Can amalgam stains be removed?
Because the largest ingredient in amalgam fillings is mercury, you can’t just remove them without taking precautions. You’ll want to find a dentist who knows the procedure for sanitary amalgam removal. This will include having special equipment.
Do amalgam fillings change Colour?
As an amalgam filling ages, non polished material oxidizes and will often change color from silver to black. (Polished amalgam will not oxidize – making it an important step your dentist should take if using this material.)
Why is my tooth GREY after filling?
It’s caused by too much fluoride. If the discoloration is around a filling, especially an older one, then it might be a stain migrating from the filling. The metal in the filling can transfer its color to the teeth. It is a good idea to have your dentist check the filling to make sure it does not need to be patched.
Can silver fillings stain teeth?
After long periods of time, the silver in amalgam fillings has a tendency to discolor and percolate the tooth. As it permeates the tooth, it can stain it and give it a darker, grayish-black cast.
Can you bleach a discolored tooth?
Since these stains are caused internally (intrinsic) and not on the outside of the tooth (extrinsic) they must be whitened from the inside. This is usually done by putting a bleaching agent into the empty chamber from which the pulp was removed. Usually the bleaching agent is a substance called sodium perborate.
What does tooth discoloration mean?
Discoloration or stains that appear inside your teeth, known as intrinsic stains, can be caused by tooth decay, an injury, or a medication. Your dentist can advise you on the best course of action for these types of stains.
Can black fillings be changed to white?
In most cases no, it is not recommended that you replace your current metal fillings with newer white or tooth-colored fillings. After all, in most cases metal fillings are not dangerous or unhealthy to have in your mouth. Therefore, it is not important for your health to have them changed to white fillings.
Do fillings stain teeth?
Many times teeth and tooth colored fillings become stained from different foods and beverages. It is the nature of tooth colored dental fillings – sometimes called white fillings or composite restorations – that they will discolor and stain as they age.
What kind of discoloration is caused by dental fillings?
Discoloration — amalgam fillings can create a grayish hue to the surrounding tooth structure.
What kind of filling is dental amalgam made of?
Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately half (50%) of dental amalgam is elemental mercury by weight.
Can a person be allergic to dental amalgam fillings?
Dental amalgam might cause these individuals to develop oral lesions or other sensitivity reactions. If you are allergic or otherwise sensitive to any of the metals in dental amalgam, you should not get amalgam fillings. You can discuss other treatment options with your dentist.
What happens if you remove an amalgam filling?
Removing intact amalgam fillings results in unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure and exposes you to a temporary increase in mercury vapor released during the removal process.