Teeth Whitening and Dental Fillings
I have quite a few dental fillings. Some of them are amalgam, that I want to replace. Others are composite, which I like. But, I want to whiten my teeth so I will likely need to change the composite fillings too so that they can match. My question is what order do I do this? Is there anything else I need to know about changing fillings?
Charlie
Dear Charlie,
I’m glad you wrote. I would start with the teeth whitening. That will allow you get your teeth the color you want and then you will be able to match the new dental fillings to the brighter color. There are a couple of types of professional teeth whitening. You can do at home teeth whitening. This allows you to just put the whitening gel in some custom made trays that your dentist provides for you and you wear them at a time which is most convenient for you. Obviously, the longer you wear them each day, the faster your teeth whitens, but that schedule is completely up to you.
A second option is Zoom Whitening. This allows you to whiten your teeth in one day, but you’ll do it in your dentist’s office with several short whitening sessions under the Zoom light. Once you have your teeth the color you want, then you can go ahead and replace your fillings.
The amalgam fillings that you have are made mostly from mercury. While the American Dental Association does say they are safe, mercury is a known toxin so you want to make sure that the dentist you have do the procedure knows how to do a sanitary amalgam removal. You do not want to inhale or swallow any of the mercury.
I would look for a mercury-free dentist or a holistic dentist when it comes to switching out your fillings. They will know the right safety precautions to take as well as have the equipment required to do the job properly.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Does My Mother Have Options Other Than Dental Implants?
My mother is 84 years old with teeth that need a lot of work. Her dentist is suggesting that she remove them and get dental implants. I’ve looked into this and it appears to require a pretty extensive surgery. At her age, I am a bit concerned this is more than her body can handle. Are there better options for someone at her stage of life?
Danielle
Dear Danielle,
I am glad you wrote. Under normal circumstances, it would be important to get dental implants to replace her missing teeth, especially on her lower arch. When her teeth are removed, her body recognizes that. As a result, it will begin to resorb the minerals in her jawbone in order to use the resources of her body as efficiently as possible. The downside to that is it starts to shrink her jawbone. In about ten or so years, she will not have enough jawbone to even keep her dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.
If she were younger, this would be disastrous. Given her age, I don’t think facial collapse is her biggest issue. You know her best, but depending on her health, the surgery required for the procedure might not be worth the risk. In that case, what you can do is simply get her dentures. These can replace her teeth without the hardship of having dental implant surgery.
If she’s perfectly healthy and you think she’ll be around for quite some time, then dental implants will protect her jawbone. I would factor in her health before making a decision.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.