At Caring 4 Smiles, every new patient is put through a risk evaluation to detect growing issues that are not urgent now. This comprehensive diagnosis often reveals old amalgam fillings which have long passed their use-by date, are discolored and leaking but not yet painful. The fillings have not yet fallen out and our dentists explain that a leaking filling is far more problematic than one that has fallen out. For example, a tiny hole in the roof of the home is not a crisis now, but if left unattended, will become a major expenditure.
Craig came in for a check-up, with no real dental problems. He had seen his fillings looked discolored and heard about white fillings and wanted to know more. At the comprehensive examination stage we found old amalgams that had begun to crack and crumble. We outlined that there was no urgency to replace the amalgam fillings if they we developed a plan to have them done, bit by bit. The cost would also be spread out.
‘Why touch something that is not yet broken’ was his query. Craig took our advice and we treated some of his teeth. These are the photographs – before & after.
Fix the leaking amalgam feelings
An excellent set of 2 restorations
There is no way a patient can “see” the leaking fillings without high resolution digital photographs and magnification. It is up to us as Preventive Dentists to enlighten our patients of the risks in their mouth.
The old paradigm of waiting for the filling to drop out before going to the dentist is like waiting for your roof to cave in before you get the leak fixed.
Please come to our practice if you really want Preventive Care that will be cheaper in the long term. You will never be caught in a dental crisis. Call 09-6315416
