Can you have too many fillings at a young age?

[cloudeleven]

I'm only 30, but I have 12 fillings already and was told yesterday by the dentist that I need 2 more (2 different teeth, 2 surfaces for each tooth). I'm concerned that I maybe have too many fillings considering how young I am.

Can a person have too many fillings in his mouth? What eventually happens with a young person with 10+ fillings? Will I need root canals and crowns eventually (say, in 20 years or so) on all of the teeth that were filled? I already have a tooth starting to crack due to an old filling, but the dentist is just keeping an eye on it for now, said it may need a crown in the future.

[cloudeleven]

Dr. Tsang,

Thanks, but I feel that I already have too many fillings (12 fillings at age 30), and I don't want anymore unless it's absolutely necessary. Would it be an OK idea to get a second opinion the next time a dentist tells me I need a filling?

Also, just curious, but what's the most number of fillings you've seen in a person age 30 or younger?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Yes, its possible you may need further dental treatment in the future if the fillings fail.  The best thing to prevent (or at least slow the process) is to have proper hygiene (brushing, flossing, etc) and regular dental checkups.