How often do dental amalgam fillings need to be replaced?
Just gone through this with my dentist. He says I should consider replacing my fillings after 25 years. The problem being that tiny cracks can develop on the edges of the amalgam which could cause bacteria and food particles to get inside the tooth where the cavity is, and allow the tooth decay to continue unabated under the filling. This will weaken your tooth, presumably it will lead to tooth aches, and possibly even a broken tooth. If decay gets to that point it might be hard to save the tooth. I waited until I could feel the cracks in the amalgam with my tongue. This happened in two of my teeth about 30 years after the cavities were filled. It’s risky business — I have a friend whose teeth rotted from the inside out due to faulty amalgam fillings.
