General Chat

David ............

It has been known for years that amalgam fillings release minute amounts of mercury vapour, especially with chewing, and that this mercury can be absorbed, reach body organs, and cross the placenta. This is also true of mercury absorbed from natural sources, such as food.

I don't know what the estimates are for the UK, but Health Canada estimates that for the average Canadian adult 20 to 59 years old the amount of mercury absorbed by the body from all sources is about nine millionths of a gram per day. Dental amalgam is estimated to contribute about three millionths of a gram per day to that total.

Health Canada also seems to believe that the vast majority of people have no harmful effects from the average levels of mercury exposure from amalgam fillings.


Before worrying about about the mercury in your fillings, worry about where your food is being grown .............. even the veggies grown in your own garden could be absorbing mercury form the soil, especially in highly industrialised areas.


Having said that, you could ask that you dentist not use silver fillings in future for your teeth, or even that she remove them.

The alternative are white or gold ................ but you'll probably pay more. After all, dentists use a filling material for your front teeth that can be coloured to match the colour of your teeth so that it is not glaringly obvious. Our dentist uses that amalgam for all fillings now.


My amalgam fillings, some done 40 or 50 years ago, were all removed by my dentist over the last 10 years as he figured that there were problems underneath them (yep, he was right!), and were replaced with white.

I still wonder about amalgam and the links to dementia
I have quite a few amalgam fillings but, as and when they need replaced, I have been getting white ones.

At £100 a pop, then the useless non NHS partial at £400 which has now replaced with the ouchy cost of my implants , my new dentist must hear " the kerching sound" every time I come through her door. ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D

Brian, I actually saved £500 Tuesday because my dentist found that I didn't need a bone graft after all. :-D :-D

I read some thing alarming about dental work. It's a row that's been on the go for years
Mercury amalgam fillings. There's a school of thought says they ae harmless, while the other says something quite the contrary.
The mercury allegedly seeps into the digestive tract and from there to the blood stream which takes it to our brain, My dentist holds they are not a problem, what alternative has she ?

Both my wife and I have had implants (several years ago), have had no problems, treat them like natural teeth and forget that they are artificial.
OH had to have a piece of bone moved in to strenghten the jawbone for one of hers.
Neither of us would have taken to dentures.

Dentures - the only way to go.

Infections in the mouth cause problems elsewhere. Gum infections have been found to cause damage in the heart for example.

Well haven't I been fortunate with my teeth.....until
I lost a partial lower denture following a long stay in hospital. My reasoning was "tough" I'll get used to it, didn't replace it.
Then, I treat myself to an electric tooth brush and brushed a large upper filling out of my jaw !! Then, a month later I was chompimg on an apple and an upper crown snapped at the gum margin,

Ive choice, I can have the remainder pulled and buy dentures, or I can put up with these problems. At 70 years of age what would you do ? :-0

Thanks Andysmum and PatinCyprus.
If it doesn't improve by tomorrow, I will call the implant specialist.

I think it may be a little less numb than yesterday but it's hard to tell and every now and then, I get that tingly pins and needles feeling as if feeling is coming back.

Swelling and bruising could be normal. Think removal of impacted wisdom teeth.

Make a cold pad, ice in a cloth etc and hold it against the swollen parts. Repeat every few hours it will help reduce the swelling. Keep your mouth clean we always said hotish salt water rinses to stimulate the blood flow.

I always use witch hazel on bruises as long as the skin isn't broken.

The numbness is another matter. The swelling maybe pushing onto the nerve but if the swelling goes down and you are still numb phone and speak to the dentist.

I was a dental nurse WRAF for 5 years but this was prior to dental implants. I am giving you treatment for impacted teeth as I see it as a similar operation on the jaw.

There may be someone on here who can explain what happened to them, I hope so but what I've written will help your symptoms. :-)

I think the anaesthetic should have worn off by now.

Many years ago I had to have my impacted wisdom teeth out. Because I had a small baby I was done at the Dental Hospital as an out-patient with local anaesthetic. Afterwards one side of my lower jaw, including my tongue, didn't regain any feeling. I was told it had been caused by the anaesthetic needle accidentally touching the nerve to my tongue and it would eventually wear off.

It took about 3 months, which they said was quite normal!!

I hope you have better luck with your numbness. :-)

Just resurrected this thread from almost a full year ago.
I need to ask for some advice now from someone who has had implants

A few weeks after I last posted on this, and after further discussion with my dentist re partial V implants, I opted for new ( rather expensive) partial to be fitted.
It was every bit as bad as the first one and I found it impossible

I bit the bullet!
On Tuesday morning, of this week I had 2 implants fitted ( lower front jaw)
I had no idea there would be so many stitches!

I'm not in pain but, I have a very large black bruise on my face and my mouth is a bit swollen and uncomfortable.

It's been 48hrs since the procedure but, my chin and my swollen, lower lip are still totally numb.
Is this normal?

I've just had to fork out a fortune for a bridge, he advised against implants because I have osteoporosis.

Wasn't that much difference in the price. Dentists have us over a barrel, really. we need teeth.

Dentist terrify me My husband doesn't like them to
stems from childhood a dentist with hairy hands :-(

I went back to the surgery and met the head dentist.
She removed loads of resin from the partial and although it's much better,I still feel as if my mouth full.
I'm going back next week to see the technician who will try to remove as much additional resin as possible or we start again with a new one

THEN... she asks if I've considered implants!
Told her that her locum said that I wasn't suitable but, she says she can do it.

It would be just 2 implants plus a bridge of 2 teeth.

Seriously considering it now
:-D :-D :-D

Thank you. Another option.

I myself have complete top and bottom of implants to which have given me a total new look and couldn't be more please.
I originally in 2009 looked on website to find out about implants and came across Dominic Littlewood who said don't just go to Krakow for week end breaks get your teeth done. Hence, I made contact with Polish my Smile and hey presto went and saw a Bartosz Gill who couldn't have been more professional in all aspects. I had ten implants alongside 6 front crowns and at the time was quoted £13,500. my option was to go on a number visit over a two year period so due to the rate of exchange it cost my approx. 14.500 but must say money worth spent for totally given me confidence.
By coincidence I have had to pay private this last week for treatment in adding another implant (here in UK) and although all was okay I can honestly say that the treatment in Poland professional/most hygienic/completely pain free and total after care given.
I would highly recommend Bartosz Gill for he himself is very patient and trustworthy and makes you feel completely relaxed. You could have afew days break whilst you are there - again Poland is cheap to eat and drink. I could even recommend a certain hotel if needed .

Ann .............. we couldn't afford it either!

We ended up using a Line of Credit, and paying it off over the next couple of years


It really is the one and only time during our whole marriage (48 years next month) that either one of us has gone ahead and spent a large amount of money without the other being in full agreement.

he wanted them, and nothing that I, the Treasurer, said would change his mind.


I was not a happy Bunny

Well we certainly couldn't afford that Sylvia. Unfortunately we both have poor teeth.

Ann ................


watch the cost!!!


OH had implants done about 7 years ago ....... he would then have been about 70.

We'd talked about it about 2 years previously and decided it was too expensive, even though he has always had what used to be called "bad" teeth, with loads of fillings and crowns. His doctor then sent him to see another specialist, and OH came home saying he'd agreed to having the work done, he felt comfortable with the specialist and thought it would be a good thing.

He floored me ................. most of his mouth would need treatment of some kind, with about 6 or 7 implants, new crowns, fillings, etc. The estimated cost at that point was $50,000.

It ended up costing us over $85,000 .................... which would have been approximately £40,000

7 years on and they are still fine, he has had to have 2 crowns re-done and they may have to be replaced with implants later.


An added continuing cost is that he has to use a special electronic toothbrush to make sure the teeth are cleaned gently but thoroughly. The dentists here all recommend to use Phillips Sonicare Flexcare Professional Model, which is available only through dentists' offices.

I think the original one with 2 brush heads cost over $150 (ca £75), 3 new heads recently cost him about $60 (ca £25).

An ordinary hand toothbrush or even the electric ones you buy in the store are too harsh.


Was it worth it???

He certainly thinks so. He has had to change the way in which his mouth moves as he eats, and there are things that he cannot eat .............. eg, soft caramels. He does sometimes look a little strange when he is eating .......... it's not quite the natural movement that he had before, and sometimes he has to eat with his mouth open. I'm not sure of the reason.


It still seems one h*** of a cost to me!! But then, I've always had good teeth.


His option basically was this or probably full dentures.

Thanks everyone

GlasgowLass use Bonjela to help with soreness. :-)