Dr. Gregory Apsey of Warren, Michigan has created his dental practice with you and the environment in mind. He is proud of the fact that he offers only tooth colored fillings in his esthetic dentistry dental office. These are made of either porcelain, ceramic, or composite. He does not offer dental amalgam as it is unesthetic, contains about 50% mercury, and unfortunately releases on a continuous basis, mercury vapor in small quantities as long as it is present in the mouth. Dr. Apsey feels that as long as there are good alternatives, there is no reason to use this material.
The more esthetic dental restoratives are somewhat more challenging to place properly, and therefore are a bit more pricey. His patients agree they are well worth the extra charge. These restorations blend in and appear like natural teeth. They are strong, long lasting and gorgeous.
Environmental concerns regarding Dental Amalgam are very real. There is a whole industry in our profession set up to handle the dental amalgam waste we dentists produce. Dental Amalgam is considered hazardous waste outside of the mouth and must be handled carefully so as not to contaminate our water-ways. All amalgam waste produced in the office is collected and sent to a special facility which recycles the metals in a way that they will not do damage to the environment. Dr. Apsey has a collection device installed in his suction lines which separates out the heavy metal sediments before the waste water leaves his office. Annually, this collection unit is replaced. The entire container filled with the waste material is sent to a company called Dental Recycling North Americe (DRNA) in New York where it is processed safely. His suction traps are handled similarly. It is important that mercury containing dental amalgam does not make it into the regular trash as it could possibly end up in an incinerator causing a release of mercury into the environment. In this way, Dr. Apsey is trying to do his part in keeping our Michigan Lakes clean. Unfortunately, he has not found a way to keep the Asian Carp out!
About the Author: Dr. Gregory Apsey practices dentistry in Warren, Michigan. He is a General Dentist with a focus on excellence in family dental care, braces, root canal treatment, mercury-free dentistry, veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures, and implant restoration. He has been practicing in the area for 23 years, is a graduate of The University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Faculte for Orthodontic research and Education, and the Academy of General Dentistry. You will feel at home in his friendly, welcoming office.