After realizing I was sick with mercury poisoning, I went looking for a mercury safe dentist and came across Dr. Engler's name. She is an IAOMT general member, which I believe means she has some education about mercury toxicity and practices safe removal of mercury amalgam fillings. She also accepts my insurance, a huge plus. (If you need amalgam removal and you don't have insurance, check out Delta Dental of Colorado. They cover it!)
I opted for the Clifford Dental Materials Compatibility blood test to make sure I woudn't have a bad reaction to the new fillings. At $300 it is pricey, but not as pricey as having to repeat the work.
A separate breathing source is a good idea during amalgam removal. Dr. Engler has an oxygen tank with the tubes and thingie that goes over your nose. I opted to add in nitrous oxide. Just enough oblivion to take the edge off. Other protections are a rubber dam to isolate the tooth and catch amalgam particles, a big loud vacuum to suck away the toxic vapor, sunglasses, and hearing protection earmuff things like the ones jackhammer operators wear. My clothing was covered head to ankle - not quite toe - in cozy blankets. I brought in my phone in airplane mode and played binaural beats on my headset under the jackhammer-muffs to keep my mind calm.
Dr. Engler and her staff were understanding when I told them I might cry because of traumatic dental experiences as a child. (PTSD and other anxiety disorders are common with mercury toxicity.) They were also extremely kind to me when, on my second amalgam removal visit, I was so sick I couldn't think straight and could barely stumble into the dentist chair.
Since then, my new composite fillings are settling in fine, my health is much improved, and I have Dr. E to thank for starting me on this journey back to regaining my health and my life.
A side note that some may find useful, funny, or cool: Dr. Engler makes no secret of her faith. There are lots of inspirational Bible wall hangings, religious music, pamphlets and such around the office. It is probably because I am a non-Christian from Texas that initially I wondered if this was going to be the right dentist for me. I have had unpleasant experiences with other health practitioners who were that overtly Christian. However, when I met Dr. Engler I was impressed. She understood how sick I was and answered all my questions. Nobody crossed the professional line or pushed it any further than a friendly "God bless". Christ was inclusive, real Christians are inclusive, and Dr. Engler is the real deal. She made a good impression, unlike those pushy Christians in college who were so hot to "save" me. Respect! read more
