As I stated in another thread (titled "Amalgam Sensitivity"), I was
having pain and a metallic taste in my mouth two weeks after getting a
second amalgam filling. My Endodontist said there was no sign of
infection and no apparent need for a root canal. He suggested that my
regular dentist drill out the old filling where the pain was
originating, examine it for decay and refill it.
So, I had the tooth refilled yesterday. He did not see any sign of
decay although he did think he saw a crack in the tooth on the side
where the filling was very close to the edge of the tooth and the
remaining tooth was very thin. He ended up drilling that part of the
tooth away, and rebuilding it with amalgam. I thought this sounded
like a promising solution.
However, today, 24 hours after the procedure, I am still in significant
pain and the metallic taste is stronger that it was yesterday. Any
ideas about what the heck is going on here? If the pain continues, I
think my next step is a root canal on that tooth, which I want to avoid
if possible. The only far out idea I can think of is a small electric
current between my two amalgam fillings (which are now of the same
metals) causing both the pain and the metallic taste, but I've been
told that is unlikely.
Alexander Vasserman DDS - 19 Jan 2007 22:01 GMT
why did you not get a tooth coloured filling second time around if you
had metal taste issue????
this tooth may turn into a root canal situation.
> As I stated in another thread (titled "Amalgam Sensitivity"), I was
> having pain and a metallic taste in my mouth two weeks after getting a
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> metals) causing both the pain and the metallic taste, but I've been
> told that is unlikely.
allenjo5@mail.northgrum.com - 20 Jan 2007 18:32 GMT
> why did you not get a tooth coloured filling second time around if you
> had metal taste issue????
> this tooth may turn into a root canal situation.
Because the dentist convinced me that amalgam is superior to the
alternatives in terms of strength, durability and sealability, and the
fact
that I've had a single amalgam filling for the past 16 years with no
metallic
taste at all. He thought that the metallic taste was more likely to be
due
to the crack in the tooth causing "leakage" rather than to an
electrical
effect caused merely by the presence of two widely separated amalgam
fillings. Made sense to me at the time. But now I'm not so sure.
As for a root canal, if there is no infection and no decay, is it the
only
option to eliminate pain that seems to have no definite cause?
Alexander Vasserman DDS - 21 Jan 2007 23:55 GMT
Amalgam although still used is no longer considered superior to other
materials for many reasons particularly conservation of tooth
structure. I think this dentist felt he could do a better job for you
with an amalgam vs a composite filling which is a decision I can
respect. I was just thinking that if you wanted to solve a problem of a
crack and you had both pain and metallic taste then eliminating as much
of the post operative complaints would make sense.
> > why did you not get a tooth coloured filling second time around if you
> > had metal taste issue????
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> only
> option to eliminate pain that seems to have no definite cause?
Steven Bornfeld - 19 Jan 2007 22:06 GMT
> As I stated in another thread (titled "Amalgam Sensitivity"), I was
> having pain and a metallic taste in my mouth two weeks after getting a
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> metals) causing both the pain and the metallic taste, but I've been
> told that is unlikely.
Considering the dentist was able to visualize a crack, I would want to
be very certain where the crack is and where it may extend to prior to
doing a lot of dentistry on this tooth.
Steve
allenjo5@mail.northgrum.com - 20 Jan 2007 18:24 GMT
> > As I stated in another thread (titled "Amalgam Sensitivity"), I was
> > having pain and a metallic taste in my mouth two weeks after getting a
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> be very certain where the crack is and where it may extend to prior to
> doing a lot of dentistry on this tooth.
Presumably the dentist did this and did the best he could to eliminate
the
crack. Admittedly though, he did not spend a whole lot of time
examining
the crack, but I assumed he knew what he was doing. Yeah, perhaps
that's
a bad assumption...
Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 20 Jan 2007 19:02 GMT
>>>As I stated in another thread (titled "Amalgam Sensitivity"), I was
>>>having pain and a metallic taste in my mouth two weeks after getting a
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> that's
> a bad assumption...
I didn't mean to imply he didn't know what he is doing. Cracks can be
difficult to impossible to find. But you have to at least have to
maximize your chances of finding cracks by removing all traces of old
restorations, decay, etc. and using magnification--the higher, the better.
Steve

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
itarlo - 20 Jan 2007 05:31 GMT
It sounds like a "Galvanic effect". What you've described is caused
sometimes, after new Amalgam filling touching an old Amalgam filling on
the oppposite occlusal plane.
What you should do is to ask your dentist to see whether there is an
old filling on the opposite jew and he should polish the old filling.
That should do the trick. On the old filling there are micro pores with
acid content on them. When the acidic content meets the new amalgam a
small electric discharge is formed and you feel pain and metalic taste
(Galvanic Effect)
Dartos - 20 Jan 2007 14:03 GMT
Doubtful. Sure wouldn't help the pain.
D
> It sounds like a "Galvanic effect". What you've described is caused
> sometimes, after new Amalgam filling touching an old Amalgam filling on
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> small electric discharge is formed and you feel pain and metalic taste
> (Galvanic Effect)
allenjo5@mail.northgrum.com - 20 Jan 2007 18:21 GMT
> It sounds like a "Galvanic effect". What you've described is caused
> sometimes, after new Amalgam filling touching an old Amalgam filling on
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> small electric discharge is formed and you feel pain and metalic taste
> (Galvanic Effect)
Hmmm, I now have two amalgam fillings on opposite sides of the lower
jaw, about 2 inches away from each other. They were filled 4 weeks
apart: one is brand new and the other is 4 weeks old. Would what
you are saying still apply in this case? If so, I'll ask about
polishing.