Old and new filling on a tooth

[Rains]

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I was at the dentist today to treat a cavity in one of the molars and he opened the tooth (old silver filling), placed medicine inside and temporarily sealed it and told me to come back in about 40 days. Apparently the cavity started from the side and was not visible from above. The tooth already had an old silver amalgam filling on top. When I got home I checked it in the mirror and saw how he did the procedure. He only drilled on one half of the tooth, trilling through half of the old filling and then temporarily plugged the hole. The other half of the tooth/filling was left alone. Now I am wondering how will he complete the job in 40 days when I return? Will he remove the other half of the old emalgam filling as well and plug the tooth with an all new filling, or will he leave the old half of the silver filling as it is and just plug the new half of the tooth with new silver filling? Can that actually be done? Fusing old and new emalgam fillings on one tooth?

Thanks for your replies.

 

[iamgosu]

I was at the dentist today to treat a cavity in one of the molars and he opened the tooth (old silver filling), placed medicine inside and temporarily sealed it and told me to come back in about 40 days. Apparently the cavity started from the side and was not visible from above. The tooth already had an old silver amalgam filling on top. When I got home I checked it in the mirror and saw how he did the procedure. He only drilled on one half of the tooth, trilling through half of the old filling and then temporarily plugged the hole. The other half of the tooth/filling was left alone. Now I am wondering how will he complete the job in 40 days when I return? Will he remove the other half of the old emalgam filling as well and plug the tooth with an all new filling, or will he leave the old half of the silver filling as it is and just plug the new half of the tooth with new silver filling? Can that actually be done? Fusing old and new emalgam fillings on one tooth?

Thanks for your replies.

I didn't know amalgams could be half-taken out, I thought due to microleakage (property of amalgam), that if you wanted to insert a new amalgam, all of it would have to be taken out and reinserted. You can always call your dentist and ask too, that's what they're there for!

 

[goffdent]

perhaps he is doing some sort of step-wise caries removal.. but usually you would wait longer than 40 days, at least that's what we're taught. If this is the case, he's trying to remove most of the decay, place a liner of some sort, then place a temporary filling. After assessing the vitality of the tooth and the cavity process, he may decide to put a final filling in there. It's a possibility.

 

[tinman831]

Please consult with your dentist with any medically related questions you may have. Thanks. Closing thread.