Bugger...just broken a tooth

[zetec]

Eating a Panini I bit down and heard a crunch, a very small bit of my lower rear molar has broken off. No pain at the moment and I can feel it with my tongue, looking in the mirror I can clearly see where it has broken.

I am a naughty boy and never go to the dentist, last time I did was 7-8 years ago when I had impacted wisdom teeth removed.

I will admit I have in the past felt perhaps a small hole in the tooth and it has hurt in the past when biting down on hard food.

Do I need to see a dentist or will it be OK, no, I know it won't be OK, but should I see a dentist?

[mu0n]

Every time I hear dentists I just think £££.

My last trip cost me about £300.

[andyr30]

I had exactly the same, a small piece broke off...didn't really do anything about it as no pain etc.

Then a few months later a larger piece broke off and left quite a large hole...stoll no pain though.

Couple of months past and then I am hit with the worst tooth ache. Unable to sleep, pacing the room type stuff.

Ended up having to go to NHS dental department and have it pulled.

So i would say do something about it now before it goes too far!

[mu0n]

Stay away from having a silver (amalgam) filling.

Why the fk we're still using mercury in fillings is beyond me. What's even worse is that the government PAY for it.

"Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and must be handled with care; in cases of spills involving mercury (such as from certain thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs), specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid exposure and contain the spill."

I've no idea what amalgam tooth fillings actually cause but considering that mercury is extremely toxic for humans, having a lump of it sitting in your mouth for your life time seems about as stupid as it gets.

I have a couple in my mouth from when I was younger but I will never have another one again - I would get them removed but apparently the removal of them can cause issues.

[zetec]

mu0n said:

Every time I hear dentists I just think £££.

My last trip cost me about £300.

This is the problem, I simply do not need a £££ dental bill right now.

[mu0n]

zetec said:

This is the problem, I simply do not need a £££ dental bill right now.

A white filling at the back will cost money. Silver will be cheap as NHS subsidise it but seriously read up about amalgam controversay and you will question our government or at least the government bodies that cover dentistry. Scandelous.

[Hoofy]

Teeth are strong unless there's decay. If you leave it, it will get worse and the bill will go up. At worst, you need root canal work and a new tooth which would cost maybe £1k or up to £3k depending on who does it. At the moment, it might just need the decay sorted and a filling.

IANAD.

[MacGee]

Mercury is so dangerous that all dental staff die of its side effects much younger than the rest of the population. Thats why they must charge so much cos their working life is so short. So that's that then!

[Hoofy]

MacGee said:

Mercury is so dangerous that all dental staff die of its side effects much younger than the rest of the population. Thats why they must charge so much cos their working life is so short. So that's that then!

Would explain why all the staff are under 30 and hot. Apart from the head dentist dude*.











*-too fking right I'd do the same.

[Nimby]

They use UV-cured polymer these days if you've broken off the corner of a molar. It's incredibly strong, bonds well to the tooth and can be easily shaped.

But mercury as an amalgam is probably harmless - certainly nowhere near as toxic as the metal itself or organomercurics. That's basic chemistry - chlorine gas is very toxic but table salt isn't even though it contains chlorine.

[Flibble]

mu0n said:

Why the fk we're still using mercury in fillings is beyond me. What's even worse is that the government PAY for it.

They're better than the alternatives is why. Cheaper, easier to place, less likely to have marginal decay. Silver fillings kill bacteria which helps keep it out of the filling which is a big plus, and they don't shrink with time (I think the newer polymers are less prone to this though).

mu0n said:

"Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and must be handled with care; in cases of spills involving mercury (such as from certain thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs), specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid exposure and contain the spill."

I've no idea what amalgam tooth fillings actually cause but considering that mercury is extremely toxic for humans, having a lump of it sitting in your mouth for your life time seems about as stupid as it gets.

Many things are harmful in their pure forms, though mercury is actually less dangerous pure than in organic compounds. Amalgam is only about 50% mercury though; the alloying metals help to stabilise it and prevent much mercury getting out of fillings.

mu0n said:

I have a couple in my mouth from when I was younger but I will never have another one again - I would get them removed but apparently the removal of them can cause issues.

You'd have to have them drilled out which means some loss of healthy tooth, that's generally avoided by dentists.

As for dentists having high mercury exposure - there's a much greater exposure while mixing amalgam then once it is placed.

[Rach*]

MacGee said:

Mercury is so dangerous that all dental staff die of its side effects much younger than the rest of the population. Thats why they must charge so much cos their working life is so short. So that's that then!

But what about Bisphenol A??!!


Gold it is then!

[MacGee]

gold is supreme!!!

[Panda76]

Easily repaired and the repair will be white polymer as explained above.
Get it seen to before more damage occurs and you lose it all together.