Should I get my filling replaced?!
Question: Here's the deal:
I've got this tooth that has a filling in from many years ago.
I guess it's been 15+ years.
It's mercury in it.
Sometimes the tooth hurts when I eat or drink, but usually it doesn't hurt.
Should I get a new non-mercury filling or just leave it alone?
My fear is that the tooth pain may be coming from a cavity that may get worse and by having the old filling removed, maybe the dentist can get a better look and at the same time replace the mercury filling? Is it worth the trouble? Or should I wait until I'm in agony or will it even get worse?
Answers: Here's the deal:
I've got this tooth that has a filling in from many years ago.
I guess it's been 15+ years.
It's mercury in it.
Sometimes the tooth hurts when I eat or drink, but usually it doesn't hurt.
Should I get a new non-mercury filling or just leave it alone?
My fear is that the tooth pain may be coming from a cavity that may get worse and by having the old filling removed, maybe the dentist can get a better look and at the same time replace the mercury filling? Is it worth the trouble? Or should I wait until I'm in agony or will it even get worse?
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE IN PAIN. Waiting for pain pretty much ensures that you will require root canal therapy or the removal of the tooth.
Go see your dentist and have the cavity fixed while it is still, hopefully, small.
If you are concerned about mercury, make sure the dentist uses a RUBBER DAM when he removes the old silver filling. The rubber dam stops the filling from reaching your oral cavity and throat when he drills it out. Mercury is released when the filling is pulverized during drilling. When a silver filling is a healthy solid structure in your tooth, mercury leakage is infintesimal and not considered a health risk. It is only a problem when they are placed or removed. Rubber dam should be worn for both placement AND removal.
As for what type of filling to use next time around, well,between silver and a white resin, silver is still the stronger, longer-lasting material. It is far superior for larger restorations.
If you can afford it, go with porcelain! Some dentists can fashion a porcelain filling in their office in one visit with a process called CEREC. Look into it. It is GREAT. The color is bang on. The fit is precise. They are almost impossible to see when they are in the tooth. Cerec restorations are strong too.
If the dentist does not have CEREC and you don't want to go elsewhere, your dentist can have a dental lab make a porcelain filling if you wish. The downside is that you will have to wear a temporary crown for several days while the lab makes the crown.
If the dentist feels that you have lost too much healthy tooth structure, he might encourage you to get a complete porcelain crown. Again, these are available in CEREC or through a dental lab. If the decay is close to the nerve, he might recommend you have root canal therapy before you go through the expense of a beautiful new crown.
Yes! take care of your teeth, you only get one set to fuk off with when youre young! the other you need to take care of, unless you want full sets of top and bottom fake teeth!
Well im oral hygiene paranoid and dont believe in fillings. Heres why, a cavity is a decay in your enamel and a dentists solution is to make the hole larger and fill it with mercury. Obviously you had yours filled to protect the pulp. BUT.....there is hope for recalcification. You can actually change your diet to promote growth of a new layer of dentin under your filling. This could stop the pain youre having. Start taking a teaspoon of cod liver oil 3X day as well as vitamin a,d,k, and e. It amazes me that less advanded people ate sugar cane etc, and theyre teeth are phenominal. Its the diet. Heres a really helpful link. I dont know if youre into this kinda diet change but hey...teeth are priceless.
http://www.yourreturn.org/Treatments/Tee...
Definitely, should get it replaced. One thing you don't want to mess around with is your teeth. If it hurts now, it will only get worse, teeth don't just get better on their own. I know alot of people that had work done, and now they have had to get something replaced. Nothing last forever, beside why would you want that old mercury in your mouth anyway, get the new stuff.