Concerned about a new amalgam filling – is this normal?

[spoiledecho]

Hi everyone,


I was hoping to get some advice. A few days ago I had an amalgam filling, which was my first dental treatment after avoiding the dentist for about 15 years because of anxiety.


The tooth already had an old amalgam filling, which was removed, and it also had a broken cusp. The dentist replaced it with another amalgam filling.


I've been looking at it today, and the filling seems quite rough and not very neat compared to what I was expecting. I'm also worried about chewing on that side because I'm afraid the remaining tooth could break.


Given that the tooth had a broken cusp as well as a replacement filling, would a crown (or another type of restoration) have been a more appropriate option, or is a large amalgam filling a reasonable choice in this situation?


I know my anxiety may be making me overthink things, so I'd really appreciate a professional opinion on whether what I've described sounds normal or whether it's worth asking my dentist to review it.


Thank you very much for any advice.

 

[Gordon]

Do you have any follow up appointments arranged? That could do with a bit of a polish up...

Amalgam there is not an unreasonable option, it's within the range of what amalgam can be used for. Don't worry about not eating on it, it'll be fine.

 

[spoiledecho]

@Gordon Thank you for your reply. I do have a further three appointments scheduled over the next few weeks for more fillings, but my dentist didn't specifically mention polishing this tooth at a later appointment.


Is there a reason the filling seems to have very little anatomy carved into it? I've been really happy with my dentist so far and have felt comfortable, which has been incredibly important given my dental anxiety. I think I was just worried because the filling looks a bit rough and unfinished to me, and I wasn't sure if that's normal for a new amalgam filling or whether it should have been shaped differently.

 

[Gordon]

Is there a reason the filling seems to have very little anatomy carved into it?

I can't think of one good reason, so no.

I wasn't sure if that's normal for a new amalgam filling or whether it should have been shaped differently.

It's not normal and it needs fixing. Won't be difficult and there's no chance if it hurting.

 

[spoiledecho]

Since this filling was placed I had lingering sensitivity to hot/cold which was getting worse so I made an appointment with my dentist. He performed a percussion test, cold test (which was painful and sent lingering sensitivity into my jaw) and took x-rays. He decided to remove the amalgam restoration, lined the tooth with Calcium Hydroxide and filled the tooth with a glass ionomer filling. He said this is a temporary solution and that glass ionomer fillings have a tendency to fall out. After hearing that my anxiety is through the roof and am fearful of chewing even soft foods on that side. Post this procedure my tooth hasn't been experiencing sensitivity to hot/cold like before already but I've been getting a throbbing pulsating type pain whenever bend forward. Is this a worrying sign the day of the procedure? Although my dentist didn't mention it today I do suspect I'll be be needing a root canal which I'm not sure I can deal with. The drilling and especially the cold air was already painful during today's procedure so going deeper into the pulp chamber surely must be excruciating.

 

[Gordon]

Cold sensitivity usually means the nerve is OK, bending forward isn't usually a trigger for any kind of tooth issue so I'm not sure it's linked.

Glass ionomer fillings don't normally fall out, the material is a bit softer than amalgam or composite fillings and because of this they aren't much used in molars because they wear too much.

Was this the same dentist who did the amalgam?