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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be anxious about having a amalgam filling put in and just leave it

29 replies

DyslexicScientist · 12/01/2016 10:07

I have searched, but the threads were from 2008-10 mainly and nothing in the last three years.

I had a filling come out about 10 years ago. I go yearly every couple of the years to see the dentist and they have always said its fine and up to me if I want it replaced.

I've always said just leave it. However I am getting increasingly annoyed about having to dig food out of there every time I eat (rasberrys or air dried beetroot crisps are the worst).

So I've bit the bullet and asked them to repair it, however they've said as its a back tooth it will have to be grey filling.

I'm probably being paranoid, but should I be concerned about this? I'm tempted to just leave it as even psychosomatically it may make me unwell

OP posts:

MaidOfStars · 12/01/2016 10:18

Pay for a white one?

goodnightdarthvader1 · 12/01/2016 10:21

Amalgam fillings are fine. However, I've had white fillings done on back teeth, so I would question your dentist about why this is the case. Is it NHS?

LBOCS2 · 12/01/2016 10:21

Pay for a white one. On the NHS they won't offer it but you can still get them if you pay for them.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/01/2016 10:23

they are fine...I would think an abscess would make you more unwell, please don't just leave it.

dratsea · 12/01/2016 10:25

What is a back tooth? I had a really old filling (more than 30 yrs) in a 7 which disintegrated lost a bit and was replaced with modern white composite and still fine three years later. Cost all of £30 but that was in Panama and it is cheap there. a root canal and two stage white crown on an 8 was $600, say £450. MrsMorton may be along to give professional advice.

Original poster

DyslexicScientist · 12/01/2016 10:27

I'm private (I wish the dentist would have me as NHS - my friend has the same treatment as me only way cheaper!) so it's not an NHS thing, he said because its a back bottom tooth he wouldn't want to put one there as it takes too much erosion.

I didn't want to be a dick and question their expertize. The lat grey one lasted maybe 8-10 years so it does seem possible that a white one will last way less.

I'm tempted to say just leave it as its fine as . a new filling may make it worse when it falls out

OP posts:

Original poster

DyslexicScientist · 12/01/2016 10:31

Sorry when I say a back tooth, I do just mean one at the back on the bottom row.

Lol I've often been abroad places and thought about having cheap dental work, but decided its not worth the risk! I've met about four dentists on checkups and have to have a good feeling about them before progressing with any work. Some have used scare tactics to get me to replace it. I only trust the ones where they say its fine.

OP posts:

dratsea · 12/01/2016 10:54

Sorry, 7 is the back one until the 8 (wisdom tooth) comes through. I thought maybe there was a reason that ?pressure is higher further back but I did have a LR7 (amalgam which had lasted 30yrs+) replaced with composite. The 8 behind is only partially erupted so I guess 7 with composite does most of the work on that side.

Mrsmorton · 12/01/2016 10:56

Some cavities just aren't suitable for white fillings although you'll always find a dentist who's prepared to compromise.
Don't leave it, it pisses me off when I do my OOH clinic and I see people who have had holes in their teeth for years. Plenty of time to get them fixed but now it's Christmas Day. And it's sore.

Get it fixed one way or another.

Original poster

DyslexicScientist · 12/01/2016 11:09

Ah I see, mine must be a 7. Something learnt today!

Thanks mm, what do you mean by compromise? In a bad way I assume and do a white filling where it isn't needed?

I'm kinda not ignoring it, I know its there and do take extra care to keep it clean and dentists have commented on what a good job I've been doing and its totally fine. Its just because I keep cutting my tounge trying to remove debris that I'm planning on getting it fixed .

OP posts:

specialsubject · 12/01/2016 11:20

pay for a white one if bothered.

or recognise that there is no solid evidence for appreciable risks from amalgam. The road journey to the dentist is much more hazardous.

anecdote, not data - but both my parents have many amalgam fillings done in their childhoods, a good 75 years ago for the earliest ones. They are both in excellent health.

be grateful you can get an NHS dentist at all BTW, serious shortage round my way.

MaidOfStars · 12/01/2016 11:47

The lat grey one lasted maybe 8-10 years
I have one amalgam filling that's been in situ for well over 20 years (possibly over 25 years - I can't remember how old I was, but early teens). My understanding is that any minor risk is to a dentist who, over their career, may remove many amalgams as fine powder (which is why they wear masks to do so - Mrsmorton?).

Mrsmorton · 12/01/2016 12:47

We wear masks for everything! Drilling creates an aerosol several metres in diameter and has all sorts of bacteria and viruses floating around in it. It's true that removing the fillings releases more mercury than putting them in but it's such a tune amount. I had my pee tested for mercury after ten years of dentisting and not a single bit showed up on the results so I wouldn't worry about the mercury.

The chemicals in white fillings can be potent allergens and are banned in some countries. There's no "no risk" solution except not needing fillings in the first place so the best thing to do is place a good quality, appropriate filling that will last for 8-10 years which is about average I'm afraid!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/01/2016 14:33

have got 35 year old fillings..all got at once ..waiting for them all to fail at same time.

Original poster

DyslexicScientist · 15/01/2016 10:20

Thanks Mrs Morton, I'm just going to have what they recommend. I'm hoping the non scary reports on mercury fillings are to be believed, ie its only a tiny amount and once its melted with the other stuff its quite stable and doesn't release much more than having fish once a month (although I'm vegan).

Would you have silver fillings yourself and in family members teeth?

OP posts:

Silverpinkswirls · 15/01/2016 11:07

I would never have an amalgam filling. My DM had a,painful,arm,for,ages and it was all down to,her amalgam fillings from years back.
I'm sure amalgam fillings these days wouldn't cause these kinds of issues but because of this experience I wouldn't.

I paid for a,white filling a few years back which just crumbled so I just ended up with a free gold filling instead and got my money back.

Fabsolutely · 15/01/2016 11:09

How about a ceramic inlay? I had all my crumbling amalgam fillings swapped for ceramic a few years ago. More expensive but really hardwearing.

Original poster

DyslexicScientist · 15/01/2016 11:50

A gold filling?!? Is that any safer than a silver one? I'll ask them about ceramic

I'm pretty much a hypercondriact, I think silver filling probabaky is OK. But I do spend a lot on my hewlth, eat organic etc so to put mercury in my body doesn't seem right.

OP posts:

PolovesTubbyCustard · 15/01/2016 11:54

I had my 5 amalgam fillings replaced with white composite back in the mid 80s when I was working as a dental nurse.

They are still going strong now. All are in molars.

My current dentist prods them pretty well each visit. :)

Mrsmorton · 15/01/2016 15:42

I wouldn't have them because I don't have decay and I never have but my parents both have them and I would have no problem placing them in family members. As I said before, prevention is the best policy so if you have children, this is super important. Save the debate!!

Good is fine, it's inert, as is porcelain. Still need to be stuck in with something and that's where the "chemicals" come into the equation.

Mrsmorton · 15/01/2016 15:42

Gold, not good.

Cockbollocks · 15/01/2016 15:47

Will you be happy to lose the tooth in the future? Whilst it is ok now you may find at some point that it is irreparable and has to be removed, def go and have it filled with something.

soundsofsodor · 15/01/2016 15:49

Can I hijack the thread?

I need to get a filling replaced but my dentist wouldn't do it as I'm BF. The temporary one he initially replaced it with has broken. He has said to keep it as clean as possible and come back when I've stopped feeding.

However, that's potentially 6momths + away and like the OP I'm hurting my tongue. If I was to have the filling how long afterwards would I need to avoid feeding for?

Thanks

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 15/01/2016 16:33

Not quite sure but you should definitely go back and get another temporary one put in in meantime.

Original poster

DyslexicScientist · 15/01/2016 19:55

Thanks Mrs m. Obviously I did mean theoretically - as im sure you have perfect teeth. I did want to say to my dentist I want teeth like hers, I didn't as I thought she might laugh back at me and tell me to dream on.

I'm the black sheep of my family being the only one with fillings, parents did their best but I was a rebel. If its any silver lining I'm now super careful and never drink anything other than water, limit my sugar foods like fruit to around meal times, floss after every meal and take very good care of them. One of the teeth is fine now without the filling, just need to get it replaced as its a debris magnet. But kept it clean and free of decay for 10 years.

Yes mercury isn't great, but then again all the diesel fumes aren't either.

Sound have you tried a water flosser to blast it away after eating?

OP posts:

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