as a restorative.
    On the macro level, the issue is raised as an environmental hazard.
Here we can argue about the relative contributions to environmental
mercury contamination of dentistry as compared to (for example)
coal-fired power plants.  This is also a legitimate issue, but dentistry
has greatly tightened regulations for disposal of waste over the time I
have been in practice, and so to the extent the regulations are followed
this should be a far smaller problem than it was.
    Then there is the whole concept of alternative health or (more
specifically) "biologic dentistry" as a market niche.  There is no doubt
that some dentists set themselves up specifically to exploit fear,
mistrust and paranoia against organized medicine, dentistry and big
pharmaceutical industries.  While this is true for some practitioners of
alternative medicine, there are definitely "true believers" out there
who believe in good conscience that they are a needed counterbalance to
the advertising and financial and political power of pharmaceutical
companies and organized medicine.  There is paranoia yes; many will not
trust good sound medical advice as a result.  However, as they say, just
because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.  The
older I get, the more I think the pharmaceutical industry and many in
the healthcare professions have richly earned the mistrust in which they
are held by many people.
    Oh yes--I would avoid the dentist who wants to examine your bowels.
I've heard of dentists "pushing the envelope" of the state dental
practice act, but that's ridiculous.
    IMO, you are probably best off with a compassionate dentist who has a
lot of satisfied patients who recommend him/her.  You should be able to
discuss the various materials needed for your restoration, and come to
an agreement about which is most suitable for your particular situation.

Good luck,
Steve

I did not have to do that.

I never had over two hours of work done at one time and for good eason.

That would be by the dentist.  They are not doctors.

Didn't do that either.

Because they know correct protocol.

By normal, you mean Organized dentists who have denied the fact that mercury
alamgams
can and do cause mercury poisoning?

 How do I find a

I would not know.  I learned long ago not to trust the ADA.

My mercury amalgams were old, some as old as 40 years.
I did recover, but it is not easy and takes a long time.  Do you know the
mercury amalgams leak and the vapors go to every organ in the body,
especially the brain?

I am sorry you are having so much trouble find a *good* mercury free
dentist.

Try:

http://mercuryfreedentists.com/

My history is long and detailed you can find it under jdrew63929@aol.com and
jdrew1374@sbcglobal.net

Most of it is under jdrew63929@aol.com.

Best,

Jan Drew