How long have your oldest teeth fillings lasted? (pain, molar, dentist)

[doglover29]

So I was at my dentist's last month and he remarked how my old silver amalgam fillings were looking old and starting to degrade. I have about 15 silver amalgam fillings, most of which were placed in elementary and middle school. I've only had to have one replaced--I must have swallowed it, because it disappeared and I was left with a big hole in one of my molars, which I noticed and went to the dentist about (this was 10 years ago).

Anyhow, I'm curious to know how old your oldest silver amalgam fillings have lasted. My oldest are probably about 20 years old. My dentist made a big deal about how I should have them all removed and replaced (this is a new dentist I just found), but I felt that his pitch about this was just so he could make money off me. I don't plan on getting them removed prophalactically, but I wonder how long they will last. I am well aware of the dangers of mercury exposure if removal of silver amalgam fillings are not done properly. On the other hand, I'm sure that I'm being exposed to mercury if they are in fact, degrading and starting to crumble.

[molochai2580]

I've had fillings in my teeth for at least 16 years and have never had a dentist tell me I need them replaced, just that I needed some more..... lol

[katzenfreund]

If they were done well, they can last a long time. Often old fillings start to "leak" though and that is how you end up with a root canal . I would get a second opinion. Every time you drill a tooth, there is also a chance your nerve can be damaged and the tooth will die, also resulting in a root canal, or extraction.... too bad we don't grow new teeth after our adult teeth go bad

[CarolinaWoman]

I had a silver filling fall out a few weeks ago ... been in since 1987!!! My dentist has never mentioned removing the fillings I have. I had a root canal and crown on a lower molar in 1989 and while eating dinner last week the crown came off. I got to my dentist and he glued or cemented the crown back in ... I hope it will be good for a few more years.

[SandyCo]

One of my back molars was very sensitive to pressure (biting down) and cold. It turns out that the old silver filling had a crack in it. Now I've had an onlay put on. It's bigger than a filling, but not like an entire crown. $261 later... Not to mention every time I get work done on my teeth I end up with canker sores. I've had my silver fillings for 30-35 years at least. My dentist is also telling me to get all of mine replaced. Hmmm.

[Sgoldie]

Mine have lasted almost 50 years with no problems.

[Fat Freddy]

I never had any problems with my filings, however my teeth eventually wore down, broke off, or developed cracks or chips and I had to have crowns.

[Suzet2262]

My fillings have never bothered me. I think the oldest one is like 25 years.

[Pikantari]

Well, I am 34 and I think my oldest came in when I was about 10. Gosh I am old. 24 years.

I have had one that has given me many problems. However, I don't think it is the filling, I think it is actually the tooth.

Another poster said almost the same thing as what happens to me. Sensitivity to cold, some pain every once in a while when biting down, etc.

[gentlearts]

Some of mine are over 50. Some of the teeth have cracked and needed crowns since then. My dentist said it was not so much about the filling material as it was that they tend to be deeper fillings.
Your dentist is sort of right in that if you can afford to replace them with whatever the state of the art stuff is now, you'll probably be doing your teeth a favor, and the white filling material looks so much nicer.