Amalgam Removal: Visit Four

13 February

I am finally mercury free.

Hannah reached that milestone five weeks ago, during our second visit. For her, the process took just two weeks from start to finish. For me, it has taken three treatment visits and four weeks elapsed time.

Technically, it could have been done in two visits and two weeks for me as well. However, during my second treatment, which was our third visit overall, we decided to prioritise restorative work on my crowns instead. So the mercury removal was spread out slightly longer.

And perhaps that, in itself, reflects something we have learned from working the land. Regeneration is rarely about speed. It is about timing, capacity, and respecting what the system can handle at any given moment.

Now, though, it is done.

A breeze for Hannah

This visit was beautifully straightforward for Hannah. She needed two inlays fitted, and to her surprise, Dan said she would not need any injections. What a relief. Anaesthetic tends to cause her unpleasant side effects, so avoiding it felt like a real blessing.

She was in the chair for barely half an hour and came out smiling, relieved, and ready for a celebratory coffee.

Little did she know that coffee would be delayed.

Dan was running about half an hour behind schedule. We had arrived for 10am, Hannah was in the chair around 10:30, and finished by 11. Dan still felt confident he had plenty of time before his 12:30 meeting with his accountant.

I must admit, I feel more relaxed when appointments are not stacked tightly together. Dan often emphasises that he does not rush his patients and will take whatever time is needed. That ethos resonates with us. On the smallholding, rushing almost always costs more in the long run. Care, attention, and thoroughness matter.

His speed and precision are remarkable. The efficiency with which he removes and replaces amalgam is genuinely impressive. And to be clear, he has not asked us to say that.

My turn: the final three

Then it was my turn.

I was in the chair for about an hour and twenty-five minutes. We decided to remove the final three amalgams first. Injections into the right side, top and bottom, then the rubber dam, protective cloak, suction, mask, and we were underway.

The final three mercury fillings were removed swiftly and replaced.

I had hoped I might escape with anaesthetic on one side only. However, when it came to fitting the crowns, one tooth proved sensitive. That meant another injection. In total, three injections and both sides of my mouth numbed ☹

During the procedure, I felt absolutely fine.

After fitting the first crown, though, Dan paused. He explained that he was not entirely happy with the second crown. He could have fitted it, but being meticulous, he advised against it. We agreed to order a new one.

The downside is that I now need a fifth visit.

The upside is that there will be no charge for that additional appointment.

And the bigger milestone remains: all my mercury is now out.

Removing it feels symbolic. On the land, we work constantly to reduce chemical inputs, to build soil that can buffer toxins, to create systems that are cleaner and more resilient year by year. This felt like the internal equivalent. Removing a long-standing source of toxicity and trusting that, given time, the body can begin recalibrating.

The aftermath

We had planned to wander down towards Hyde Park after the appointment, perhaps via Oxford Street and Marble Arch. But when I left the dentist, I felt unexpectedly tired and heavy headed.

Hannah was ready for coffee. I, on the other hand, felt like a zombie.

This time, the higher dose of anaesthetic seemed to hit me hard. We live quite naturally and avoid painkillers unless absolutely necessary. There is not even paracetamol in our house. It made me wonder whether anaesthetic has a stronger impact because I so rarely have it.

It reminded me of coffee. If you drink several cups daily, the effect is blunted. If you drink two or three per week, each one has a noticeable impact. Perhaps anaesthetic works in a similar way.

During the procedure I felt steady. It was afterwards that the fog descended. I did not want to talk. I could not really talk. I just wanted quiet streets and slow movement.

So we avoided the crowds and busy roads and gently made our way towards Hyde Park.

Resurfacing in Hyde Park 🌿

By the time we reached the park, I was slowly coming round. Each quiet step seemed to bring clarity back.

We entered through Marble Arch: Here’s our photo