I Have to Have My Fillings Replaced :-( - Page 4

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

My back bottom molar is totally silver on top. Never had any problems with it, but I hate that I can see it when I open my mouth wide. I want to get it replaced, re-done, whatever because I'm just not wild about that metal in my mouth.

Have been told for the past two visits I'm a grinder. Same dentist all along. Why all of a sudden I'm grinding my teeth, I don't know! This forum? Haha.

I am going to get a guard made after I decide what needs to be done with this back molar/filling.

What a beauty, wearing a mouth peice to bed......Yoy.

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

@biancardi wrote:
@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
@biancardi wrote:
yes, the last 6 years, I have been getting my old silver fillings replaced with composite or crowns. many of my back teeth had to be crowned because I had such huge fillings. I have one dental implant because one of them actually cracked in half (I am a grinder)

I have one left to do - crown - next year. thank goodness. It is not painful, just a pain to set up the time and get it done.

I am a grinder, too.

I am wearing my teeth down to nubs from all the grinding that I do.
I am actually getting a custom dental guard made for my teeth. I have spent a lot of money on my teeth and most of these issues might have been prevented if I had a dental guard. To prevent any more damage to your teeth - even if you do replace them all, it will take time - I would suggest getting a custom made dental guard (the ones in the drugstore are useless). I cracked one of my teeth so badly, that it had to be a dental implant, instead of a normal crown....

My new dentist is going to make me a dental guard.

I did have one that was made by my last dentist, but I lost the darn thing.

I got a pre-insurance price for everything, and it's going to cost $2,700.

Ouch!

But these are my teeth.

I want to protect them, and keep them for as long as possible. I don't want root canals, I don't want dentures, or partails.

I want to to take care of my teeth.

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

I only have 4-5 silver fillings left. My dentist said it's best to leave them until there's a problem with them. I want to have them replaced. I know 1 of mine was leaking. Several years ago when I had a mammogram I had a metallic taste in my mouth after. I was curious to why this happened so I researched. I found the amalgam filling was the culprit. I have had a few crowns since then with no more metallic taste. Hopefully the tooth that was leaking was one I had crowned.

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

@biancardi wrote:
@dooBdoo wrote:
@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
http://dentalcarematters.com/replacing-a-filling/

@Plaid Pants2, This explains the fact that occasionally a filling might need to be replaced. But (just from my experience) if a new dentist thinks all or most of them need it I'd get another opinion as others have suggested.

all of mine got replaced. I trust my dentist and he showed me close up pictures of my teeth with the fillings. It was pretty bad - if someone is a grinder, fillings from the 70's and 80's are probably toast by now.

My dentist showed me up close & personal photos of my teeth yesterday, too.

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

I've been quite fortunate-- only 12 fillings in my mouth and no other problems. I floss every day and brush teeth too before heading to bed. I make an appt. for a dental cleaning every 6 months and I think that has a lot to do with my great teeth.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

My father was my dentist throughout my childhood. He always lamented the fact that I didn't inherit the great teeth of his side of the family. Instead, I took after my mother's side, with many, many cavities despite brushing, flossing, and check-ups. Years later, when I lived far from my father, I started going to a local dentist who had gone to dental school with my brother. I had actually attended their dental school graduation and I was his first patient. My old fillings needed to be replaced. We did a quarter at a time and all went well, with just an injection of Novocain.

Two final comments...despite my cavity-prone teeth, my teeth are in great shape. The reason is I see my dentist twice a year. I have a few crowns but all is well. I outgrew the cavity problem. The other comment is that my dentist just retired, much to my dismay. When I found out that he was retiring, I called his office. I said, "I was his first patient and I want to be his last." Sure enough, two weeks ago, I was his final appointment. We both were a bit teary. So, take good care of your teeth. If you have a good dentist, that's a gift.

maestra · ‎03-09-2010

I had mine all replaced years ago. The old silver also have mercury, which is highly toxic, in them. The new ones are the same color as my teeth and I have had no issues. I am a child of the 50's and 60's, so all fillings back then were silver.

Not really painful at all, and I'm a real dental coward! Go for it and don't look back.

Lorik62 · ‎03-14-2010

I still have a few silver fillings left from years ago. I am hoping to have those fillings removed soon by a holistic dentist. I also had a root canal done a year ago and now I am reading all sorts of medical news that over 90% of women who have had root canals are also getting breast cancer or other ailments. I am starting to wonder if my recent health issues are a result. They say the tooth should be completely removed and not left in the mouth.

lulu2 · ‎03-09-2010

@Lorik62 wrote:
I still have a few silver fillings left from years ago. I am hoping to have those fillings removed soon by a holistic dentist. I also had a root canal done a year ago and now I am reading all sorts of medical news that over 90% of women who have had root canals are also getting breast cancer or other ailments. I am starting to wonder if my recent health issues are a result. They say the tooth should be completely removed and not left in the mouth.

90% of women who had root canals are getting breast cancer or other ailments? Like what?

I know very few women my age who have not had a root canal.

SaRina · ‎04-17-2015

I had a lot of cavities as a child, which were all filled with amalgam and refilled with amalgam as I got older. Amalgams typically have a "life span" of only 10 years, then they can break down and need to be replaced. The margins begin to gap open, allowing bacteria to get underneath. Every time you replace an amalgam filling, the dentist has to drill a larger hole. Small amalgam fillings present no problem to the integrity of a tooth, but the larger the fillings get, the more likely you will have problems. Which is why if you have a more extensive amalgam in a tooth, it's best to replace it not with amalgam again, but with a sturdier material such as gold or ceramic. Inlays (inset into the tooth) or onlays (go a bit over the top or cusp of the tooth) can be done. These materials can last 20 years to a lifetime.

I had all my amalgams replaced with ceramic material a while ago. I have crowns, inlays, and onlays in my back teeth. It was probably the best investment I ever made and I have not had a dental problem since. Of course, one has to take good care of the investment. ;-)

It was pretty time intensive to accomplish this as drilling had to be done, impressions taken, and return appointments to seat the product. I'm okay with dental pain -- it's just the temporary discomfort of nerve blocks and/or local injections. You don't feel the actual work.

You sound like someone who wants to take good care of her teeth. Just ask your dentist about whether it makes better sense for you to replace your amalgam with amalgam or with the other materials.