Home About Writers Categories Recent Issues Subscribe Contact File Transfer





Dr Paul F Mitsch
Paul F. Mitsch, D.M.D. believes that this is such an exciting time to be a dentist. Innovations and refinements in technology and treatment options are introduced continually. To maintain a leading edge, he has added to his educational foundation with advanced training in the newest of the new techniques. Education: D.M.D. Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. B.A., Biology, University of California at San Diego. Fellowships: Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Dentistry International, and The International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Associate Fellowships: American College of Oral Implantology, American Society of Osseointegration. You can reach Dr. Paul Mitsch at (316) 775-2482 or stop by his office in Augusta at 401 State Street in the historical downtown district.
Dental
2004-04-01 14:46:00
Should I replace my silver fillings?
ANSWER:  Black fillings, silver fillings or amalgam fillings are all usually the same thing. The question we are continuously answering in dentistry is when these fillings should be replaced and what should they be replaced with. In the past years there has been confusion within the profession of dentistry over the safety of silver filling materials. In the public the confusion has fueled lawsuits and destroyed relationships dentists have built with patients over the years.  So what is the correct answer? When or why should a person replace existing dental care and how should they replace it?There are many opinions to this set of questions but I believe there are only two reasons to replace existing dental work. The first is simple; failure. When restorations or fillings fail and they all will at some point, the tooth may be restored again or the tooth will have to be removed. So the first reason is simple; replacement is due to wear or breakage. It is also true that wear or breakage is sometimes not noticeable so the patient should attend check up appointments, especially if they have dental restorations. When pain occurs usually the remedy is time consuming and will be a great deal more expensive than when a dentist finds a failing restoration that can be replaced or repaired. The second reason for replacement is a little more abstract but it is also simple; the function of the restoration in terms of mechanics or cosmetics is not up to par and the patient would benefit from restoration. In this case the patient may demand or ask for a dark filling to be replaced or the dentist may point out that the restoration is wearing and will cause problems unless the worn area is corrected. In the latter case patients may sometimes complain of food packing around their fillings and this is simply a sign of worn restorations that should be replaced. It will also place the patient into the first category we just discussed if the restoration is not replaced.Finally, what should we replace fillings with? Cosmetic tooth colored materials are available for every application that we may restore teeth in today! Silver filling materials and even gold is also available. So what is best and what should I use? The answer to this question depends upon the size of the filling and the amount of tooth left for restoration. It may be simple to fill a tooth with a plastic, tooth colored composite but if the restoration is only going to last a year or so then other options may be easier and in the long run much more economic to use. Other options range from traditional metal or silver fillings, inlays made of metal composite or porcelain and crowns. The choice should depend upon the amount of tooth left or the health of the tooth and the desire to restore a tooth for a long period of time. A 10-year-old child may need a tooth filled for less than a year while an adult would love to restore a tooth for 10 or 20 years at a time. My advice is to request your dentist to visit with you about the condition of existing restorations and ask them for advice on replacement and materials they may use. Then it is always a great idea to look at the information from the American Dental Association at http://www.ada.org/ and learn about what the future may hold for you. Deciding what your dental future is may be much easier than discovering the future through failure!
 
The Q & A Times Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Thank you.
 
Wildcard SSL Certificates