The ADA has viciously attacked dentists who advocate removing amalgam as quacks and exploiters. Maybe some of them are. However, research does show that mercury levels in patients drop off after amalgam is removed, even if there is a temporary spike caused by drilling it out. Anyway, the dental lobby never seems to mention that fillings must be drilled out anyway whenever they deteriorate or need enlargement!
That's true. They sesttle or shrink or something. I had to have all mine replaced at some point. I'm glad they don't use it anymore.
If you are THAT concerned about mercury exposure from your amalgam fillings and plan on having them removed, make sure your dentist uses a rubber dam when they remove the fillings. Drilling them out creates more of a mercury exposure than leaving an intact amalgam in your mouth...unless you are a cud chewing animal, of course! Did you know that many of these "mercury exposure" studies were done in Canada on cows and sheep?