A Public Service Announcement or something like it!
Pictured above is a tooth filled with amalgam and if you have really good eyes you can see a hair line crack in the tooth. For a while there was a lot of controversy about amalgam fillings, maybe there still is, but I remember it was a hot topic of conversation for me about 15 years ago. I didn’t have a tooth in any of my molars that did not have an ugly metal filling and while I understood about the toxic effects of mercury in my mouth I simply never had the funds to have all of my fillings removed, plus I was told that removing those fillings can also be a toxic experience, so I rationalized that it was 6 of 1 half dozen of the other. Also I usually think stuff about toxins in your mouth needs to be taken with a grain of salt and conspiracy theories abide yada, yada, yada. Now if you go to the FDA website you will find that they do admit that mercury is a neuro-toxin. Okey Dokey, nuff said about that.
What I didn’t read and what I was never told until this year was that amalgam fillings, being made of mercury and other metals expand and contract while they are in your teeth, especially the big ones. This unfortunately leads to a situation where you tooth and the root itself can crack, when this happens there is no solution except to have the tooth pulled. Ain’t nuthin sexy about being toothless, and unable to chew. I’m here to tell you. Within in the last year I have had to have 2 upper molars (left side) surgically removed due to this problem, in years prior I have had to have all my lower molars (both side) and other primary teeth basically replaced. Talk about spending a bundle and just when I thought it was over it starts again on the left! Talk about throwing good money after bad. And what sucks to high heaven is the fact that all of it was already paid for once. Why in the name of all that is good and holy do I have to pay for it all over again? Dental coverage is basically non-existent and most of my expenses have been out of pocket. Today I go for a root canal ($1250.00), you get what you pay for especially with dental work and I’ve had the $500.00 root canal and I wouldn’t recommend it. What I am trying to say is, if you have amalgam fillings and a little money on the side just get rid of them sooner rather than later and one at a time if need be, especially the big ones because they will come back to haunt you!
Ew, yuck, ouch. I have thought about all the metal I have in my head – which is really not that much…only 5 amalgam fillings. I would like to have them replaced but right now it is low on the totem pole of things to be done. My new dentist (whom I’ve been seeing for the past 5 yrs) refuses to use amalgam. So, thankfully, the 9 gazillion cavities that I’ve managed to get in the past 5 yrs are filled with white composite.
Apparently I haven’t had a cavity in 10 years, maybe more because all my f-ing teeth have already been filled will amalgam! You are very lucky to only have 5, but heed the warning because it’s gonna cost you if you wait….even if you just do one at a time, honestly it will be worth it!
I don’t know but there is one thing sexy about no teeth that I could think of.
I was waiting for it, your comment, that is!
You’re so Evyl!
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
Hello,
I love your picture of the amalgam filling tooth. Would it be possible for me to use this picture on a website warning people of the dangers of these fillings?
Thanks for your time,
DG
absolutely !