Can you have amalgams (mercury fillings) removed without drilling?

no. It isn't possible. They are made to last, which is why they are such a fabulous filling material.

Amalgam is about 50% mercury bonded to different metals. mercury bonded to other metals has properties different from elemental mercury. Just as elementa chlorine is so dangerous it is a chemical weapon used in world war 1 but is harmless when bonded to sodium (sodium chloride=table salt) mercury is harmless when bonded to other metals present in dental amalgam

If there are no problems with your Amalgam fillings beside the aesthetics of them, do not remove them. Amalgams last longer than the composite fillings. Amalgams actually seal to the margins of the tooth over time due to corrosion from saliva. THis seal prevents oral fluid from seeping into the filling, if oral fluids seep into the filling could cause cavities under the filling and would need more tooth structure removed. This is called micro-leakage. So if you had composite fillings, there is a chance of shrinkage which does not allow for a good seal against the tooth margins which has a greater chance of micro-leakage and would eventually need the composites replaced more often. If your tooth is sound and has no issue, then let it be sound with the amalgams!

You will not get Mercury poison because there is less mercury than the poisonous dose in the fillings.

Only way to remove amalgam is drilling. No ways around it. If you're worried, the assistant uses a high evacuation suction which prevent aspiration as well as swallowing of the amalgam because it sucks out all the pieces of amalgam being drilled.

You're still living and conscious with those filling in now....same thing will happen when they are drilled out.

The way mine came out was falling out. The tooth around one of mine decayed and the filling had nothing to hold on to. Another one of mine just fell out. My last one was pulled out because it was in a highly infected tooth that got pulled. I don't know if there is another way. If you've had amalgams, then going under the drill one last time shouldn't be too bad. I practically live under the drill and at my dentist's office...

Only if those fillings were done in the 1950/1960, will they contain mercury. The dentist will remove them.... extra income - for literally doing nothing.

Peace.