Been told all your silver fillings should come out? A second look can help. Coming from Burlington, you can have each filling assessed on its own merits and hear the reasoning in plain language.
Hearing that every amalgam in your mouth needs replacing can be unsettling, especially when nothing hurts. It is reasonable to want each recommendation explained. Fillings placed at different times, on different teeth, rarely all reach the same point together.
Replacement removes the old metal, inspects the tooth below and rebuilds it with a material chosen for that site. Because each removal takes some sound tooth along with it, the case for doing so should rest on findings such as decay, a fracture, a leaking margin, or a cosmetic goal you have weighed carefully.
Coming in from Burlington, you are welcome to bring the earlier treatment plan, X-rays or notes. We will look at the teeth ourselves, tell you what we see, and say plainly where we agree or differ. You stay in charge of the decision.
Some fillings may have a real problem; others may simply look old. Separating those groups lets you put effort and budget where they count.
A rough area can mean a broken piece of filling, cracked enamel beside it, or an opening between the two where food and bacteria collect. When did it start, and does floss tear there? Those answers help decide whether a small fix would be sufficient.
Aching when chewing or a cold reaction that will not fade needs a diagnosis, not a guess. The amalgam may be involved, though cracks, the nerve, receding gums or a neighbouring tooth can feel much the same. Replacing material blindly may leave the real cause untouched.
This one is your call, and it is optional. Tell us which teeth you notice and we will explain how a tooth-coloured restoration might look and how much preparation it involves, so you can compare the gain with the cost to the tooth.
An intact amalgam with no decay underneath does not need to come out because of its age or shade. For any tooth on a replacement list, ask which specific finding put it there.
If a filling truly needs to go, the new restoration should seal the cavity, stand up to chewing and leave a surface you can keep clean. The thickness of the remaining enamel and the forces that tooth handles usually steer the choice of material.
Your preferences belong in the plan, but they are one factor among several. A composite may be ideal for a small or moderate cavity, while a large repair on a heavily loaded molar may call for an onlay or crown. Ask how the recommendation weighs strength, looks, preservation and upkeep.
Patient information: CDA — tooth-coloured filling materials
For each filling on a plan, you should know whether it addresses decay, a fractured restoration, a weak cusp or appearance. That lets you compare the proposal with monitoring or a smaller step, tooth by tooth.
If you care about appearance, ask to see shades or examples. The dentist can explain which options suit this cavity's size and position, and why a different tooth might be better served by something else.
Raise cleaning access, any clenching or grinding, and how often you would like checkups. Replacing a filling is one step; how you care for the tooth afterward shapes how well it does.
Questions come before treatment, always. Tell us if the earlier advice, cost, comfort or appearance is what you most want to talk through.
We check each filling, the surrounding enamel, your bite and any symptoms. New imaging may be suggested only where it would add something. You can ask to see the areas of concern and have each finding described simply.
We discuss which teeth, if any, need treatment now, which can be monitored, and what each option would cost. Removing an old filling can reveal hidden damage, so we also explain how a plan might change once a tooth is opened.
For the teeth you choose to treat, the area is numbed and isolated, the amalgam removed and the tooth checked. The planned restoration is placed, or a temporary protects the tooth if further planning is required.
We review shape, contacts and how your teeth come together before you head home. If several teeth are being treated across visits, you will know the order and how to care for anything still waiting.
Guidance will depend on how deep the work was and what material was used. If eating or cleaning gets difficult, please let us know.
Wait to chew until normal feeling returns, and be careful with hot drinks. If you have a temporary in place, follow the instructions for that stage instead of treating it like the permanent repair.
If the new filling seems to meet its partner tooth first, or chewing stays tender, call us. Avoid testing it on ice or hard candy. A description of what you feel and when helps the team decide on an adjustment.
Keep brushing with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth. If floss catches or food starts collecting where it never used to, mention it at your next contact so the area can be checked.
It is normal to want evidence for a recommendation, especially one covering many teeth. The answers should come from your own exam.
Patient information: FDA — decisions about existing amalgam fillings
Your fillings can be looked at independently during an appointment with our Milton team on Bronte Street. We will explain what we find, tooth by tooth, and help you decide what makes sense before any treatment.
If you are in significant pain or have swelling, please phone us. Online booking is meant for non-urgent visits.
