When to Replace Amalgam Fillings
Ever wondered if your amalgam fillings need replacing? If you're sporting an older amalgam filling, it might be showing signs of wear, like corrosion at the edges. These silver metal fillings generally last about 12 years, but sometimes they may need replacing after just five. Factors like teeth grinding or heavy biting can weaken the fillings, leading to leakage, cracking, or even complete fallout.
Take a look at this example – it's an amalgam filling that's been in place for 25 years. Over time, it's stopped forming a secure seal with the tooth. This allows bacteria to sneak in underneath. You might notice the tooth's color shifting from white to black, indicating decay both inside and around the tooth. A tell-tale sign for dentists is a white line at the tooth's base, signifying decalcification. This means the plaque has eroded the enamel, reducing the calcium and weakening the tooth.
Failing Amalgam Restoration with Corrosion and Decay Under the Filling.
Issues with Amalgam Fillings
Often, decay under a filling can become quite severe without being noticeable – this is why regular dental check-ups are crucial. Initially, when a cavity forms, it's generally painless. However, some patients might experience sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet substances. If the decay reaches the tooth's nerve, the pain can escalate quickly, necessitating either a root canal or extraction.
When it's time to replace an amalgam filling, your dentist will remove the old filling and decay using a drill. They'll then assess whether a root canal is necessary. If not, the dentist can repair the tooth with another filling or a crown, based on the cavity's size. In the scenario we're discussing, the patient needs a crown.
The sooner you identify a dental issue, the simpler it is to address. Preventative measures like sealants are more cost-effective than fillings, which in turn are cheaper than crowns. And, of course, getting a crown is less expensive and less invasive than undergoing a root canal and then getting a crown.
Also called white fillings, metal-free fillings are made of a material called composite resin. It is a mixture of glass or quartz and an acrylic resin. Composite resin fillings have become very popular in Charlotte, and everywhere else due to the recent studies that correlate the very toxic mercury vapors with dementia and cancer.
Listen to this podcast by John Maher and Dr. Nammy Patel regarding the dangers of amalgam. As Dr. Nammy explains, not only is it important to contact a dentist if you suspect you have leaking amalgam fillings, but of utmost importance is who you contact. You will want to make sure it is a provider who takes mercury disposal seriously. At Arboretum Dentistry we isolate the teeth, use proper suction for the removal of the silver toxic filling, and have the patient breathe 100% oxygen through a securely fitted hood over the nose.
