Mercury-Free Dentist Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

Would Teeth Stains from Silver Fillings Show Through White Ones?

Posted on March 27, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I have three silver fillings starting with my upper left lateral incisor and back. The fillings are old, and I want them replaced with composite. My dentist told me that the silver fillings may have stained my teeth, and the stains might show if I replaced them with white fillings. I don’t understand this and have not heard of it before. Can silver fillings stain teeth? If so, can a dentist remove the stains before placing white fillings? Maybe my dentist doesn’t want to do white fillings. Thanks for your help. Vivian

Vivian,

Thank you for contacting Delaune Dental in Metairie. We understand your concerns about the appearance of your teeth after removing amalgam fillings.

Do Silver Teeth Fillings Stain Your Teeth?

Amalgam (silver) fillings can discolor your teeth as they age, but the discoloration is usually insignificant. Still, a 2009 Journal of Dentistry report on the effects of amalgam on dentin (the layer beneath tooth enamel) published findings after reviewing articles on amalgam removal, including the following:

Darkly discolored dentin may be present beneath amalgam restoration
The dentin contains amalgam corrosion products
The dark dentin is demineralized

When a dentist replaces an amalgam filling with composite, it strengthens your tooth and improves its appearance. A cosmetic dentist will ensure your teeth and smile are attractive.

How Do Silver and Amalgam Fillings Compare?

Placing composite fillings on back teeth is very different than using amalgam. The process takes more time and more skill. According to the American Dental Association, it is easier for a dentist to place amalgam fillings than tooth-colored fillings. A dentist must isolate the tooth with a cavity and keep it perfectly dry to ensure the composite adheres to your tooth.

If your dentist is uncomfortable placing the composite fillings, we suggest finding a mercury-free cosmetic dentist with post-graduate training and experience with composite fillings. If you insist on a treatment your dentist is uncomfortable with, you may not get natural-looking results or fillings that last.

Metairie, Louisiana, dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read how he strives to offer patients the best dental care in Metairie.

Dentist’s Needle Hit a Nerve, and I’m Scared to Get Fillings

Posted on December 22, 2022 by AllSmiles.

A dentist’s needle hit a nerve in August 2020, and I have not seen a dentist since then. I need fillings in three lower left molar teeth in bad shape. Although I need to switch dentists, I keep putting it off. The toothaches are getting worse. I know that my fear has not helped my situation. Is there anything I can do to psych myself out for another shot at the dentist? I know that not every dentist hits a nerve with a needle, but I was anxious about going to the dentist before that incident. What do you suggest? Thank you. Antonio

Hi, Antonio,

Thank you for your question. Dental anxieties and phobias affect millions of people. When a dentist’s needle hits a nerve, it can increase your anxiety. A dentist must examine your teeth and take x-rays to determine whether fillings or root canal treatment is appropriate.

How Can You Avoid the Pain of a Dentist’s Needle?

Close-up of a man's smile portraying painless dentistry after a dentist's needle hit a nerve

Look for a gentle dentist for a painless experience

You can avoid the pain of a dentist’s needle by looking for a gentle dentist who caters to anxious or fearful patients. They enjoy seeing nervous patients and putting them at ease. The dentist can increase your comfort with methods like these:

Offer sedation to help you relax before treatment
Numb your gums around your teeth before injecting a local anesthetic
Offer distractions, such as headphones with music, an overhead TV, or a cozy blanket while removing decay and filling your teeth with composite or performing root canal treatment

You can enjoy a comfortable, painless experience without feeling sensations from the dentist’s needle.

How Can You Find a Pain-Free Dentist?

You can find a pain-free dentist by asking friends or family members for recommendations. Otherwise, look online for dentists who cater to patients with dental anxiety. We suggest an approach like this:

Choose two or three dentists based on recommendations, online reviews, and each dentist’s credentials.
Schedule a consultation with each dentist.
Discuss your concerns and ask questions.
Decide if you like the dentist, the staff, and the office environment.
Choose a dentist who can give you productive, painless treatment.

Best wishes for a smooth and comfortable dental visit.

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie.

My Tooth Fillings Are Still Too High

Posted on October 6, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I’m tired of going to the dentist because my tooth fillings are too high. I want to change dentists because I chose this dentist who advertised as being holistic, but he can’t get my white fillings right. I had three silver fillings replaced with white ones, and my dentist keeps sanding them, but they don’t feel right when I chew. If he keeps sanding, the fillings will be too low. All the sanding makes the fillings rough, too. I can’t give up and do nothing because an uneven bite is uncomfortable. Should I give my dentist another chance or just move on? Thank you. Pilar from Philadelphia

Pilar,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Delaune’s office and sharing your experience. We understand the frustration of getting uncomfortable dental fillings.

Why Are Your Tooth Fillings Too High?

If your tooth fillings are too high, one of these reasons may be the cause:

Overfilling the tooth
Failing to adjust your bite correctly
Failing to check your bite

What Are the Symptoms of a High Tooth Filling?

When a tooth filling is too high, the opposing tooth (top or bottom) will strike it with more force when you bite or chew. The ongoing pressure irritates your tooth ligament. You may feel tooth sensitivity, pain, or discomfort when chewing when your teeth are at rest.

Should You Switch Dentists?

If your dentist lacks the skill or technique to restore your teeth correctly with dental composite, you may need to switch dentists. Although your dentist respects your wishes for mercury-free fillings, faulty work will create tooth irritation that can lead to an infection. A persistent infection will require root canal treatment.

Request a Consultation

We recommend looking for a skilled cosmetic dentist who uses biocompatible dental materials and advanced cosmetic dentistry techniques. Even if the dentist does not advertise services as holistic, you will get quality, comfortable cosmetic fillings.

Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post.

Should I Still Feel Pain After a Tooth Filling?

Posted on June 30, 2022 by AllSmiles.

A dentist placed a new silver filling last Friday without telling me it was silver. The filling is in my bottom left second molar. That’s the side of my mouth that I chew on. Now, whenever I have a cold drink of anything, even water, my tooth hurts soooo much. It almost feels as if the cold liquid is going inside the tooth. I know the liquid is not going inside the tooth, but it feels like it.

I selected this dentist based on Google reviews and have only been to him twice, for an exam and cleaning and last week to get the filling. I was going to let him whiten my teeth, but now I am skeptical. Should I return to the dentist, or will the sensitivity go away? My other concern is that I do not want a silver filling. I prefer to remove it, but I don’t know if a dentist would remove a new filling. Thanks – Kinsley from Charlotte, NC

Kinsley – Thank you for contacting Dr. Delaune’s office.

It is common to have sensitivity in a recently filled tooth.

Should You Still Feel Pain After a Tooth Filling?

Amalgam fillings can be sensitive to heat and cold and more sensitive than white fillings. Sensitivity gradually goes away within two weeks., but sometimes you can feel sensitivity in a tooth for up to eight weeks. Amalgam fillings contain various metals, which quickly conduct heat or cold to a tooth that is already somewhat sensitive from having decay removed and replaced with filling.

What Can You Do About Tooth Sensitivity After a Filling?

Avoid very cold or hot foods or drinks that increases sensitivity after getting a new filling. If you continue to experience the same level or increased sensitivity in the tooth after two weeks, contact your dentist.

Will a Dentist Replace Your New Filling?

If a dentist placed a silver filling without your knowledge, you have a right to have it changed to a composite, or white, filling. You can explain your concerns to a cosmetic dentist who will be willing to remove the amalgam filling and replace it with composite. You may have to pay for the replacement filling yourself. If you have dental insurance, contact the plan provider, and ask if they will provide any coverage toward the filling.

It is best to delay your teeth whitening plans until a dentist resolves the sensitivity. The bleaching gel can increase sensitivity in your teeth.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a cosmetic dentist in Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post.

My Dentist Won’t Admit He Ruined My Bridge

Posted on June 10, 2022 by AllSmiles.

While placing two new crowns last December, my dentist nicked one of the crowns in a Maryland bridge that I got in 2002. The bridge is old, but I had no intention of replacing it because it is in good condition. And the nicked crown is my left front tooth. Two weeks later, I noticed silver showing through the crown that my dentist nicked. He insisted that the problem was from grinding my teeth, but he knew better. My dentist quickly notices any changes in my teeth, so he would have told me if my teeth grinding was causing a problem. Besides that, I wear a nighttime mouth guard.

Anyway, when I complained about the silver dot, my dentist asked me to schedule an appointment, and he placed composite over the dot. Now the dot is showing through the composite. I know the crowns have metal beneath them, but I am concerned that I need a new bridge. Now I don’t trust my dentist. I was supposed to get silver fillings replaced next, but I am hesitant to have him do any more work on my teeth. Do I have a choice or an alternative to replacing the Maryland bridge? – Wendy from Queens, NY

Wendy,

Thank you for your question. Although many dentists have adjusted a patient’s bite and damaged the crown, it usually does not happen to front teeth. Your dentist probably does not want to admit his mistake because it would obligate him to replace your Maryland bridge.

We suggest that you find a dentist for a second opinion. Ask the dentist if the crowns on your bridge show signs of teeth grinding. Some dentists use this method to detect the cause of damage:

Glide a metal explorer over the porcelain, which will not leave a mark if the damage is not from a dental bur. The metal explorer would leave a mark if a dental bur damaged your crown.

Ask the second-opinion dentist to document their findings. Return to your dentist with an explanation of the results.

Repairing a Nicked Crown in a Maryland Bridge

It is challenging to repair a nick in a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown without replacing the Maryland bridge. Your dentist’s attempt to improve the crown with composite did not work. Panavia is a brand of dental bonding cement that will bond to metal. An experienced cosmetic dentist may successfully hide the metal with these steps:

Grind away more of the metal to make room for the Panavia dental bonding cement
Use a micro-etcher to roughen the metal
Prime the metal before applying a thin layer of the bonding cement
Cure the cement and apply composite that matches the crown color
Shape and polish the cement

Whenever it is time to replace the bridge, newer ceramic options will give you durability and natural-looking results. You can also ask about replacing your silver fillings. This technique is not a guarantee. Seek a highly experienced cosmetic dentist for a second opinion to evaluate your Maryland bridge and discuss your options for saving it.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Will a Dentist Need to Replace All My New Fillings?

Posted on May 24, 2022 by AllSmiles.

My dentist replaced three silver fillings with white ones in April. I have symptoms in all three fillings, which concerns me. If only one filling was uncomfortable, I would be more inclined to let my dentist replace it, but I am skeptical. I feel moderate pain when I eat, mild sensitivity to heat and cold, moderate pain after dinner, and left jaw and tonsil discomfort. I also feel some tingling and numbness in my jaw and chin. I don’t feel any pain in the mornings, though.

I cringe with the thought of finding a new dentist because it always takes me so long to find one that I like and trust. I thought I would have this dentist for years, but these faulty fillings make me nervous. Do my symptoms sound like I need new filings? – Thank you. Kristina from Hartford, DT

Kristina,

Thank you for contacting our office. Dr. Delaune would need to x-ray and examine your teeth and fillings to identify the cause of your symptoms, but we will explain what might be causing them.

What Causes Moderate Pain When Chewing on a New Filling?

If you feel moderate pain when chewing on teeth with new fillings, two possible causes include:

Your dentist placed a large filling that changed your bite.
The ligament that connects your tooth and jawbone experienced trauma during the procedure.

Why Is a New Dental Filling Sensitive to Cold?

When you feel mild sensitivity to cold after a dental filling, the tooth pulp may be irritated from the process of removing the decay. If the sensitivity does not gradually improve, a dentist needs to examine your teeth and fillings.

Why Do You Feel Moderate Pain in New Dental Fillings?

Continuous moderate pain in a tooth may mean that bacteria entered your tooth pulp. Your dentist may not be at fault because bacteria can enter the pulp while removing tooth decay. Your body can get rid of small amounts of bacteria, but your dentist may need to intervene if your symptoms do not improve.

What Causes Jaw and Tonsil Pain After a Dental Filling?

If you feel jaw and tonsil pain after a dental filling, the position of your mouth or jaw during the procedure may have stressed your muscles. The symptoms will improve.

What Causes Jaw Numbness and Tingling After a Dental Filling?

Lingering numbness and tingling after a dental filling means that your dentist may have slightly nicked a nerve with the numbing needle. The sensations will go away in time.

Request a Second Opinion for Your Dental Fillings

If you are not confident about your dentist’s ability to resolve the issue, you can schedule an appointment for a second opinion. Look for a dentist with advanced training and experience in cosmetic dentistry and placing mercury-free composite fillings.

Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post.

My Dentist Won’t Give Me Crowns Unless I Get Braces First

Posted on February 12, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Last week, my dentist insulted me by telling me that he would not replace the crowns on my four upper front teeth unless I got braces. He said the teeth are crooked and bucked, and crowns will not look right. I am 58 years old and have no intention of getting braces. Neither my teeth nor my smile makes me uncomfortable. I want the crowns replaced because they are more than 20 years old and fused to metal. They are discoloring, and I want to replace them and two old silver fillings before they look bad. Why does my dentist insist that I need braces and deny my patient rights by refusing treatment unless I get braces? – Thank you. Jerome from TN

Jerome,

You are correct. You have the right to new dental crowns without braces. But some dentists restrict treatment and will only complete it if it fits their ideal. A compassionate dentist understands that respecting a patient’s choice is part of showing that you care.

What to Do If Your Dentist Restricts Treatment Options

If your dentist restricts treatment options based on their preference only, talk to them about your concerns. For example, if you have no interest in braces and like your current dentist, explain that you will only accept crowns. You can find a sympathetic cosmetic dentist to replace your porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns with natural-looking ceramic crowns.

You will enjoy ceramic crowns because they will not show a dark line around your gums, and they will look like natural teeth. Please do not pressure your current dentist for ceramic crowns, though. Ask what he recommends. If your dentist recommends more crowns with a metal foundation, it is another reason to find a skilled cosmetic dentist for treatment.

Look for an advanced cosmetic dentist, and ask to see before-and-after photos of the dentist’s patients who received new crowns on their front teeth. Placing front-teeth crowns is more challenging, so be sure to ask for several examples of cases like yours. You can replace your old amalgam fillings with composite and get new, all-ceramic crowns from an advanced cosmetic dentist.

Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post.

Dental implants with metal allergies

Posted on July 13, 2019 by writeradmin.

I have a severe allergy to cobalt, nickel, and mercury. I’m in need of one filling and one dental implant. Is there a way to do this with my allergies?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

a woman smiling from the dentist chair with her dentist smiling beside her — The key to a good outcome with your dentist is communication

Mercury-Free Dental Fillings

You will be able to treat both of these situations. We’ll start with the fillings because that is easy. You simply need to see a mercury-free dentist. They will provide you with white composite fillings and you’ll never have to worry about any mercury content.

Metal-Free Dental Implants

As for the dental implant, the metal allergies you mentioned shouldn’t affect you. Traditional dental implants are made from titanium which is extremely biocompatible. They’re used in many body replacements, including for hips.

If you are still concerned you might have an allergy to it, you can ask your doctor to run an allergy test. That is fairly simple. If it turns out you are allergic, there is still a way for you to get a dental implant.

They now make zirconia implants. These are metal free. The zirconia is just as strong as the titanium and is nicknamed ceramic steel. The reason dentists typically use the titanium is it has been in use longer and has a proven track record.

Most dentists are good at working around a patient’s limitations. For instance, there are anxious patients who need either extra patience and explanations or what’s happening or their anxiety is so strong they need some form of dental sedation.

If your dentist isn’t willing to work with you, I’d suggest finding a better caregiver.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Is My Dentist Too Old School?

Posted on May 11, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’ve been going to my dentist for over 15 years. I really like him, but I’m wondering if he’s losing his touch. I don’t think he always keeps up with his field anymore. I asked him to remove one of my dental fillings because of the amalgam content and he said it’s not safe to do that and I should just leave it in. Can you please explain to me if it is not safe to remove because I’ll ingest some mercury, why it is supposedly safe to have it in my mouth at all?

Carrie

Dear Carrie,

Image left of silver amalgam fillings loaded with mercury. Image right: mercury-free composite fillings

Mercury-Free Dentists Know How to Do Sanitary Amalgam Removals

You asked a great question. Why should a patient feel safe having mercury in their filling if it is considered unsafe to remove it? Your dentist should be asking the same question. The truth is, you can have this filling removed safely if that is what you want. However, you’ll have to go to a different dentist to have it done.

You’ll want a dentist who knows how to do a sanitary amalgam removal. You could do an internet search for a “mercury-free dentist” online. They’ll know the proper method for preventing you from inhaling any mercury vapors or swallowing any bits. You shouldn’t have much trouble finding one unless you live in a very isolated area.

That leads me to the other issue you brought up. Your dentist not keeping up with the advancements in his field. This is actually a big issue. While most states have a minimum amount of continuing education dentists must take every year, some dentists do just that—the bare minimum.

You want a dentist who is passionate about his work. Science changes all the time. That’s because we learn more as we go along. I once looked at an old magazine which had an advertisement promoting the superiority of lead paint. Now we know it is toxic. This is why you want a medical professional to keep up. It’s a lot of work doing that, which is why a passion for your field makes it easier to keep up. It’s likely time for you to find a dentist who still has that passion.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Composite filling hurts

Posted on February 1, 2019 by writeradmin.

I needed a dental filling on a back tooth. My dentist prefers placing the silver ones, but I didn’t really want that. I kind of pressured him to place the white one. Now I’m worried I made a mistake. The tooth hurts when I chew. I checked when I’m not eating and clenched, but it’s fine then. It only hurts when I’m biting down on something. Can this be fixed or am I stuck with it?

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

When it comes to choosing your filling, you did a great job. Composite fillings are much better than their amalgam counterparts. However, you need a dentist who is able to to place them properly.

Bonding a composite filling has a totally different technique than their silver counterparts. If not done properly, it can cause the pain you are describing.

This can be eliminated by having the crown re-done the right way. There is also an occasional problem with small composite fillings. We aren’t sure what causes it, but we do know if the dentist uses a self-etching primer or a glass ionomer base under the filling you won’t have pain.

You Need a Mercury-free Dentist

If you want this to be done properly, you’ll need a dentist to understand the procedure. I’m sure your dentist did the best he knew how, but at this point you need someone else, unless he’s willing to learn.

Either you or your dentist can contact a mercury free dentist who understands the right technique and can re-do your filling properly.

I hope this helps. It’s always better to find a different dentist for a procedure you have your heart set on in which your dentist is trying to steer you away from.

Usually, it means they don’t know this procedure as well, but they don’t want to admit it.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Dulaune.