Heads Up on a Dental Issue!

[JulieM]

I went to a new dentist for cleaning and found out many if not all of my 9 amalgam fillings are bad! I'm 46, and all of my fillings are 20 years old or older. I complained a couple of years ago to my old dentist about a few of my teeth hurting a little when I bit down on something hard. He xrayed and said all was well, and suggested I might have some tiny cracks causing the discomfort. The new dentist says the old fillings are not doing their job and suspects I have cavaties under several of them. I had the first one removed yesterday and there was much decay underneath. He said if I'd waited much longer I would have needed a root canal in that tooth!!! He had me look at the decay in a mirror before doing the repair so I know he's being straight with me. He said amalgams are only good for sure for about 10 years.

I feel a bit tricked. You spend your money to go to the dentist on a regular basis, so why didn't someone tell me years ago to start replacing those old fillings? I just wanted to pass the information on to you all in case some of you may be in the same boat and don't realize it.

[ashleenicole]

Here's a helpful link to the American Dental Association's Q&A on amalgams.

ADA.org (http://navigation.helper.realnames.com/framer/1/0/default.asp?realname=ADA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eada%2Eorg%2F&frameid=1&providerid=0&uid=200008222)

The current use of amalgam and replacement of existing amalgams has been a hot topic in the dental industry over the past few years. You'll find varying opinions on the replacement of amalgams, in fact, I had a dentist tell me I should have all of mine replaced with composites. On a second opinion, I was told that unless there was indication of decay or other problem, the removal of amalgams for essentially "cosmetic" purposes could potentially damage the tooth because each time a tooth is drilled on the structure of the tooth weakens. :confused:

You'll probably find that your new dentist doesn't use amalgam at all...which is pretty common. I worked for a Medical Insurance company contracting dentists for their "preferred" dental plans and I heard SO many opinions on this topic it was unbelieveable! You may find, if you have dental insurance, that the insurance company has an opinion on this issue too! :rolleyes:

[ashleenicole]

looks like my link only takes you to the home page of the ADA.

On the homepage, choose PUBLIC, then ORAL HEALTH TOPICS, then AMALGAMS.

Hope this helps!

[funnybone]

Thanks for the info. I have been fortunate and only have had 2 fillings in my life - and they were after my kids were born. I guess my teeth didn't do well in pregnancy, but luckily it was only 2 of them. Also, they are the composite, but DH has many other fillings.

[Ralph]

I've had a similar situation. I've always had problems with cavities (about one every two years or so!) and always had amalgam fillings. About 10 years ago, I ended up with a root canal, but last year that same tooth became extremely painful. Turned out one of the roots had fractured and had to be removed. My dentist at the time wasn't especially expedient about getting me in for this terrible pain, so I ended up asking the periodontist for referral to a general dentist.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE! This new dentist spent over an hour with me at my initial visit explaining some of what you've just said: Amalgams don't last forever, etc. He found evidence of decay on at least six teeth that had not been addressed by my prior dentist (we got copies of the old x-rays). He said much of the prevailing theory in the dental field is that decay isn't often addressed until it becomes problematic (pain, etc.). Now, Julie, that doesn't explain why your old dentist didn't do anything, but that may help others understand why they seem to have many problems when they start with a new dentist.

[JulieM]

I researched the pros and cons of amalagam vs composite fillings 3 or 4 years ago, and at that time it was still believed that amalgam was a better filling material because supposedly the composite didn't adhere well to the tooth and would potentially allow bacteria to seep under. Yuck. But I've checked with several dentists in the last couple of weeks, and they all say that the composite has been greatly improved in the last few years and is superior to the amalgam.

Because of the reasons some of you have stated above, I definitely think it's unwise to remove an amalgam that is not causing any problem. The tough part is determining if the amalgam is still doing its job! It seems the only thing you can do is go by the age of the filling, and they say if it's more than 10 years old it could be trouble.

The next problem, and what I'm researching now, is the affects of the mercury in your system as a result of drilling out the old fillings. If any of you have info on detoxing your system after removing amalgam fillings I would greatly appreciate your sharing it. There is so much internet information that it's difficult to weed through, and it ranges from the extreme where they blame every possible condition, including anorexia (!), on amalgams.

Ashleenicole, I haven't checked your link yet but am about to do so, and thanks for the info.

[food girl]

I am going through the same thing right now. I had milk-bottle mouth when I was little and many of my molars emerged with cavities that had traveled through the baby teeth.

I had many fillings in my teens and they are all coming "due" for replacement now. The problem is that some of them were very large and the dentist must make a larger hole to put the new filling in. Maybe they need fresh tooth surface or something. Anyway, the composite fillings "flex" and if they are large this can hurt when you bite down - I know, I tried them. My only option has been to get the teeth crowned. A crown and a root canal only last about 20 years so when I am 53 I'll be doing this again unless they come up with something new.

I wonder if my dentist told me that I would need the fillings redone in 20 years when I was 13 years old? I am sure that being 33 years old sounded like 100!

Lisa

[Laura B]

I have just gone through the same situation. I had about 5 amalgam fillings in high school. Two years ago, my new dentist told me that two of them are bad. One was so bad that I had to have the tooth crowned and the other just required a replacement filling. Is composite the same as the fillings that look tooth-colored? If so, then that is what my old filling was replaced with. I was not happy to have to have the work done, but I am so much happier with the appearance of my mouth. The two that were replaced were the only two on the bottom, so now when I open my mouth no one can see the dark old fillings in my bottom teeth. I suppose the three on the top of my mouth will need replacing soon, too. I certainly hope that my dentist will catch the problems with them before I need a crown or a root canal. I should ask how they look the next time I go in for my cleaning.

[Vanessa]

Another option instead of a crown might be an onlay. If the filling space is too big for amalgan they can do an onlay (less $ than a crown) and is like a half crown covering the hole or filling and on the sides a bit. It looks and feels like a tooth. Do go outside to choose the shade of the onlay as lights in the dental office are not true in color.

[DianaLynn]

I can't tell you how tired I am of going to the dentist! Every time when I'm done with one procedure, crowns, fillings, etc., up crops another nasty situation. An old crown starts to have a crack at the gum line and needs to be replaced. And yes, the old amalgam fillings start sending out "sensitive" warnings which my dentist interprets with new crowns--much money to have teeth to enjoy food!
But my dentist says everyone has different compositions of tooth enamel and varying background probabalities that directly relate to decay (basically not flossing enough or using placque reducing mouthwash on a daily basis). I swear I do-yet my teeth always need work and how I hate that novocaine needle-yet I can't have him touch my mouth without it!!!
Anyone else have a better solution?

DianaLynn:confused:

[BosunsWife]

This is an interesting topic to me. I found a new dentist shortly after we moved here and he took xrays, did an exam, cleaned my teeth, etc. Then he told me all my old fillings needed replacing! I said "fine, but make sure the insurance will cover it because I won't pay for it". They kept stalling me on it and wanting me to just get the work done without approval and I said no way and then I received a letter in the mail that said they would no longer be accepting my dental insurance but I was welcome to use them anyway and file direct!!! NOT - why on earth have the insurance if you have to do the work yourself with regard to billing. Not to mention that they would do the work and then the insurance probably wouldn't have paid anyway and I would have been out the big bucks.

Well, six months had gone by so I found a new dentist that accepted my insurance (not hard when you live in this area) and had a cleaning and exam. This doctor told me my filings were fine and did not need to be replaced.

So, was the first guy just trying to scam the insurance company? Hmmmmm.....

I go to the dentist every six months religiously for my cleanings. I have had extensive dental work done in the last 8 years (four crowns). Kind of makes me curious if this first dentist I went to thought I was stupid. My old dentist in RI (did two of my crowns in the last two years) never mentioned that my fillings were bad. Sometimes its good to get a second opinion.

[olive101]

My friend is a new dentist, so I assume she has received up-to-date info on filling choices. She is very adamant that the composite fillings are not as good as the "old fashioned" silver ones. I had a silver filling crack and it needed to be replaced. It was about 8 years old. The denstist (not my friend) replaced it with a composite, white filling. It barely lasted 1 year and then my tooth started to rot again under the filling. Now I have had a root canal and crown, done by my friend. I guess there is quite a bit of debate on this topic, but I personally trust my friend.

[SusanMac]

Ralph -- I've had a similar problem with an old root canal. Did you have a bridge made, or an implant? I want the implant (thinking the bridge would lead to more problems) but it's really hard to justify the money. Insurance only covers part of it. Any tips you have would be great!

[Ralph]

Susan,
I had just the fractured root taken out; they didn't know it was fractured until they got in there, they just knew that one of the roots was problematic & needed to be removed. The tooth is now permanently capped, but with a defect at the gum line leaving a hole between the main part of the tooth & the gum. The cap was custom made to fit around the remainder of the tooth. There was never a question about pulling the tooth altogether - their theory is that I they'd like to leave me with all the teeth I originally had!