Testing for Mercury Vapors Woodland Hills

If you’ve ever accidentally bitten down on a piece of tin foil and felt that weird tingle in your dental filling, then you’ve been the victim of a galvanic event. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Dentists have been talking about galvanic currents for more than 100 years. That’s because many different metals have been used in dentistry throughout this time period, and these metals can create electrical charges. So now you know why you experience that weird shock every time you pop a Rolo candy in your mouth without checking to make sure all the foil is removed first.

What causes galvanism?

Galvanic events can occur for a few different reasons, including:

• A tooth with a mercury amalgam filling and a tooth with gold restorations being placed adjacent to or opposite one another. When these different metals make contact, combined with your saliva, it can result in a shocking feeling.
• A tooth with one type of metal is located directly above or below a tooth with a different type of metal. When these dissimilar metals come into contact, they can create a galvanic event.

What are side effects of galvanism?

That strange shocking feeling is the most common side effect of galvanism, but it’s certainly not the only one. Galvanic events can cause teeth to become more sensitive, leave a salty or metallic taste, boost salivary production, and even cause the tongue to feel a burn or tingle. These events can also cause some people to experience chronic fatigue, headaches, sleep deprivation, irritability, and memory loss. These non-oral effects are caused by the effects that galvanism has on a person’s central nervous system.

How can you measure your galvanic current?

It is possible to measure galvanism, which can help when it comes to determining a solution for this problem. A Rita Meter is an electrical potential tool that can tell you about electrical charges coming from fillings and other metal dental restorations. Metals that are safe and healthy will register a positive charge. Negative charges typically represent a mercury amalgam filling or decay underneath an old filling.

What can you do about galvanic current?

After measuring your galvanic current, you and your dentist can work together to come up with a solution. This will typically involve removing the metals that are causing the problem and replacing them with healthier and safer materials that will still help restore the teeth and keep them in great shape for years to come.

If you’d like to come in for a mercury vapor test in Woodland Hills, please schedule an appointment.  Chat online now or call 818.672.1071

For more information go to: Pearl Zadeh DDS | Woodland Hills Holistic Dentistry

Book an appointment today!

What our patients say