My amalgam fillings have changed colour from silver tone to a copper tone and some to a black tone. Why?

I have had some of these fillings for about 20 years. Are there any health concerns with this? What is the lifespan of the average filling? Might they need to be replaced?

My amalgam fillings have changed colour from silver tone to a copper tone and some to a black tone. Why?
Amalgam fillings change color over time. You will notice that newer ones are bright %26amp; shiny while the older ones look much darker. I have seen people that have amalgam fillings for 30 years or more, but I don't recommend them. Most dental offices now do composite fillings (tooth colored) %26amp; they look so much better (they are also better for your tooth!!). I have seen SO MANY times where silver fillings have decay under them. This is due to the fact that amalgam fillings are basically just shoved into the hole where the cavity was %26amp; there is a gap where the filling meets the tooth, letting bacteria to grow under them. The new composite fillings are bonded to your tooth, making the area nicely sealed. Silver fillings are also one of the number one reasons that teeth crack (they expand %26amp; contract in a way that your tooth can't handle). It is also almost impossible to see on x-rays if there is decay under the fillings, because the metal blocks out that area %26amp; you can't see the decay until it is large. The composite fillings are much better looking too.
Reply:I think it's normal for fillings to change colour over time. I have some that are about 12 years old and they have gone a much darker colour than they used to be, which I didn't notice until I got a new one recently and saw how shiny and silvery it was.





People tend to say that the average life span of a filling is 7-10 years, but I've not had any problems with mine so far. I think they only need to be replaced if they crack or start to leak, which allows bacteria to get in and causes decay under the fillings. If they are still sound then they shouldn't need replaced.





Probably best to ask your dentist if you're worried about them though.
Reply:There are new fillings now that match the shade of your teeth. I highly recommend. Very natural in appearance!
Reply:This is oxidation, it ocurs if you don't brush them to much. Not to say you are underbrushing. you can get them shiney again by brushing them like you are polishing your shoes. It can take up to several weeks to get the oxidation layer off. Your dentist can polish them up very quickly using abrasive rubber in his drill. Don't have them changed to white fillings, because they are expensive and are prone to failure especially in the molar area. I do about 5 root canals a month on failed plastic ("white") fillings. It's a big money maker for dentist.