White fillings on NHS

[D4WNO]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know if I can have a white filling done on the NHS. I currently have a grey/silver one but it's visible when I smile and looks awful :(

[Olympika]

IIRC white fillings on back teeth are not available on the NHS. But they will do white front fillings.

[Toothsmith]

Cosmetic dentistry is not available on the NHS.

Having a filling replaced because it 'looks awful' is a cosmetic reason.

[D4WNO]

Well it does need replacing as the tooth has actually cracked, I was just wandering if I could pay extra when it's done or anything. Looks like I'll have to go private :(

[Mojisola]

My NHS dentist has done this for me. Every time a filling needs changing, I have it replaced with a white filling. He charges the NHS fee for the work and extra for the white filling.

[Toothsmith]

My NHS dentist has done this for me. Every time a filling needs changing, I have it replaced with a white filling. He charges the NHS fee for the work and extra for the white filling.

He could get into quite a bit of trouble for this if it were ever found out.

Technically he is claiming taxpayers money in order to provide cheap cosmetic dentistry for his patients.

[Toothsmith]

Well it does need replacing as the tooth has actually cracked, I was just wandering if I could pay extra when it's done or anything. Looks like I'll have to go private :(

If it needs replacing, then you could 'choose' to have it replaced privately with white filling. Better to do it this way than to have it all drilled out yet again really soon after it's been filled.

[Drea]

Toothsmith, while your here, how much should a white filling be? A very shallow filling if that makes any difference.

[saraht]

Yes my dentist did, I was a bit worried about the mercury as there is a strong incidence of early onset Alzheimers in my family and research I have read suggests (not necessarily proves) that mercury could be a risk factor, when I told her she let me pay extra for a white filling.

[Toothsmith]

How much material doesn't make a difference - that's not the expensive bit. It's how long it takes.

To do a white filling well takes a good half hour to 45min. Most dental practices run at a cost of about £200 ph. But dearer in dearer areas like city centres, probably a bit cheaper in more rural areas.

From that a cost of about £100 to £150 would be pretty reasonable - so long as the dentist really does spend a decent amount of time on it.

White filling is a very technique-sensitive material. If it's not done very well, then it really could harm the survival chances of the tooth. For that reason, I would always be very suspicious of cheap quick white fillings.

Amalgam is much more forgiving.

[Drea]

Oh, I was given an estimate of £60 for a white filling but decided to go with NHS and get the normal silver one.

My work friend got a white filling for only £34 though so I actually thought my dentist must be expensive :o

Shows how much I know :p

[tirednewdad]

He could get into quite a bit of trouble for this if it were ever found out.

Technically he is claiming taxpayers money in order to provide cheap cosmetic dentistry for his patients.

Sorry toothsmith not technically true.:p

The poster said she has a white filling, as they need replacing- it is entirely up to the dentist on the choice of filling materail they provide whether it be white or amalgam fillings. The NHS contract states that they have to provide a functional replacement- its up to the dentist concerned what type of materail.

Unfortunately, patients cannot demand a white filling on a back tooth, as there is a strong argument that a amalgam filling will be the strongest under compression and therefore the best to use.

:rolleyes:

[LADY_A]

hi guys, i have 3 fillings, all white and each one was diff priced- they go by size here

small one was 90 pound
med one was 120
large 140

must say that they do not last very well for the money as i need 2 of them redone but finding a good/great dentist is hard they seem to want you out as quick as the doctors these days!

[Toothsmith]

Sorry toothsmith not technically true.:p

The poster said she has a white filling, as they need replacing- it is entirely up to the dentist on the choice of filling materail they provide whether it be white or amalgam fillings. The NHS contract states that they have to provide a functional replacement- its up to the dentist concerned what type of materail.

Unfortunately, patients cannot demand a white filling on a back tooth, as there is a strong argument that a amalgam filling will be the strongest under compression and therefore the best to use.

:rolleyes:


Exactly true.

The dentist could provide a white filling on the NHS if he thought it was the best material to use. There is nothing against it in the rules.

What is wrong though is charging non-statutory fees for NHS work.

If he provided the white filling for the NHS fee - no problem.

If he charges 'a bit on top' for doing it in white - wrist slap time. It should either be a private fee, in which case he claims no UDAs for it, or an NHS fee and a claim for UDAs.

If both are done, then it's naughty.

[Toothsmith]

hi guys, i have 3 fillings, all white and each one was diff priced- they go by size here

small one was 90 pound
med one was 120
large 140

must say that they do not last very well for the money as i need 2 of them redone but finding a good/great dentist is hard they seem to want you out as quick as the doctors these days!


If he's charging that sorrt of money, he should be doing them properly, and taking time over them.

I assume you didn't have to pay to have them redone

[Teerah]

If he's charging that sorrt of money, he should be doing them properly, and taking time over them.

I assume you didn't have to pay to have them redone

Lets not assume that they were done incorrectly, there are other factors to consider ;)

[Mely]

I paid about £80 for a white filling in a back tooth, and have had no problems with it so far. I didnt realise it wasnt as hard wearing as an amalgam filling.

[LADY_A]

not had second lot redone yet, but 2 deffo need redoing, when i had them done dentist told me they dont last long.

[LADY_A]

coming up to 2 years, how long should they last? rougly??

thanks

[alison999]

coming up to 2 years, how long should they last? rougly??

thanks

Everyone one and every tooth is different, usually 8-10 years but Ive known a patient to have a filling fall out as soon as he'd walked out the practice, whereas others could last 10+ years. The best person to ask is your dentist, they wont be under guarentee after 2 years but he/she might be able to tell you why they havent lasted longer

[Mojisola]

Exactly true.

The dentist could provide a white filling on the NHS if he thought it was the best material to use. There is nothing against it in the rules.

What is wrong though is charging non-statutory fees for NHS work.

If he provided the white filling for the NHS fee - no problem.

If he charges 'a bit on top' for doing it in white - wrist slap time. It should either be a private fee, in which case he claims no UDAs for it, or an NHS fee and a claim for UDAs.

If both are done, then it's naughty.

I asked about changing to white fillings when they needed replacing and he said he could do it. I'd no idea that it might be against the rules.

[Toothsmith]

It's only against the rules if he charges you a private fee, AND claims it on the NHS.

But there's not really any way of you finding out what he's claimed on the NHS form.

It's quite OK for him to do an NHS exam, charge the NHS fee for that and replace the filling privately with a private fee.

[Mojisola]

It's quite OK for him to do an NHS exam, charge the NHS fee or that and replace the filling privately with a private fee.

Maybe that's what he is doing. I paid about £80 for the last one.

[Toothsmith]

That sounds like a private charge - so I would guess that's kosher.

[Pennylane]

My NHS dentist has done this for me. Every time a filling needs changing, I have it replaced with a white filling. He charges the NHS fee for the work and extra for the white filling.

My S-I-L has had loads of white fillings on the same basis. She is always very happy and says her dentist is excellent.