Amalgam Removal: Visit Five

We had chosen this slightly unusual appointment time for a practical reason too. It allowed us to buy train tickets for £60 instead of £115. That difference easily pays for a very nice dinner back on the smallholding.

Our return train was booked for 3:37pm, giving us around three hours after the dentist to walk through Hyde Park and explore a little more of London.

Hannah had a particular destination in mind: the Albert Memorial.

The final treatment

When I settled into the chair, Dan said cheerfully, “Let’s get you jabbed up.”

But this time I had a request.

“Dan, do you think we could try doing it without the injection?”

He immediately said yes, explaining that we could always revert to anaesthetic if the pain became too much.

He warned me that I would feel some discomfort.

I was determined to try.

There were a few sharp moments, certainly, but nothing unmanageable. And in the end it was absolutely worth it. Avoiding the anaesthetic meant avoiding the wooziness I had experienced during the previous visit.

Interestingly, Dan said it also makes things easier for the dentist when patients can avoid injections. Without anaesthetic, patients can bite more naturally when adjusting the bite of a crown or inlay, which helps achieve a more precise result.

Before beginning, Dan even showed me the inlay he was about to fit. It was fascinating to see such a small, precisely crafted piece of work before it disappeared into my mouth. Naturally, I asked if I could photograph it.

Here it is:

Once the inlay was fitted, Dan spent quite a bit of time carefully adjusting the bite. It was a meticulous process, removing tiny amounts at a time until everything aligned perfectly. His attention to detail is impressive. We feel very fortunate to have come across him.

And just to be clear, he is not asking us to say that!

Hannah’s final adjustment

Then it was Hannah’s turn.

Her session was quick and straightforward, involving a final adjustment to her bite. Within minutes, she was finished.

And that was it.

Twelve mercury fillings between the two of us, all safely removed and replaced over the course of these visits.

Talking teeth, microbiomes, and nutrition

During my appointment we also had some interesting conversations with Dan.

We mentioned that we had recently seen Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride again. When we last visited her five months ago, we spoke about Hannah’s mercury situation, and she encouraged us to find a holistic dentist in Harley Street to address it.

It was wonderful to report back to her that both of us are now mercury-free.

Dan seemed genuinely excited about Dr Natasha’s work and said he would be very interested in recommending patients to her, given her deep understanding of gut health and the microbiome.

That led to a fascinating discussion about the mouth microbiome. Dan emphasised how important it is that microbiome health begins in the mouth itself.

He is currently close to finishing a book on the oral microbiome and how to care for it properly. One phrase of his that stuck with me was that our teeth are “very hungry fellows.” In other words, they need to be fed and watered properly through the way we eat, drink, and care for them.

Between Dan’s forthcoming book and Dr Natasha’s upcoming book on regenerative farming, we already have two titles on our “must read” list for the year. Dr Natasha mentioned that Joel Salatin is writing the foreword to her book, which is exciting.

A note about fasting and water

We also touched on something Dr Natasha had mentioned during our last consultation.

She spoke about fasting and water intake, explaining that during a 24-hour fast it may not always be necessary to drink large quantities of water. When intake is reduced, the body can draw on internal water reserves, which she described as a higher-quality “structured water.”

It is a fascinating area to explore.

Walking to Hyde Park

After leaving the dentist around 12:30pm, we set off towards Marble Arch and Hyde Park.

This time there was no anaesthetic fog to recover from, so I felt clear and energised. We didn’t rush, but we walked with purpose.

Our destination was the Albert Memorial.

From Marble Arch we walked through Hyde Park, crossing the beautiful Serpentine Lake.

We took photos of some of the blossom, and there were some superb trees for a bit of tree hugging (and wife hugging)

The walk itself was wonderful. Across the Serpentine Bridge, past the Serpentine Gallery, and eventually arriving at the impressive Albert Memorial with the Royal Albert Hall rising behind it.

At each corner of the monument are marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The figure representing Europe shows a woman riding a beast.

For anyone familiar with the imagery in the Book of Revelation, that symbolism is quite striking.

The surrounding gardens are also well worth a visit.

We rewarded ourselves with a well-earned coffee from the small kiosk beside the memorial. Not organic this time, but very welcome all the same.