Amalgam/Mercury Fillings

[Guest guest]

There have been a few mentions of removing mercury (amalgam) fillings, so I thought I'd start a separate post to ask a question.

How important is it that these be removed and replaced? It's been a long time since I worked in the dental field as an assistant, but my current dentist tells me the same thing I was always taught about them. Amalgam lasts much longer than composite resin fillings (tooth colored fillings) ---15 years or more before needing replaced, versus 5-10 years. (I can't switch dentists, because he lets me make payments because I've gone to him my whole life. Others won't do that.)

It's nearly impossible to afford dental care as it is. There's no way I could afford to go have all of my fillings redone. (My husband can't afford to go at all, because of the frequency of my own dental problems.)

When I have crowns done, I do use porcelain fused to gold ---instead of silver metal, but since it is impossible to replace the others is this a huge setback for my health and hopes of recovering someday?

Also, I read the information on root canals. It makes sense, but dental implants aren't an option for everyone, and partials are not only costly ---but uncomfortable. If someone MUST have a root canal, does anyone know if there anything an endodontist should do differently for people with degenerative diseases?

Most already clean out the canal with a bleach (or disinfecting) solution. (The dentist I worked for literally used pure Clorox.) Apparently that isn't enough.

By the way, the dentist usually puts me on an antibiotic before root canals, but didn't once and my root canal got infected. It hurt worse than the abscess!!!

The information (formerly posted) about root canals is alarming.

Brigite

[Guest guest]

Brigite . . . I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you're having dental problems as well. Dental problems are not uncommon among implanted wome . . . strange ones . . . like teeth rotting under the gums, falling apart, etc. I don't have any answers though. Maybe someone here does! Hugs and prayers, Rogene

[Guest guest]

My back treeth just keep breaking off so I had them pulled. I have another one that needs the same thing. Luckily I have alot of teeth. But the back ones are going fast. I also notice I clench my jaw alot. and bite down is this stress or something more sinister? Anybody else have this? TerriKissofSadness@... wrote: There have been a few mentions of removing mercury (amalgam) fillings, so I thought I'd start a separate post to ask a question. How important is it that these be removed and replaced? It's been a long time since I worked in the dental field as an assistant, but my current dentist tells me the same thing I was always taught about them. Amalgam lasts much longer than composite resin fillings (tooth colored fillings) ---15 years or more before needing replaced, versus 5-10 years. (I can't switch dentists, because he lets me make payments because I've gone to him my whole life. Others won't do that.) It's nearly impossible to afford dental care as it is. There's no way I could afford to go have all of my fillings redone. (My husband can't afford to go at all, because of the frequency of my own dental problems.) When I have crowns done, I do use porcelain fused to gold ---instead of silver metal, but since it is

impossible to replace the others is this a huge setback for my health and hopes of recovering someday? Also, I read the information on root canals. It makes sense, but dental implants aren't an option for everyone, and partials are not only costly ---but uncomfortable. If someone MUST have a root canal, does anyone know if there anything an endodontist should do differently for people with degenerative diseases? Most already clean out the canal with a bleach (or disinfecting) solution. (The dentist I worked for literally used pure Clorox.) Apparently that isn't enough. By the way, the dentist usually puts me on an antibiotic before root canals, but didn't once and my root canal got infected. It hurt worse than the abscess!!! The information (formerly posted) about root canals is alarming. Brigite

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[Guest guest]

Terri . . . I'm a jaw clencher too . . . Fortunately I haven't broken any teeth as a result - yet! I think it's more habit than sinister. . . could be stress too . . . when I'm doing something like my pottery, I find that I go so slack jawed that, when I do close my mouth, my teeth don't fit together quite right. The dentist suggested spreading my tongue as wide as possible so I can't clamp my jaws without biting my tongue . . . That may work for a few minutes - but there are those times when I'm not conscious of doing it. . . I've found more relief (when I recognize that I'm clenching) by forcefully opening my mouth as wide as I can . . .in effect, pushing the muscles the other way . . . By the time I hold it for a minute or so, when I do relax, the need to clench is gone. I don't know if it would work for you - but it's worth trying. Rogene

[Guest guest]

I used to be a jaw clencher -- my cure -- BRACES! I got braces on my teeth

at age 42! If you have a problem with your bite, you might speak to your

dentist about it and see what he says. Not to creep you out, but parasites

can also cause jaw clenching and grinding.

Kenda

> Terri . . .

>

> I'm a jaw clencher too . . . Fortunately I haven't broken any teeth as a

> result - yet! I think it's more habit than sinister. . . could be stress too .

> . . when I'm doing something like my pottery, I find that I go so slack jawed

> that, when I do close my mouth, my teeth don't fit together quite right.

>

> The dentist suggested spreading my tongue as wide as possible so I can't

> clamp my jaws without biting my tongue . . . That may work for a few minutes -

> but there are those times when I'm not conscious of doing it. . .

>

> I've found more relief (when I recognize that I'm clenching) by forcefully

> opening my mouth as wide as I can . . .in effect, pushing the muscles the

> other way . . . By the time I hold it for a minute or so, when I do relax, the

> need to clench is gone.

>

> I don't know if it would work for you - but it's worth trying.

>

> Rogene

>

[Guest guest]

I was a jaw clencher too until I got braces. They re alined my bite

and I wore a night guard for about a year. I still catch my self doing

it once in a while and I stop and take a big breath and relax. Taking

a few moments in the morning for quiet time with God praying and

reading a devotion or the bible has helped a lot. I don't know if you

are into the God thing, but it has helped me start my day on a calm

note.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My teeth are perfectly straight and aligned. . . When I used the night guard, I would have to go hunting for it - it was usually across the room! . . . I have difficulty enough sleeping without that! ... I do relax my jaw whenever I notice it tensing . . . but most the time, I don't notice. Thankfully, I don't grind my teeth! Rogene

[Guest guest]

Rogene, I just wanted to thank you again for all your wisdom and encouragement. You are so wonderfull to be taking time to help all these woman. Also, I have had broken tooth problems. Do these problems improve also! Margie

From: Rogene S <saxony01@...>Reply- To: Subject: Re: Amalgam/Mercury FillingsDate: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 17:26:22 -0700 (PDT)

Brigite . . .

I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you're having dental problems as well. Dental problems are not uncommon among implanted wome . . . strange ones . . . like teeth rotting under the gums, falling apart, etc.

I don't have any answers though. Maybe someone here does!

Hugs and prayers,

Rogene

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[Guest guest]

Carole, Bringing God into the start of our day is one of the most important things we can do...it can mean the difference between a day of chaos and a day of peace. I'm with you there! PattyCarole <carole293@...> wrote: I was a jaw clencher too until I got braces. They re alined my bite and I wore a night guard for about a year. I still catch my self doing it once in a while and I stop and take a big breath and relax. Taking a few moments in the morning for quiet time with God praying and

reading a devotion or the bible has helped a lot. I don't know if you are into the God thing, but it has helped me start my day on a calm note.> >>

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[Guest guest]

Margie, I really don't know if the tooth problems get better . . . It makes sense that, the better shape our bodies are in, the better our dental health will be. . . Unfortunately, I don't think you can depend on your dentist to help you out with this. Certainly, you should talk to him/her . . . but, don't be surprized if their eyes glaze over when you bring up your commonality with other breast implant women. For myself, I learned that a bacteria had taken up residence on my teeth . . . eating away at the jaw bone . . . I had to have extensive scaling, then my gums cut back to allow access to the tooth close to the jaw bone. Before I had that done, every time I ate sweets, my mouth would get sore. Dentist have always considered that strange. Since healing, my mouth has felt fine . . . The bone transplant they did in one area is being reabsorbed though. What they recommended for me, following the surgery, is to vigorously massage my teeth (daily) with a tool that uses wooden toothpicks, then to vigorously work them as far down to the jaw as possible with dental floss (curving around each tooth in the process) . . . followd by brushing and an antibacterial mouthwash. The did caution me NOT to do the massaging or flossing until the surgery was complete because the action toughens the gums (my mouth is no longer outrageously sensitive) because that could seal bacteria below the gumline, rather than allowing it to escape on it's own. I don't know that this helps . . . More research is certainly in order! Hugs, Rogene

[Guest guest]

Patty, I can't say enough about putting God first...in the a.m.

before I even open my eyes fully, I have to connect with Him and set

up my day or else --zoooom, in floods the darkness and opposition!

It's what's been keeping me alive for the last few months, along

with the awesome support here!

Love you all muchly!

Sunny xoxoxoxo

> I was a jaw clencher too until I got braces. They re

alined my bite

> and I wore a night guard for about a year. I still catch my self

doing

> it once in a while and I stop and take a big breath and relax.

Taking

> a few moments in the morning for quiet time with God praying and

> reading a devotion or the bible has helped a lot. I don't know if

you

> are into the God thing, but it has helped me start my day on a

calm

> note.

> > >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

>

[Guest guest]

These dental issues are so disheartening. I have always had good teeth, but in the last few years I have noticed more and more troubling dental issues. It is scary to think of our teeth just crumbling in our heads! I have two missing back molars on the left side, so I can only eat on one side now. I hope to get a partial next month so I can eat normally again. But I'd sure like to know what we can do to stop this disintegration of our teeth! I don't clench my teeth, so I am not sure what causes that for sure...I've heard things like parasites? Not sure, but it might be worth looking into. Patty Peake <peaketeresa@...> wrote: My back treeth just keep breaking off so I had them pulled. I have another one that needs the same thing. Luckily I have alot of teeth. But the back ones are going fast. I also notice I clench my jaw alot. and bite down is this stress or something more sinister? Anybody else have this? Terri .

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[Guest guest]

Hi Brigite, I think dental issues are greatly misunderstood and overlooked. There is alot of information that is coming to light about possible connections to many diseases or conditions. I can't say that it would keep you from healing in the long run, but it could certainly interfere with it. It is another toxic load on the body. Amalgam fillings are poison. They continue to give off mercury vapor long after they have been placed, and chewing just makes it worse. My family only gets composite resin which may not last as long, but it is safer and looks better. They still last a very long time. I began the experience of my first root canal last year. I fought the idea of it, but since my tooth was dying, I had to do something. My root canal did not turn out well...I think the endodontist would say it did, but my health began a slow decline

again, and I had to make a very hard decision about removing them completely. I had them extracted on May 1, and my knee pains went away and I just felt lots better. I don't think I would have made the connection between my root canals and my painful knee if I had not done a large amount of research into the alternative side of dentistry first. My personal opinion on what endodontists should do for people with degenerative diseases is to advise them to pull the tooth and go with a partial! I am really leary of dental implants at this point. It's just me....knowing that I spent several thousand dollars on those root canals, only to have to spend another $800 to get them pulled was a bitter pill to swallow. I can't imagine spending $2000-3000 on an implant only to risk having my health take another nose dive. Nope. I'll just get the fake teeth that I can put in and take out at will

and be happy to have my health. I went hiking this past weekend at Cascade Falls in Utah. It was amazing! We had to hike along some red rock cliffs to get there. You know what I was thinking? If I had my root canaled teeth still in my head, and my knee was still as painful as it had been, I would not have been able to hike that trail. I was GLAD I had made the decision for my health even if it meant losing my teeth! Seeing the world is much more fun than sitting at home! It was a hard choice at the time, to be sure, but in hindsight, it was worth it. Patty KissofSadness@... wrote: There have been a few mentions of removing mercury (amalgam) fillings, so I thought I'd start a separate post to ask a question. How important is it that these be removed and replaced? It's been a long time since I worked in the dental field as an assistant, but my current dentist tells me the same thing I was always taught about them. Amalgam lasts much longer than composite resin fillings (tooth colored fillings) ---15 years or more before needing replaced, versus 5-10 years. (I can't switch dentists, because he lets me make payments because I've gone to him my whole life. Others won't do that.) It's nearly impossible to afford dental care as it is. There's no way I could afford to go have all of my fillings redone. (My husband can't afford to go at all, because of the frequency of my own dental problems.) When I have crowns done, I do use porcelain fused to gold ---instead of silver metal, but since it is impossible to replace the others is this a huge setback for my health and hopes of recovering someday? Also, I read the information on root canals. It makes sense, but dental implants aren't an option for everyone, and partials are not only costly ---but uncomfortable. If someone MUST have a root canal, does anyone know if there anything an endodontist should do differently for people with degenerative diseases? Most already clean out the canal with a bleach (or disinfecting) solution. (The dentist I worked for literally used pure Clorox.) Apparently that isn't enough. By the way, the dentist usually puts me on an antibiotic before root canals, but didn't once and my root canal got infected. It hurt worse than the abscess!!! The information (formerly posted) about root canals is alarming. Brigite

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[Guest guest]

There is a disease called "Sjogren's Syndrome" that has been brought up with me in relation to my teeth crumbling. It is an autoimmune disease of the saliva/moisture glands and causes your teeth to dry out and break up---among other symptoms. It is apparently diagnosable by symptoms and a positive ANA test. I never persued it any further after it was suggested, so I don't know how they treat it... but it could be a cause for many of our dental issues.

Brigite

www.sjogrens.org

Sjögren's ("SHOW-grins") syndrome is a chronic disease in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. The hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, but it is a systemic disease, affecting many organs and may cause fatigue. It is one of the most prevalent autoimmune disorders, striking as many as four million Americans.

In a message dated 7/19/2006 12:59:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, glory2glory1401@... writes:

These dental issues are so disheartening. I have always had good teeth, but in the last few years I have noticed more and more troubling dental issues. It is scary to think of our teeth just crumbling in our heads!

I have two missing back molars on the left side, so I can only eat on one side now. I hope to get a partial next month so I can eat normally again.

But I'd sure like to know what we can do to stop this disintegration of our teeth! I don't clench my teeth, so I am not sure what causes that for sure...I've heard things like parasites? Not sure, but it might be worth looking into.

Patty