[The_Blob]

Your dentist probably told you that mercury fillings are bad for you and they're banned in many countries now. Anyone here had their fillings removed and replaced with non mercury fillings? How was the process and was it painful?

[G37KILR]

It totally depends on the depth of your current fillings. If they are pretty deep then you will have sensitivity. If they are not so deep you will have sensitivity for a few weeks or months then it will be fine. But if your replacing it for the look i understand but if your doing it because ur dentist said its bad dont. Im a dental assistant and dentists who scare you by tryin to say that mercury is gonna kill you or is harmful and should get rid of it right away it completely bogus. You would have to have all your teeth filled with mercury filling and you hae to have over 500 teeth for anything serious to happen. You get more mercury eating sushi or any seafood than have an amalgam(mercury) filling.

[SLCGoonski]

it's all about the look...amalgum fillings (metal) are just as if not a little better than the composite (white ones). Seal better on your tooth.

Just FYI...your insurance probably won't pay anything on the procedure.

Just had this conversation with my brother (dentist) a few weeks back.

[The_Blob]

My dentist said I should do it because he said it's wearing out. I've had it for almost 20 years now. I'm just worried about the removal process as I don't want to ingest or inhale mercury. I did book the appointment for the procedure and I'm just worried about the removal process. Yeah, the procedure freaks me out.

[SLCGoonski]

eh...spit don't swallow...

[The_Blob]

Dude, I know that, and let's not forget about the vapours.

[SLCGoonski]

like our dental assistant said above...there a lot bigger things in this world to worry about.

[txusa03]

Sometime I really don't trust healthcare professional folks. They tend to not give you the real reason why you need certain procedure (and come to find out the bottom line is so that they can make money off the insurance) and they tend to do these sort of things when business is slow.

I am not say everyone does that so don't even take out your heat gun!

[UncleWede]

The research is so across the spectrum. The dentist often says its no big deal, don't worry about the vapors. But if you notice staff, they are all covered up and protecting themselves. sure, they may do it more often, etc. but that just means 9to me) that there is some risk involved.

Any future fillings I get are composite, and I pay the difference. I've had a few amalgam replaced due to additional decay. It's a subtle poison, so I couldn't tell you if I had any effects.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by txusa03

Sometime I really don't trust healthcare professional folks. They tend to not give you the real reason why you need certain procedure (and come to find out the bottom line is so that they can make money off the insurance) and they tend to do these sort of things when business is slow.

I am not say everyone does that so don't even take out your heat gun!

They can transplant faces, perform brain surgery and will cure cancer but dentistry will still involve the same basic prehistoric techniques of drilling.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

They can transplant faces, perform brain surgery and will cure cancer but dentistry will still involve the same basic prehistoric techniques of drilling.

Ouch, drilling does not sounds very friendly. What should they call it to get up to speed with other healthcare sector - "teeth surgery" Now don't get that mixed up with gum treatment where they do performed surgery to save your gum

[UncleWede]

I think he's getting more towards they can do fine laser surgery to correct vision, why not harness that precision to remove decay from my teeth. Oh, wait, I know the answer to that one, $$$$$$

[Maestro]

Over the years I had all my metal filling replaced with composite white ones. I did not do it on purposes, but it might have been way for my dentist to make money off the insurance company now that I think about it.

But he said that the old metals ones were only good for so long anyway and they begin "leaking" and should be replaced, so over a period of many years all my older teenage yr fillings were replaced with the nice white one.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I think he's getting more towards they can do fine laser curgery to correct vision, why not harness that precision to remove decay from my teeth. Oh, wait, I know the answer to that one, $$$$$$

I see. I am not ready to let a computer fix my health yet. Something tells me they need more guinea pigs time with those procedures involving computer. The same thing can be said about how precise human hands on vs computer accuracy. Best thing is to stay away from hospital.

I saw on the news last night about fire in the surgery room. This is something that not alot of people are aware and hospital are not requires to report (in some states). But when in surgery (and I will paraphrase) you have 3 things that can easily cause fire, 1) surgery gown, 2) pure oxygen, 3) surgery tools that produces a spark. I was the person who feel uneasy about seeing people smoke at a gas station and seeing people pump gas with engine still running, well fire in the surgery room is even scarier and more likely to occurr then we think.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I think he's getting more towards they can do fine laser surgery to correct vision, why not harness that precision to remove decay from my teeth. Oh, wait, I know the answer to that one, $$$$$$

Almost, my point is despite all the advancements in the medical field, dentistry still relies on fluoride toothpaste and drilling. There have been more progress in at home teeth whitening than cavity prevention.

Almost the same thing with optometry; it is still a lot of which is clearer, number 1 or number 2?

[The_Blob]

Maestro, did it hurt when they took out the old mercury fillings? Did you wear a respiratory while they did it? How are your new fillings holding up?

[Expired]

whadafuxxx... I don't want to replace my fillings in 20 years..
I have metal ones on my back teeth, but apparently I have never had a cavity?? O___o
I thought you only get fillings if you have a cavity??
I've had them since I was a kid..

-Nathan