Flossing after lunch today and one of my fillings fell out. How long do fillings last?

I had one a few years ago that felt loose, and I put off dealing with it because I thought i was just going crazy, until it fell out. I ended up needing a root canal. This latest filling was in there sold until today. I started flossing/chewing on a toothpick thingy in my spare time at work after the root canal incident.

toothpick thingy =


Going to the dentist in the morning

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40 years?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I had all mine removed so the helicopters can't find me.....

Seriously, I have some that are at least 30 years old and also a 3 year old one that failed, I have an appt. to get it redone.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

The old metal ones will degrade and lift, allowing food under the filling. I know this because I've just dropped a good amount of money having them all taken out and the newer, white fillings put in. I had to do this because I've had 3 teeth in the last year explode!!

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I have a bit of resin that was experimentally installed on my front tooth in 1975 or 1976. It's discolored but WGAS?

My friend is a mortition that works at the funeral home in my home town. She just saw the dentist.... in her prep room. So I can't even go back to the guy and make him fix it. I'm off to a new dentist in the morning.

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I had a bunch that must be 40 years old that my current dentist has been picking off and converting to crowns. Whether they need that or he just bought a boat, I don't know.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Went to the dentist today. She gave my mouth the once over and it seems I not only have the 1 filling that fell out but 4 others with cracks or chips in them that need to be replaced. going in tomorrow to get the left side of my mouth fixed. then the right side will get fixed next week some time. $1200 for the work, I don't have dental insurance, but I have an HSA, so thats covering it.

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Most of my old style metal fillings are around 32 years old. One just fell out about 6 months ago and that's been the first trouble I've had with them.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Goddamn caps on my rear molars lasted 10-15 years. Tricky situation when they failed, all at about the same time. I am on coumadin which complicates matters.
The dentist was all for implants.....at 1k per. I said F-it, give me bridgework, rip out the rotted teeth and make me some effective, economical replacements. After all, the teeth that matter, the ones in the front are OK so who cares? Saved about 8k and I don't know the difference. Besides the implants themselves have a "shelf life" and who's to say I would have outlived them?

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I went with a bridge over an implant also. Cost was one issue but implants seem to have more risk of infection etc.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm scheduled to start the process of having a bridge made next month. I thought about the implants, but decided on the bridge. I have the insurance, but cost is still a matter...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I just had a big upper molar pulled a few weeks ago, middle tooth. Perfectly good but it was cracked to the root. Missing it screws up my bite, so I'm going to go the bridge route too sometime soon.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

After 30 years or so the grey metal fillings begin to deform and creat lateral pressure on the parent tooth. This can split the tooth. I agree with Jon, if you have grey fillings that are 20 or 25 years old get them replaced with the white ones that are resin based as they grip the sides of the tooth and keep their shape. I just had all my grey ones taken out and replaced with white. I also have two or three gold caps on molars.

One of my frontish molars split recently and the dentist wanted to do a root canal. I requested a less aggrssive course and she built up the side with the white stuff. It is working fine so far.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Good advice, Tom. Thanks.