Dentist

Find a new destination your dentist is a crook.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a dentist. This sounds reasonable. For people who are saying “I had silver fillings replaced with white fillings or an inlay” it completely depends on how big/deep your silver fillings are, small ones don’t typically need replacement, but large ones often cause significant cracking in the teeth. The thing with this is that they are fine until they aren’t. So everything is all good and hunky dory until you bite down on an almond and then your crack propagates all the way down the root and you need your tooth extracted. Then you are looking at a 5,000 dollar implant instead of a $1500 crown. There are many silver fillings that can be watched for years and years, but to say that you have them and they are fine doesn’t mean that someone else’s are!

This is what happened to me. A dentist told me I needed to have all of my silver fillings replaced. Two days after she did it, I bit into a bagel and terrible pain began. The tooth was broken. I had to have it removed and an implant put in.

I was told the old silver fillings were dangerous and had to be switched out.

Lol by who??? That natural dentist in north Bethesda?? What a hustle they got going, all silver needs to come out!!! Take it out now it’s game over!!!

Anonymous wrote:I’m a dentist. This sounds reasonable. For people who are saying “I had silver fillings replaced with white fillings or an inlay” it completely depends on how big/deep your silver fillings are, small ones don’t typically need replacement, but large ones often cause significant cracking in the teeth. The thing with this is that they are fine until they aren’t. So everything is all good and hunky dory until you bite down on an almond and then your crack propagates all the way down the root and you need your tooth extracted. Then you are looking at a 5,000 dollar implant instead of a $1500 crown. There are many silver fillings that can be watched for years and years, but to say that you have them and they are fine doesn’t mean that someone else’s are!

This is what happened to me. A dentist told me I needed to have all of my silver fillings replaced. Two days after she did it, I bit into a bagel and terrible pain began. The tooth was broken. I had to have it removed and an implant put in.

I was told the old silver fillings were dangerous and had to be switched out.

It is far better than the extraction and implant that can come when the tooth cracks — that is awful, and you have a hole in your mouth for awhile, and it costs a fortune.

Get the crowns.

I go infections under two teeth within two years after getting crowns. They had to break the crowns. Your guess is as good as mine.
I paid cash and I think they kept pushing the crowns on every possible tooth.
Right now I'm more into not doing anything unless it hurts or is visible broken. Not going for an implant for a molar because it missing tooth doesn't bother me.

I had my whole mouth done when I was 37. My teeth were in terrible shape, and I was facing a lifetime of pain.

I'm now 56, taking better care of my mouth, no pain. Occasionally a now old crown will break and I have to get it replaced.

Make sure you have a good dentist, good insurance, and some money of your own.

Anonymous wrote:I'm an endodontist (root canal specialist) and I can tell you that removing asymptomatic fillings and replacing them with a crown is a great way to come and see me! I treat so many patients who were asymptomatic prior to the crown being done, and then require a root canal due to pain afterward. Doing "a crown a year" is a great way to milk your insurance company for money while compromising your teeth. Get a second opinion!

Thank you for confirming this. Just had this exact issue, start to finish. Very frustrating.

I have had unfortunately a lot of experiences with this issue. I grew up in Argentina where silver fillings were still used in the 1990s. I had endless deep cavities in my molars when I was a girl. Many of my molars developed decay and cracks around the fillings. At some point, there is not enough tooth left for another filling, and it is time for a crown. The process is mot painful, but it is a little depressing to have stubs where 7 real teeth used to be and to realize that you will be wearing an imitation tooth for the rest of your life. I have 3 gold crowns in the very back. I was told gold is more durable and requires less drilling. And I don’t see much point in pretending the fake teeth are real if they don’t show unless I yawn. My daughters tell me I am like a pirate when I open my mouth vey wide.

Anonymous wrote:I’m a dentist. This sounds reasonable. For people who are saying “I had silver fillings replaced with white fillings or an inlay” it completely depends on how big/deep your silver fillings are, small ones don’t typically need replacement, but large ones often cause significant cracking in the teeth. The thing with this is that they are fine until they aren’t. So everything is all good and hunky dory until you bite down on an almond and then your crack propagates all the way down the root and you need your tooth extracted. Then you are looking at a 5,000 dollar implant instead of a $1500 crown. There are many silver fillings that can be watched for years and years, but to say that you have them and they are fine doesn’t mean that someone else’s are!

Yeah, but every single filled tooth in her mouth?!

I’m a dentist. This sounds reasonable. For people who are saying “I had silver fillings replaced with white fillings or an inlay” it completely depends on how big/deep your silver fillings are, small ones don’t typically need replacement, but large ones often cause significant cracking in the teeth. The thing with this is that they are fine until they aren’t. So everything is all good and hunky dory until you bite down on an almond and then your crack propagates all the way down the root and you need your tooth extracted. Then you are looking at a 5,000 dollar implant instead of a $1500 crown. There are many silver fillings that can be watched for years and years, but to say that you have them and they are fine doesn’t mean that someone else’s are!

You’ll be ok. I’m pretty cowardly about dental cleanings but I had no pain from getting crowns. It felt similar to the drilling for a filling. One crown failed and I ended up needing a root canal, but that was also a painless procedure. (The infection that led to the root canal was excruciating, but after the antibiotic kicked in, I was fine.)

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the advice. The fillings are very deep, and I was told by another dentist I would eventually need crowns. I trust this dentist. She is planning for a crown a year so I will not be too much out of pocket. She is going to do the worst ones first, so hopefully none break. I’m not looking forward to this, but I think it is necessary.

Sounds like a good plan and it’s really not a big deal. I never required pain medication for my 2 crowns, and even after my one implant surgery, once the numbing agents wore off, I didn’t even need Advil. It’s very common and straightforward!

OP here. Thanks for the advice. The fillings are very deep, and I was told by another dentist I would eventually need crowns. I trust this dentist. She is planning for a crown a year so I will not be too much out of pocket. She is going to do the worst ones first, so hopefully none break. I’m not looking forward to this, but I think it is necessary.

Three words for you: Burke Dental Center. Dr. Kahn is the best and I know. I’ve been through it all.