Amalgam fillings replacement

A dental life cycle

Many adults whose molars were filled with amalgam before 1970 have had to undergo repairs to those same teeth. Here’s a typical scenario of the progression from the initial filling to current restorative work.

1. First a small area of decay appears in a tooth. The decay is removed, plus some surrounding healthy material, to make a large enough hole to hold an amalgam filling.

2. Years later, an imperfect bond between the filling and tooth can allow decay to occur around the filling.

3. To make repairs, new fillings must be made increasingly larger. Eventually, some tooth wall is left so thin that it can break off.

4. A crown is now necessary to protect the remaining tooth. But further decay or gum disease may make an implant or denture necessary.

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Acupressure can help with tooth pain
Here are lists of acupressure points for Mouth and Toothache on PointFinder.org. Try Dental Work before a procedure.
If this is your first time, please read the instructions. Don’t use acupressure to replace standard emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment. If you are seriously injured or have acute symptoms seek urgent medical treatment.

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LABELS: Decay
Area to be removed
Filling
New decay

Text and illustrations by Kevin T. Boyd