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Replacing Amalgam Fillings
When one of your amalgam fillings reaches the end of its life it is often possible to replace it with a tooth coloured alternative. Your dentist can advise you whether a direct tooth coloured filling or perhaps an inlay or onlay is the right choice for you.
What about if you decide that you would like all your amalgam fillings replacing with tooth coloured alternatives?
This is an increasingly popular choice for patients who do not want to have unsightly dark fillings in their teeth or who do not want mercury containing materials in their body. It is important to realise that when an amalgam filling is removed from your tooth, there is a small possibility that the nerve in the tooth can be injured by the procedure, particularly if the filling is deep and in close proximity to the nerve. Your dentist will ensure that they use techniques to minimise this risk but in a small number of cases, further treatment such as removal of the inflamed nerve may be required.
When you are having a dental amalgam removed your dentist will have evaluated your tooth using an x-ray to ensure that they are fully aware of the depth of the existing filling. By using a technique called dental dam to isolate your tooth from the rest of your mouth plus a water spray and a very powerful sucker (aspirator) your dentist ensures that the amalgam is all washed away during the procedure.
