Removing old filings

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Mike B - 17 Oct 2006 19:57 GMT

My dentist has removed two deep amalgam filling that he said were
cracking and starting to loose a good seal. He showed this to my
through use of a close up on a video camera. Well, I agreed to the
removal, and had nothing but problems. I ended up with one root canal
and sensitivity in the other tooth over a year later. He want to
remove some more fillings and I am reluctant. I feel that when these
teeth with the filling start to bother me, then I'll have the fillings
removed.

Did I just experience bad luck, an overzealous dentist or both? What
would be the harm in waiting anyway, my teeth with the old fillings
feel fine.

Thanks.
Mike

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 17 Oct 2006 20:03 GMT

> My dentist has removed two deep amalgam filling that he said were
> cracking and starting to loose a good seal. He showed this to my
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Thanks.
> Mike

No way to tell. That intraoral camera blows things up so big anything
can be made to look lousy, if that's the aim. Personally, I don't
replace fillings unless there is either a stick at the margin with the
explorer (the hook) or evidence of breakdown on x-ray--otherwise I'd be
replacing every filling every few years. Certainly if the filling is
already deep the chances of stirring something up are greater, and these
fillings DO have a finite life. I wouldn't wait for the teeth to bother
you, but if you have doubts it's always a good idea to get a second
opinion. Having said that, it may well be that the fillings needed to
be replaced, one way or the other.

Steve

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

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Newbie - 17 Oct 2006 23:06 GMT

>> My dentist has removed two deep amalgam filling that he said were
>> cracking and starting to loose a good seal. He showed this to my
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
>Steve

Should also note that 2-3 pulpal traumas are usually enough
to cause irreversible pulpitis.

If the existing fills are deep, well that's just asking for trouble.
I always tell the patient in advance that RCT may be necessary.

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David Rhodes - 19 Oct 2006 02:35 GMT

The way you can tell when those old fillings need to be replaced is to eat
banannas and make sure to chew them on the teeth with the suspect fillings.
The sugar in the banannas will seep in and youy will feel it and thats the
time to do it. That was my experience on two such fillings and I call it
the bananna test.

David Rhodes

>>> My dentist has removed two deep amalgam filling that he said were
>>> cracking and starting to loose a good seal. He showed this to my
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> If the existing fills are deep, well that's just asking for trouble.
> I always tell the patient in advance that RCT may be necessary.

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