A question for toothsmith

Mely

I had a gold cap (filling?) on top of a back tooth, and my dentist removed it as i wanted a 'white' filling instead. I have just realised that he has kept the gold filling, and i was wondering if it was worth anything ?

Toothsmith

Probably - yes.

Mely

Hhmmm...thanks for the answer. Its another thing that i have to have a word with him about, along with him telling me i needed treatment off the hygienist and charging me £30 for it when it should have been free as part of my nhs treatment, and trying to charge me another £30 when i go again next month. I dont think so!

Toothsmith

To be strictly accurate - anything taken out of your mouth is clinical waste.

Unless you are a registered handler of clinical waste, and able to furnish the dentist with a waste transfer note, then he really shouldn't be letting you walk out of the surgery with it.

In the real world though, I generally offer back to the patients any chunks of yellow gold I take out of them. The vast majority of people let me keep them though, and I bet that 90% of those that keep them manage to lose them before they ever do anything about 'cashing it in'.

The silver metal in white bonded crowns also has a value (but less) - I tend not to offer that back to patients, as I said, to the strict letter of waste disposal regulations, it shouldn't be done.

It is the same with giving baby teeth back to kids as well though! That really shouldn't be done either.


Whilst we're on the subject, has anybody ever wondered why grandad's ashes didn't have any chunky nuggets in there when they were scattered despite the fact he had a mouth full of gold crowns in life?

Mely

Surely the temperature of the furnace is far higher than the melting point of amalgam? I suppose it sticks to the bottom of the furnace once its melted?
Thanks for answering my queries. I wont bother mentioning the gold filling to him now that i know he did the correct procedure.

Mely

I have another question for you. 6 months ago the inner side of one of my upper back teeth broke off and the dentist replaced it, and seemed to glue the replacement on and refilled part of the tooth. I was very pleased until i recently noticed what appears to be a red line along the replaced part of the tooth. Do you know what this is and what can be done,please? Or is it not worth disturbing the area, I am meticulous about brushing and flossing my teeth, and i dont drink or smoke but i do drink a lot of herbal teas.

welshdent

Many of the crowns I remove end up up the suction tube! I have never known anyone want their crown back so I dont think you should be too hard on the dentist for not giving you back a crown thats been forcibly removed. Like toothsmith said it is clinical waste and we actually have to get approved people to remove these things anyway. I doubt ts would be able to comment on a clinical problem you have without seeing it. best person to ask is your own dentist

Tippytoes

Whilst we're on the subject, has anybody ever wondered why grandad's ashes didn't have any chunky nuggets in there when they were scattered despite the fact he had a mouth full of gold crowns in life? [/QUOTE]

Yes...which is why my family has strict instructions to ensure mine are removed when the time comes!

minimad1970

My son had 4 teeth out yesterday at the hospital due to overcrowding and in preperation for a brace. When they brought him back to me they gave me his teeth all wrapped up. When I mentioned it they said "they're for the tooth fairy". Which is lovely, but he's 16:D