Dr. Azadeh Khajavi is a holistic dentist who is concerned about the risks posed by mercury in amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings are over 50% mercury, which is a heavy metal proven to cause damage to the immune and nervous systems. Mercury from amalgam fillings can remain in the body for up to a year after exposure. Improper disposal of dental mercury also poses an environmental threat as it can enter water sources and impact aquatic wildlife and the entire food chain. Holistic dentists use composite resin instead of amalgam to avoid these mercury risks.

1. THE RISKS POSED BY
MERCURY IN AMALGAM
FILLINGS
By Azadeh Khajavi

2. Introduction
 Azadeh Khajavi, DMD, is a San Diego-based
dentist who offers quality care to patients with
neuromuscular and TMJ issues. In her practice,
Dr. Azadeh “Amy” Khajavi emphasizes holistic
dentistry. Also known as biological dentistry, the
holistic approach involves careful consideration of
patients’ overall emotional and physical health,
and emphasizes natural therapies.
A concern among dentists who practice a holistic
approach is that amalgam, a substance often
used in fillings, is made up of more than 50
percent mercury. As a heavy metal, mercury is
proven to cause damage to immune and nervous
systems.

3. Amalgam Fillings
 For many people, amalgam fillings are a main source of
mercury exposure, with trace mercury remaining in the body
for as long as a year. However, according to a 2006 survey, a
large majority of Americans are unaware of the mercury
levels in amalgam fillings.
Beyond individual exposure to mercury, improper disposal of
dentistry-related mercury poses a larger environmental
threat. When heavy metals are discarded, they often find their
way to nearby water sources and can impact aquatic wildlife
and the entire food chain. In the past several years,
increased mercury levels have been discovered in a number
of fish species, as well as in the animals that eat them.
Holistic dentists use composite resin, rather than amalgam, to
avoid these consequences.