In talking about the problem of mercury amalgam fillings, we usually focus on what happens after the restoration is done. But it’s important to recognize that exposure begins as soon as the dentist sets to work on placing, packing and shaping the metal.

The videos below give a model demonstration of how amalgam fillings are done. While in real life, a dental dam and suction devices are used to catch and remove excess material, it’s stunning to realize just how much excess there is – both visible flakes and “invisible” particulate matter – and thus how much mercury you can be exposed to when having such a filling placed.