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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Really worried after my visit to the dentist today, can anyone advise?

54 replies

spacecadet · 15/03/2006 12:58

I went for my usual check up today, and to my horror the dentist said id lost half a tooth!, he took a picture and showed me the still and basically i have a filling in one of my top back molars and one side of the tooth has cracked, dropped off and the filling is exposed. the dentist said id lost most of the tooth and had to be careful that the filling didnt come out, he said the filling was already crumbling and hed have to refill it and seal round, trouble is, he cant do it for 4 months and when i asked about possible dangers with the filling, he just gave me a leaflet, but im very worried about possible effects from having the filling exposed, im also worried it will just drop out, or i might swallow it!

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CountessDracula · 15/03/2006 12:59

4 months???

That is mad. Go to someone else
You sound like you need a crown

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:04

really/ trouble is he is the only nhs dentist in the area. looking at it on the picture i did wonder if the tooth could be saved.

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Hausfrau · 15/03/2006 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

starlover · 15/03/2006 13:08

4 months is ridiculous! I can't believe he is booked up for that long??!!?

can you not phone tomorrow and say you're in agony and get an emergency appt or something? that's awgful!

I had a similar thing happen and my dentist just put a temporary white coating over it... took about 2 minutes

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:11

trouble is hes the only nhs dentist around so he is very busy, now as well since he poked it about, ive spat a few bits of filling down the sink.

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:12

im worried i will get mercury poisoning!

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CountessDracula · 15/03/2006 13:15

No you won't I have swallowed whole fillings in my sleep before and been fine

Can you afford to go private?

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starlover · 15/03/2006 13:15

if it's a mercury filling then it really ought to be covered...

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:24

CD- whole fillings
sadly i cant afford to go private, as it is i have to pay for the filling privately.
starlover-im worried now.

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starlover · 15/03/2006 13:28

i read that if you're having mercury fillings removed then they hsould use a mouthguard so you don't swallow any.... but my dentist never uses one!

it is a bit scary. ring them tomorrow and see if you can get an emergency appt... say it really hurts

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CountessDracula · 15/03/2006 13:29

hang on hang on

What do you mean as it is you ahve to pay for the filling privately?

If you are paying for it privately there then why not elsewhere? They can't mix and match like that can they?

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:29

i wonder how much an emergency appt costs though.
blimey i dont think i will dare eat now.

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:30

CD- ive got to have a white filling apparently and he doesnt do them on the nhs.

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CountessDracula · 15/03/2006 13:31

so he will be doing privately

So just go somewhere else and get privately!

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:31

i would like to say though, that i dont have a prob with my dentist, just really worried about going so long with my tooth like this.

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starlover · 15/03/2006 13:33

thast's ridiculous SC! there is no reason why you would need a white filling.

sounds like he just wants you to have to pay more.
if he said you needed to be careful the filling didn't come out then he should have done something about ti! that's appalling.

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:34

cd-hes only charging me for the actual filling privately, but not the rest of the trwatment to the tooth, so if i go to someone else, they will charge me for all the treatment privately which i cant afford.

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CHICagoMUM · 15/03/2006 13:42

My take on it is this.

You won't get mercury poisoning (even if you swallow a huge filling). The mercury is tightly bound into the structure of the filling, the only time there is loose mercury is when the filling is first places (before it has set) and possibly some mercury vapour comes of an old filling when it is drilled out due to the high temperatures generated by the high speed drill. The suction used by the nurse during the proceedures should reduce this. If you are concerned about this take charcoal tablets before your appointmnet these (apparently will absorb any mercury that passes into your stomach and carry it therough to the other end (IYSWIM).

If the side of the tooth needs to be built up a white filling material is generally used (and this IS avaliable on the nhs).

To replace the old filling and incorpoate the lost part of tooth can be done in amalgam (on the nhs) or composite (white filling) but that would have to be private as nhs won't cover it. Realistically speaking a filling that size shouldn't be white as it isn't as strong as the silver fillings, rather you would better off having the tooth crowned - the cost of crowns varies depending on type and material etc. Always get a signed quote up front before you have the work done.

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 13:48

thank you chicago mum.
so it might be an idea for me to take charcoal tabs before hand then.
im guessing then that he is talking about the re-building of the tooth, plus the filling.
can i request to have it crowned instead?
is it ok to leave it for 4 months?

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starlover · 15/03/2006 13:53

but see.... see i was right!

CM says it can be done in amalgam, so you don't haev to pay for a white filling!

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CHICagoMUM · 15/03/2006 13:59

Generally in these situations I would rebuild the filling to provide a good sound base to use to place a crown on. It may last 4 months without having the treatment but it is obviously in a rather fragile state until it is done. I am rather surprised the wait is 4 months (is that the first avaliable appointment or do you need specific times of the day - first thing in the morning etc?)

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 14:09

starlover-yes you were.
chicagomum-that was the first appt because i have to have a 20 min appt and that was the first avaliable one.

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starlover · 15/03/2006 14:12

i was right right riiiiiight! la la laaaaa i am sooo clever! lol

could you see another dentist at the same place? I know at ours I can sometimes get seen sooner if I will see a different person

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spacecadet · 15/03/2006 14:17

i did ask starlover- but apparently you have to see the dentist you are registered with.
i will just have to wait until i get raging toothache i guess then ask for an emergency appt.

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Loobie · 15/03/2006 14:22

So sorry to intrude but chigacomum are you a dentist ro just someone with dental knowledge at least?? If so could you please advise

Thursday last week i was in agony from a broken away filling,so off i went to emergency dentist thuirsday am,she put a temp filling in the gap left by the broken bit and gave me anti'bs,since then till monday morning i was in utter agony,couldnt eat,was taking post=operative strength painkillers which never even touched the sides of the pain.

Went back on monday am to emergancy clinic,saw different dentist who xrayed the tooth,then cleared out the remains of the old filling and the temp filling put in on thursday,and some decay from underneath.Then he put a sedative filling into the tooth.
This was on monday and the tooth has calmed down quite a bit but im still in a lot of pain with it,cant eat at all on that side and if hot drinks pass over it and i hit the roof and spend the next 5 mins in severe agony,almost unable to move.
So any advise would be great,should i still have pain like this ?? if yes how long should i leave it before i go back to him?? The next step is i think to pull the tooth but am wondering how long i should wait for this sedative to work or how quickly it should work before going back.

sorry to intrude !!