Anyone Had Good Experiences With Replacing Amalgum with White Fillings?!
Question: I just want to know, because I am considering... has anyone had good experience replacing Alalgum (silver) fillings with white ones? My b-friend who worked for an endodontist for 12 years says don't fix it if it isn't broken. She said she cannot tell me how many people they see coming in after getting white fillings after silver, and they end up needing a root canal from nerve trauma. Please... share your stories with me before I do it. I need to weigh it all out. How is it then... that some deep cavities are ok and do not turn into root canals?
Answers: I just want to know, because I am considering... has anyone had good experience replacing Alalgum (silver) fillings with white ones? My b-friend who worked for an endodontist for 12 years says don't fix it if it isn't broken. She said she cannot tell me how many people they see coming in after getting white fillings after silver, and they end up needing a root canal from nerve trauma. Please... share your stories with me before I do it. I need to weigh it all out. How is it then... that some deep cavities are ok and do not turn into root canals?
You never know what a tooth will do over time. But everytime you have to cut into the tooth, it makes the restorations bigger and sometimes deeper. No one knows why some deep ones are fine and some are not, but the deeper it is and the closer the filling sits near the nerve, the more of a chance you might eventually need a root canal. Silver works best in the back teeth where you do all your chewing. White fillings don't last as long in the back , especially if it is a big filling . So I would leave well enough alone unless you are so concerned about having a "Hollywood Smile". Plus, you are looking at a great expense. If it is strictly cosmetic and no decay problems, insurance will not cover it. You usually cannot see the silver in the back teeth anyway.
silver fillings are for deeeep cavities and white are for minor cavities hope this helped!
I've been replacing all my old silver fillings with white over the years. Not a single problem so far.
I think you need to find a good dentist with a good reputation. If a filling is deep precautions to protect the nerve must be taken - from not going too deep to start with, to not damaging the nerves, to not getting too close to the tooth nerve, and 'insulating' the site before filling. My dentist uses a 'liner' before he puts a filling in -- it's kind of like an insulator that protects the nerve. I don't know what it's called today - but years ago 'dycal' was a putty type insulator and 'copalite' was a varnish type insulator we used to use. If the dentist used both dycal and copalite on a filling it was really deep!!
My poor dentist today- he has to be extra careful with me --- I know all the stuff he's using and why... and I get panicked easier now!! lol --- he'll see my eyes get big when he asks for something - and he laughs --- and says "no - it's not because it's bad - I like to be extra safe!!" ----
endodontists only see certain types of patients - not like a general dentist or family dentist --- so your friend may only see the 'bad' cases --- not all the 'great' ones!
I love the white ones.... so nice and pretty -- makes your smile so much nicer!!!!
Don't be foolish!! If the amalgams don't have a problem leave them be. The only one better off is the dentist,& most of thier wallets are fat already!! Doc W