Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 11/1/2007

Question
One year ago I moved to a another state and had to get a new dentist. The dentist identified and  put in 4 fillings.  I thought this was strange since I have gone to the dentist every 6 mo. for the last 40 years and have never had so many cavities identified. Three of the four fillings have fallen out with 2 being replaced and the third waiting to be replaced.

1.  Is it possible that the dentist is not of the best caliber and/or the filling compound being used is of poor quality?

2.  Also, the last filling (lower first molar) he put in was silver.  Should I have a white one installed instead?  I heard the silver ones could pose a health risk.

Thanks!

Answer
Dear serenity,

1. Is it possible that the dentist and/or the filling material are of poor quality? It's impossible to say, since sometimes even the best treatment culminates in a sub-optimal result. However, a 75% failure rate after only 1 year is abysmal, and I wouldn't go back to a dentist with such a poor record of success. I don't think you should, either.

2. Should you replace the silver filling replaced by a white filling? No-- not unless you don't like the appearance of the silver filling and don't mind the cost and effort of replacing it. Silver fillings are no more hazardous to health than the white resin variety, so you would derive no health benefit by replacing the filling-- unless that filling is as bad as the three others.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY