One of our patients recently asked this question. The most common occurrence is when an old silver amalgam filling begins to corrode. All amalgams eventually break down since they are a metal filling in a wet environment. They break down by separating away from the tooth at the junction of the enamel and the metal. When this happens there becomes a microscopic leak that allows bacteria to enter into the space between the tooth and the filling. Once there, they grow protected and quickly undermine the filling as they eat away at the tooth under the filling.

This particular situation leads to a lost filling, a toothache and possibly an abscessed tooth. It can take a few months to a few years for this to occur. It’s always best to replace a filling when it appears that this process is beginning to happen.

We were recently asked this question by a new patient in
Burke, Virginia. Can the laser cut through silver mercury fillings? The answer is no. Lasers are not yet developed to cut through metal. We still have to remove them with the traditional dental handpiece.

Lasers work great on new cavities, especially those on the biting surface of the teeth.They are also very good for minor gum procedures. The laser can’t be used for everything yet, but hopefully, that day is not far away.