Many people have e-mailed me inquiring about the dental work I had done, as part of my recovery. So this article details the specifics of the dental work that helped me to recover from MCS symptoms.
One of the biggest factors that contributed to my developing multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) was the amount of dental work I had done over the years and the constant infections that ensued. The infections led to living on Tylenol for the pain and antibiotics for the infections, which in turn created a host of other problems. The last root canal I had done in 1996 (my 8th) pushed me over the edge.
As I began detoxing from MCS, I knew the amount of dental work I would need to have done in the future was significant. I had eight root canals that would need to be pulled and six amalgam fillings that needed to be replaced. I knew this was a project that was years down the road, as my level of toxicity was so high, there was no way I could tolerate the procedure. It took me almost five years of detoxing before I was healthy enough to go through all of the dental work, without negative effect.
Finding the Right Dentist
The first step was finding a biological dentist who understood MCS and was willing to work with me. During our initial meeting the dentist made an assessment of my situation and developed a plan on how we should proceed, based on my health and the amount of work that needed to be done. One simple suggestion was working in quadrants so that I would only have one area that was healing at a time. During our visit I learned that a significant number of his patients had some form of environmental illness. I also learned that he was willing to do whatever was necessary in order for me to have a safe environment.
Since the office would air out on the weekends, I made my appointments on Mondays when possible. At every visit I was the first patient of the day, reducing my risk of coming into contact with someone who used fragrance or dryer sheets. Aside from the protocol that is listed below, I also brought a change of clothes with me, so I could change after every dental visit, just in case someone came into the office who might be wearing something that would make me sick.
Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal
As a member of IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology), my dentist followed the protocols listed below, to reduce my chance of mercury exposure during amalgam removal, as well as that of himself and his assistant.
- Use of a rubber dam to prevent any amalgam debris from being swallowed or inhaled.
- Covering the face of the patient with a barrier to prevent spattered amalgam particles and mercury vapor from coming in contact with the skin and eyes.
- Administration of nasal oxygen.
- Use of high volume suction in the operating area.
- Use of a saliva ejector behind the dam to evacuate any mercury vapor that passes through the dam.
- Rinsing of the dam thoroughly during amalgam removal to remove any stray amalgam particles.
- Using water on amalgam during removal to cool the amalgam and reduce the amount of vaporization of mercury.
- Sectioning the amalgam fillings into large chunks for removal in order to reduce the dispersement of amalgam particulate aerosol.
- Thorough rinsing of the mouth area after removing rubber dam.
You Need a Health Protocol
It is critically important to work with your healthcare practitioner while having dental work done. Since we are all so unique with our sensitivities and reactions, your practitioner should come up with a health plan based on your needs, to help your body adjust to the trauma of dental work, to support your body during the healing process and to assure that you have little or no negative health effects to the procedure.
My health plan for both the amalgam removal and root canal extractions was as follows:
One week PRIOR to Dental Procedures:
- Argentyn23, 1 teaspoon, 3x day – hold in mouth at least one minute to allow for sublingual absorption (helps fight infection after root canal extractions)
- PhytoImmune, 2 capsules, 2x day at anytime (for stress support and to help fight infection after amalgam removal and root canal extractions)
- Check urine pH* first thing in the morning.If pH is less than 6.5, take 1 teaspoon of aluminum free baking soda in warm water 2x day to alkalize system. (Your pH should be at 7 or very close the day of procedure, if possible.)
- Colonic two days before procedure (lowers overall toxic load)
- Klaire Pro-5 or other full-spectrum probiotic containing at least 60 billion microorganisms daily on an empty stomach, 45 minutes before/after any food (helps to degrade and detoxify carcinogenic enzymes and other molecules and to balance intestinal flora)
Day of Procedure:
- Argentyn23 ,1 teaspoon, 4x day – hold in mouth at least one minute, swish vigorously and swallow (helps fight infection after root canal extractions)
- PhytoImmune, 2 capsules, 3x day (for stress support and to help fight infection after amalgam removal and root canal extractions)
- Colonic the day afterthe procedure (lowers overall toxic load)
- Klaire Pro-5 or other full-spectrum probioticcontaining at least 60 billion microorganisms, one before procedure and one after, on an empty stomach, 45 minutes before/after any food (helps to degrade and detoxify carcinogenic enzymes and other molecules and to balance intestinal flora)
- Homeopathic Arnica 6x, 6 pellets or 6 drops before procedure and immediately after
NOTE: If procedure involves extraction or any work like a cavitation procedure, also take the homeopathic Hypericum 6x the same dose as the Arnica and can be taken at the same time. (Arnica helps the trauma and to heal the tissue, Hypericum helps with nerve pain from anesthesia injections and root canal extractions)
- Medizyme as needed for additional pain (systemic anti-inflammatory for root canal extractions)
For 7 days AFTER Dental Procedure:
- Argentyn23, 1 teaspoon, 3x day – hold in mouth at least one minute, swish vigorously and swallow (helps fight infection after root canal extractions)
- PhytoImmune, 2 capsules, 2x day (for stress support and to help fight infection after amalgam removal and root canal extractions)
- Keep checking urine pH*and try to keep at 7
- Klaire Pro-5 or other full-spectrum probiotic containing at least 60 billion microorganisms daily on an empty stomach, 45 minutes before/after any food (helps to degrade and detoxify carcinogenic enzymes and other molecules and to balance intestinal flora)
- Homeopathic Arnica 6x, 6 pellets or 6 drops, twice a day, sublingually.
- Hypericum as stated above if there is surgery or nerve involvement. (helps with nerve pain from anesthesia injections and root canal extractions)
- Rinse with warm sea salt solution after brushing and flossing your teeth. Wait at least 30 minutes before using the Silver Solution. (Be careful about the area where the tooth was pulled, you don’t want to develop a dry socket)
- Ultra Potent C or other high potency Vitamin C powder daily to bowel tolerance. The recommended amount in a full day is 4,000 mg. if tolerated. Place in warm water and sip through a straw to avoid injury to tooth enamel. (I was taking 20,000-25,000 mg. of C daily).
- Medizyme as needed for additional pain (systemic anti-inflammatory for root canal extractions)
* Note about pH Test Strips: I prefer this brand as the strips don’t bleed like a litmus paper, and you can use these to test urine or saliva. I also like that readings are separated into 0.25 increments making it easier to get an accurate reading of pH levels. They also have a wide range of readings from 4.5-9.0.
To learn how to test pH click here.
Important: Please note that these are the products and practices that worked for me based on my own health history and tolerances. Please work with your biological dentist, environmental medicine physician, and your own body wisdom to determine the best products and practices that work for you.
After pulling three of the root canals, we had found that under every root canal, my jawbone was rotting (it is no wonder I was having so much pain, and so many chronic dental infections!). So along with replacing the six amalgam fillings, I had eight root canals pulled and had cavitation work done, which included eight bone grafts to replace the rotted areas in the jawbone that had to be removed. Yet throughout all of this work, this protocol worked perfectly and I had no negative reactions.
All of the work I had done took place in a dental office with carbocaine injections. I did also require stitches, but they were dissolvable, so I didn’t have to return to have them removed. My dentist commonly used ozonated water to irrigate the area after removing teeth, but I was not comfortable with this, so I brought silver for this purpose. I also had to get a partial. I am an excellent muscle tester, so my dentist gave me a sample of every item he would be using for the partial, so that I could test them at home before the partial was made. He also muscle tested me and without revealing what our choices were for the safest products for me, we came up with the exact same results. We also went through this same process for all the materials used during the entire dental process, including replacement materials for the amalgams and the bone grafting material.
All in all I was shocked that I had no negative effects, no infections, and no problems. I believe that waiting until I had significantly reduced my toxic load was the reason for this. I also give credit to the large amount of prayer that I requested from loved ones. Since having all of this dental work completed, I have seen a significant shift in my health. It has brought me to a whole new level of health and healing. After doing this and some other significant work, I can say that I my health significantly improved. I still lead a chemical free and non-toxic life, but the difference is that I have a life. I rarely react to chemicals anymore, unless they are truly severe, such as the months of wildfires we recently had in the West. But even then my recovery time is incredibly fast. Having all of this dental work done was a significant part of my recovery. I am truly grateful for everyone who helped me along the way.