Should I replace cracked amalgam fillings? (Why?)

Should I replace cracked amalgam fillings? (Why?)

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Patients often ask if they should replace mercury-amalgam dental fillings?

Yes, if you have teeth with extensive and failing mercury-amalgam dental fillings, they should be replaced. Those teeth should then be protected with dental crowns.

Here are the reasons why you should replace those cracked and failing mercury-amalgam dental fillings.

Mercury-amalgam dental fillings may lead to cracked teeth.

For a short time (1-6 years) the mercury-amalgam dental fillings seal out decay with a corrosive layer that forms. Over time, the filling expands and contracts. Thus, causing the filling to wear, chip and break down.

This leaves a gap between the mercury-amalgam dental filling and the tooth. This gap is a perfect trap for bacteria, which then allows the start of cavities.

Once this space between the mercury-amalgam dental filling and tooth is created, the cavity may grow without causing any symptoms. Finally, it reaches the nerve of the tooth and causes a sharp toothache.

Mercury fillings that are “watched” and not replaced when decay is detected, is a major contributor to cracked, broken teeth. Patients may end up needing more extensive treatment such as a root canal, crown, bridge, implant, partial, or even dentures.

Teeth that have extensive and cracked mercury-amalgam dental fillings, should have full crown coverage as prevention from having a cracked tooth, needing a root canal or even an extraction. At our office, we place mercury-free and silver-free dental crowns.

We use zirconia as a premier choice for dental crowns. Dental crowns made out of zirconia are the most durable dental crowns on the market.