I have many Amalgam fillings that I would like to have removed. I don't think I have any major symptoms that would necessarily be tracked to the fillings but I do have a lot of miscellaneous minor symptoms that add up and feel major at times. (The biggest one for me is my short term memory loss. It started during my pregnancy so I thought it was pregnancy hormone related, but that baby is almost 4 years old now). I have gone to a homeopathic doctor and asked about the possibility of mercury poisoning, but I never got a response, he ignored the question and went on to something else.

Anyway, I recall the dentist that put these in my teeth saying something at the time about controversy over the safety of amalgam. But he went on to say that in his opinion it was safe and since cost was a factor for me he recommended the amalgam, and I naively allowed it. Also, he did one root canal and crown.

About 4 years later the crowned tooth got an extremely bad infection. I didn't realize at the time that it was infected. But I lost 20 pounds in just one month from not being able to eat and another 20 pounds over the next few months because I was afraid to eat anything solid. And it took over 3 years before I could chew with that side of my mouth at all. I couldn't afford to go to a dentist because they can't numb me with the shots, and I have extreme anxiety from being abused by a dentist as a child. So, I have to be put to sleep when having my teeth worked on. I can't even stand to have them examined or cleaned.

I did finally get brave enough for an examination a few years ago and the x-rays showed nothing new. When I asked that dentist about the tooth sensitivity I get he said teeth get bruised just like any other part of the body and that they probably just get bruised. And the tooth with the crown, he said must have been infected and the next time I have trouble with it I could get an antibiotic. Well, I always have trouble with it. It has heat sensitivity and the other side of my mouth has cold sensitivity.

So now, how and where do I go about getting rid of the old fillings, and the root canal? And what should I have them replaced with? I am in the St. Louis MO area. And I need a dentist that will be sensitive to my sensitivities and agree to allow me to be sedated. Also, money will be an issue because I don't have dental insurance. Does anyone know of such a dentist? Or know how I can find one? I have done some internet research but I haven't found a dentist that specializes in this. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.