I can't answer your questions, but I might be able to direct you to a place that can help you get your amalgams removed affordably. Jigsaw Health Foundation was set up to help fund people to get their amalgams removed - it is meant for people who cannot afford the procedure on their own. I was lucky, and I got my amalgams done completely for free.

Jigsaw accepts quarterly applications for this funding, and give top priority to mothers. They have financial requirements, so you have to submit tax docs or something to prove you are in need.

They first look into holistic dentists in your area to see if they are willing to donate services for the foundation. For me, they found a dentist who was willing to do the procedure for free, completely donated, once insurance paid for anything they were willing to (and they actually paid a decent amount - you just don't let them know you are getting them out for mercury reasons....dentists replace amalgams all the time for being old, cracked, or damaged, and insurance companies just assume this is the deal). That leaves you with the hefty cost of the procedure itself, because insurance will only pay a small amount (doesn't know about all the specialized equipment, etc), and the difference in price of the amalgams and the composites. But my dentist donated all that extra cost because of Jigsaw.

Anyway, you can find details at http://www.jigsawhealth.com/ - the only thing is that they might not approve an application if you are not already experiencing health issues related to the amalgams - they serve those who need it most first.

~Tia