Amalgan fillings alternatives.....(dental advise)

[Kaspian]

I have 8 teeth with the common amalgan filling in them. They were done anywhere between 15 and 20 years ago (m 35 now). Anyways, 2 of the fillings came out last week and I'm making an appointment to have them taken care of. After seing a few sites online with info regarding the mercury being released from the fillings I've become a little concerned.

My questions are:

What other alternatives are outhere besides the common amalgan fillings?

And, can the dentist take ALL of the other amalgan fillings out and replace them with such alternative material?


p.s. I know that I can research some of this info online. I just would like a more personal input from you guys.

Thank you

Kas

 

[dullard]

Yes, mercury is bad. We should be concerned with it. But it isn't as bad as people think it is. We all have mercury in our bodies, and we all live on. Most eat fish with mercury, and they are just fine. Rather than go into a long story, I'll just highlight the conclusion:

There isn't enough mercury in the fillings to cause a problem, and studies have shown this to be true.

 

[Skacer]

Composite resin (also called white or plastic filling )

Composite resin fillings are a mixture of powdered glass and plastic resin, and can be made to resemble the appearance of the natural tooth. They are strong, durable and cosmetically superior to silver or dark grey colored amalgam fillings. Composite resin fillings are usually more expensive than silver amalgam fillings. Bis-GMA based materials contain Bisphenol A, a known endocrine disrupter chemical, and may contribute to the development of breast cancer. PEX based materials do not.

Most modern composite resins are light-cured photopolymers. Once the composite hardens completely, the filling can then be polished to achieve maximum aesthetic results. Composite resins experience a very small amount of shrinkage upon curing, causing the material to pull away from the walls of the cavity preparation. This makes the tooth slightly more vulnerable to microleakage and recurrent decay. With proper technique and material selection, microleakage can be minimized or eliminated altogether.

Besides the aesthetic advantage of composite fillings over amalgam fillings, the preparation of composite fillings requires less removal of tooth structure to achieve adequate strength. This is because composite resins bind to enamel (and dentin too, although not as well) via a micromechanical bond. As conservation of tooth structure is a key ingredient in tooth preservation, many dentists prefer placing composite instead of amalgam fillings whenever possible.

Generally, composite fillings are used to fill a carious lesion involving highly visible areas (such as the central incisors or any other teeth that can be seen when smiling) or when conservation of tooth structure is a top priority.

Composite resin fillings require a clean and dry surface to bond correctly with the tooth, so cavities in areas that are harder to keep totally dry during the filling procedure may require a less moisture-sensitive filling. The use of a rubber dam is highly recommended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...or_plastic_filling_.29

 

[T9D]

There are a lot of different materials a dentist can choose from. Pick a dentist that is a cosmetic dentist. He'll probably do the best work and use a good replacement. When mine were put in he used a special light to quickly bond the material. It looks so much nicer when it's done too. I can't even tell I had an fillings anymore.

Make sure you find a dentist that knows how to remove the amalgam correctly. He'll need to use a dental dam to slow down the mercury and keep you from swallowing bits of it. and he'll give you oxygen so you dont breathe in the vapors. He'll also use a low RPM drill. Drilling the amalgams out releases an incredible amount of mercury into the air. For 8 of them it might be best to have them done in two vistits. Thats a lot exposure. I did all that and I still got really sick after having 2 removed the first time.

You're dentist is not aloud to tell you or advise you on removing Alamgam because it's not safe. The ADA can pull his license (yeah it's pretty screwed up). So he will have to advice you on removing them for "cosmetic reasons" or he will say they are "all old" and all have to be replaced with composites.

You're probably going to get flamed on here for even suggesting amalgams are unsafe. I try to talk to anyone I can now after doing a bunch of research and reading on it. To my surprise I actually keep running into people that already had theirs out because they knew they weren't safe either. I wish people would have told me sooner. My health got a lot better since having mine out. And following all my dental history I see exactly where I got sicker after having more put in over the years.

The ADA admits to some mercury being released over time in amalgams. They just say it's a safe level. Yet they at least say not to put them in pregnant women and children under 6. So it can't be that safe. The problem comes with it building up in adults over years and years, 5, 10, 20, 30 years later and it's collecting in the brain and tissue and can wreak havoc on your body and mind.

A lot of people are able to move it out better than others. But that doesn't mean it's safe. But even with them if they keep adding alamgam fillings there can come to a point where they have so many that eventually it's way to much for their body to deal with and they cross the line very fast.

With me I had 10. I didn't do so bad with 3 or 4 but was still sick and it was affecting me. But by two decades later I was getting worse and worse and started falling apart exponentially throughout the years. I see why I'm more susceptible though. I grind my teeth at night when I sleep. This can release 10 times the normal amount of mercury. I also snack all day long and am chewing constantly. Chewing causes more mercury release. I also barely ever sweat. Sweating releases a lot of toxins from your body. And I'm a thin guy. I dont have a lot of body wieght to Absorb and deal with mercury. But even if you are not the same as me it's still not safe. It will just take longer to build up. And some of those things are BECAUSE of mercury. After having mine removed my metabolism has changed and I'm able to put on weight now. I look healthier. I also sweat more when hot since my glands and everything are healthier. I wont get into all the other health changes right now. But I am vastly healthier feeling and my brain is not in a fog anymore.

Braces and metal crowns will speed up mercury release greatly. These other metals in the mouth that interact with amalgams cause an electrical charge which releases more mercury. Amalgams just sitting in a dish with no air or temperature changes will release very very little mercury this is true. So thats probably what the ADA basis their claim on (and deny that it buids up over time in the body to dangerous levels). But as soon as the temperature changes up or down it's released more. As soon as water or liquids hit it it's releases a whole lot more. As soon as you scrape it or rub it it release a much greater amount at a greater rate. Your mouth is the worst place for all this. Those metals in the Amalgams along with your saliva make a battery almost too. You can measure the elecrtical charge even. The more you have the greater it is and the more mercury is released. Ever chew on Tin foil? See what happens.

In it's patents and licences for Amalgam the ADA says that fillings are an aparatus (like braces). So they get away with not as many tests or scrutiny for health. But this is changing and currently more tests are being done and amalgams are being looked into more and more by your governments and organizations. It's definetly a large concern and is not going unnoticed.

I dont know why it's so easy for people to believe it's in fish and agree it's unsafe but can't believe the mercury in your mouth can be unsafe and build up over time in your brain and tissue. Much more than from fish.

"In a 2005 policy paper on mercury in health care the World Health Organization (WHO) states that dental amalgam is the main source of mercury exposure in non industrialized settings, exposing the concerned population to mercury level significantly exceeding those set for food and air."

There is so so much information out there on this. It's always good to be educated and not just assume everything is totally safe.

 

[DainBramaged]

I have composite resin fillings, only because they are less noticeable, though.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Kaspian

I have 8 teeth with the common amalgan filling in them. They were done anywhere between 15 and 20 years ago (m 35 now). Anyways, 2 of the fillings came out last week and I'm making an appointment to have them taken care of. After seing a few sites online with info regarding the mercury being released from the fillings I've become a little concerned.

My questions are:

What other alternatives are outhere besides the common amalgan fillings?

And, can the dentist take ALL of the other amalgan fillings out and replace them with such alternative material?


p.s. I know that I can research some of this info online. I just would like a more personal input from you guys.

Thank you

Kas

My fillings are gold.

Gangsta look FTW!

to take out old fillings, they need to drill it out. it'll take some healthy enamal with it. basically, pretend all those teeth have cavities. if you're REALLY concerned about mercury, then do it. else it's not worth the pain.

 

[FoBoT]

mercury wont' hurt you ,especially not in your mouth/fillings
don't worry

 

[Dessert Tears]

Thread from last week: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2078281

 

[Mark R]

Mercury in dental fillings is controversial subject, both scientifically and among activist groups.

Although, there are apparent risks to its use, so far, despite 150 years of scientific study (both epidemiological and controlled trials), there is no solid evidence that its use in dental fillings has any detectable side effects. Yes, a tiny bit of mercury leaches out over time, but 150 years experience shows amalgam fillings to be extremely stable, and an excellent material for protecting teeth.

However, this long term leaching is not the only method by which mercury can be absorbed from fillings. When fillings are inserted, or if they are advised, the disturbance to the amalgam releases mercury which can then be absorbed. The quantities released at these times are far, far higher than at any other time - for this reason, it's not recommended that amalgam fillings be inserted in women who are pregnant at the time.

The main message is that it is exceedingly unlikely that if you've already got mercury fillings that they're going to cause you any trouble. In fact, disturbing them, by attempting to remove the mercury, is only going to release a much larger quantity of mercury. If you look at the scientific literature, the existence of mercury poisoning due to the presence of fillings is controversial - however, mercury poisoning due to attempted removal of mercury fillings is a recognized side effect.

I'm somewhat surprised the mercury amalgam is still in use today. We do now have satisfactory alternatives, in the form of resin - indeed, the resin has a better cosmetic result. So, I would have thought it a no-brainer to give up the use of mercury. Indeed, in a recent document by the World Health Organisation, they mention dental amalgam as a major source of occupational exposure to mercury, and environmental pollution (due to incineration of dental waste) - although the WHO have not commented on the safety to the recipient of the amalgam. You'd even think it would be in the dentists' own interests to avoid its use, as they are the ones who get heavily exposed.

In summary:
Yes, there are alternatives. Arguably, the alternatives are better - they look better, and in the short term seem to be as good. However, amalgam has 150 years experience and it's known to have excellent reliability.

Yes, the amalgam fillings can be removed. Is this a good idea? Probably not, especially when you consider that removal involves re-drilling the tooth, further weakening it.

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: v1001

But I am vastly healthier feeling and my brain is not in a fog anymore.

What do you mean by that?(I hope you dont mind the question) Also what sort of problems were you having prior to the removal of the amalgan?

Thanks for the info:thumbsup:

Kas

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: Flatscan
Thread from last week: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2078281

Hummm, I did a search with the word "amalgan" in it and nothing showed. Thanks for the link thought.

Kas

 

[Kaspian]

Mark R than you for your input.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Kaspian

Originally posted by: Flatscan
Thread from last week: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2078281

Hummm, I did a search with the word "amalgan" in it and nothing showed. Thanks for the link thought.

Kas

Perhaps your problem lies in the fact that the word is spelled "amalgam" and not "amalgan".

 

[DrPizza]

Taking out an existing amalgam filling is worse for you than leaving it in.

 

[Gunslinger08]

You know what bugs me about my composite fillings? I can taste them. Never tasted the amalgam fillings I got as a kid.

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
[

Perhaps your problem lies in the fact that the word is spelled "amalgam" and not "amalgan".

oOOps that explains it.

Kas

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
You know what bugs me about my composite fillings? I can taste them. Never tasted the amalgam fillings I got as a kid.

How long have you had them? And what sort of taste are we talking about?

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Kaspian

I have 8 teeth with the common amalgan filling in them. They were done anywhere between 15 and 20 years ago (m 35 now). Anyways, 2 of the fillings came out last week and I'm making an appointment to have them taken care of. After seing a few sites online with info regarding the mercury being released from the fillings I've become a little concerned.

My questions are:

What other alternatives are outhere besides the common amalgan fillings?

And, can the dentist take ALL of the other amalgan fillings out and replace them with such alternative material?


p.s. I know that I can research some of this info online. I just would like a more personal input from you guys.

Thank you

Kas

You might end up needing an onlay or a crown. That would be sweet.

 

[gotsmack]

I had like 12 or so mercury fillings and had bad breath and trouble concentrating for years never knowing why until I read about mercury poisoning from fillings.

Had them all taken out about 4 years ago at a cost of 1600? maybe less buy more then $1200 and I have health insurance (Blue cross/blue shield PPO). No more bad breath. Worth every penny to have them taken out.

My dentist made a big stink when I told her that I didn't want mercury in my body, but when I went back 6 months later and said "For cosmetic reasons" she took them out.

The funny thing is that I only started researching it when I heard an interview on the radio with a dentist who insisted that mercury disrupts the body's electrical system and he recommends gold (this was when gold was 'cheap')

 

[Skacer]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
You know what bugs me about my composite fillings? I can taste them. Never tasted the amalgam fillings I got as a kid.

Can't taste mine and I have like 12 of them.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
I had like 12 or so mercury fillings and had bad breath and trouble concentrating for years never knowing why until I read about mercury poisoning from fillings.

Had them all taken out about 4 years ago at a cost of 1600? maybe less buy more then $1200 and I have health insurance (Blue cross/blue shield PPO). No more bad breath. Worth every penny to have them taken out.

My dentist made a big stink when I told her that I didn't want mercury in my body, but when I went back 6 months later and said "For cosmetic reasons" she took them out.

The funny thing is that I only started researching it when I heard an interview on the radio with a dentist who insisted that mercury disrupts the body's electrical system and he recommends gold (this was when gold was 'cheap')

The funny thing is you still have bad breath.