My dentist says my metal fillings are showing leakage on several
teeth. Is this possible and is it a health risk?
He seems to be of the thought that any of these teeth should be crowned.
Can't the metal fillings be replaced with white ones? Also, is there a
size limit for a previous filling for it to be replaced rather than
crowned?
Thank you so much. I am really confused at this time and have some
difficult decisions coming up regarding my dental health.
Linda,
Yes, after fillings have been in service for a number of years, they can
begin to leak. The danger is that they develop decay underneath the
filling. Especially with metal fillings, it can be hard to detect this
decay.
Whether or not you should have a filling replaced is a judgment call, and
you need to just be able to trust your dentist, that he or she has good
judgment.
And if the existing filling is large, yes, it would be a good idea to have
a crown to keep the tooth from breaking. Again, this is a judgment call
and you really just need to trust your dentist.
If you have doubts, you can request a second opinion. But if you do ask
for a second opinion, don't give the new dentist any hints as to what kind
of answer you are expecting, or what you've been told before. You can ask
for a copy of the x-rays, and you can say that it's a second opinion, but
if they ask you what the first dentist said, just tell them you don't want
to say. That's your "honesty insurance." The reason is that many dentists,
if they want your business, are tempted to tell you what you want to hear.
I have seen that so many times. Part of it is temptation, and part of it
is wanting to be a "nice guy" and not ruffle your feathers.
