White Fillings on Back Teeth on the NHS

Toothsmith · 19 June 2009 at 10:54AM

I posted this as a reply on an existing thread, but I feel it's an important development in NHS dentistry, and deserves it's own place.......

The latest directive from Mr Barry [STRIKE]Cockup[/STRIKE] - sorry Cockcroft, the Chief Dental Officer for England - states that for small holes in back teeth, the evidence now supports the use of composite, (white filling) as the best way to restore these teeth. That means it should be available on the NHS, as it's no longer the 'cosmetic' option, but the best functional option!

Next time you're at your NHS dentist and need a small filling in a back tooth, quote this at him/her! Just see what shade of blue they turn!!

Go to this page :-

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publications...able/DH_101011

Download or open the .pdf file.

At the side, you will see "Amalgam or Composite" which will take you to page 7 of the document. Have a read of that, then print it off and take it to your dentist if you need a small filling on a back tooth!

mda99das · 19 June 2009 at 11:04AM

Toothsmith what you are doing can be dangerous. Pts are not dentists and the clincial decision is best left to a dentist.

Toothsmith · 19 June 2009 at 11:28AM

True enough, but it's no longer as simple as 'white fillings are private'.

Barry_Cockcroft wrote:

In my undergraduate training, I learned the principles of restoration from the 3rd edition of Pickards Manual of Operative Dentistry. This enduring text is now in its 8th edition and says clearly that the appropriate restorative material for a small single surface caries lesion is a composite restoration, and that is what the NHS would expect people to provide in these circumstances.

This - of course - does not mean that the REPLACEMENT of amalgam fillings is justified on the NHS. Or that if you NEED an amalgam filling replacing, it should be done in white (The cavity shapes are different). But for an unfilled tooth with a small hole in it, white filling is (and to be honest - has been for some time) the material of choice.

This document just states that the material of choice should be provided on the NHS.

mda99das · 19 June 2009 at 6:07PM

true, I myself do used composites in small class I occlusals and RMGIC for small buccals, but it all depends on the case.

There has been instances where large fgs have # and we have repaired the tooth using composite until the next check up visit where we will discuss onlays or CRN.

This repair has been carried out under an urgent COT.

[Deleted User] · 28 October 2009 at 12:44PM

Obviously this document does not cover Scotland. Any news out there on this I have checked on google and all that is said is that it is cosmetic and not covered.

I guess i will just have to fork out for that later.

nikki2804 · 28 October 2009 at 2:33PM

If your in Scotland you can get white fillings on the NHS aslong as your pregnant or a breastfeeding mother. I feel I should point out the latter (sorry if I am hijacking the thread slightly) but I know many dentists still charge breastfeeding mothers for white fillings.

I actually had an out and out argument with my dentist over this point. In the end he told me he wouldn't charge me that day and look up on the matter. Well I looked it up too, he was adamant that no one had told him this. (It was actually the receptionist who told me about it in the first place)

So research is key because (apparently) not all dentists are aware of what can be claimed on the NHS.

I use apparently sparingly (sp) I do realise that a lot of dentists will be know about this, just seems that none in my area have!

Buttonmoons · 28 October 2009 at 3:26PM

I just had to get two ugly metal fillings on my teeth today because apparently it's cosmetic if it's a tooth that you use to chew.....Boohoo

breezerockz · 28 October 2009 at 3:49PM

had small filling in back tooth. (scotland, nhs) told dentist i don't want any silver fillings, so can i pay for white. he said as it wasn't on the biting surface i'd get a white on nhs.
unfortunately, they missed upper left 6 needing a filling,deep medium,( they actually missed 2 teeth that needed fillings , was dental hospital that found one) so when i finally got a checkup with new dentist, she bit my head off, telling me it was my fault(maybe if it hadnt been 9 months since last checkup? it might have been a small filling?) anyway charged me £80 for white. but that was biting surface, and medium filling.
really need to find a good private dentist..

esio_trot · 28 October 2009 at 6:35PM

nikki2804 wrote: »

If your in Scotland you can get white fillings on the NHS aslong as your pregnant or a breastfeeding mother. I feel I should point out the latter (sorry if I am hijacking the thread slightly) but I know many dentists still charge breastfeeding mothers for white fillings.

funny, I was going to ask someone about this. Does this include all white fillings or just those which would normally be fairly cheap on the NHS anyway (i.e. does it cover back teeth, not just front teeth?) Waiting for my exemption certificate to come through you see.

sara2323 · 28 October 2009 at 10:21PM

I've recently had two ugly metal fillings and hate them, my 5 year old keeps telling me to take the foil out of my mouth!!
I need another filling on my back tooth and will check if it is possible to get the white filling.

nikki2804 · 28 October 2009 at 11:06PM

esio_trot wrote: »

funny, I was going to ask someone about this. Does this include all white fillings or just those which would normally be fairly cheap on the NHS anyway (i.e. does it cover back teeth, not just front teeth?) Waiting for my exemption certificate to come through you see.

All teeth as there's something in the metal fillings that can be harmful to the unborn baby (just new fillings i'm assuming?) You will need the excemption cerificate/maternity certificate to prove your pregnant though.

White Fillings on Back Teeth on the NHS

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