Just got an ugly black filling...

brook2jack

I'm afraid you can't coat an amalgam to disguise it, it would need to be entirely replaced .
The proceedures for placing a white filling are much more time consuming than for an amalgam so a composite filling would never have been put in to replace an amalgam free of charge.

If it is important to anyone to have a choice of filling materials ask the dentist otherwise if it is a NHS practice you must assume you will get amalgam fillings and silver crowns on back teeth. However for any treatment you should get a fp17 dc form detailing what treatment you are having and what it will cost.

devildog

Why are people saying that 'white' fillings are not as strong as the amalgam fillings. I had 2 amalgam filling in back molars, one at top, one directly underneath at bottom. They were removed and porcelain(white?) fillings put in instead(after discussion with dentist re cost and how long would last etc) Incidently dentist said they would last far longer than the amalgam. At the time it cost £150(16 years ago mind you) and have never had any issues with them or need to have them replaced etc.

Esoog

White fillings have always been considered less long lasting than silver amalgam fillings. But there are now new materials available with properties comparable to silver amalgam, and these are proving to be very successful. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. Your dentist can advise you on the life expectancy of your fillings. However, any fillings provided on the NHS are automatically guaranteed for one year.

wheeeeeeeee

neilmcl

devildog wrote: »

Why are people saying that 'white' fillings are not as strong as the amalgam fillings. I had 2 amalgam filling in back molars, one at top, one directly underneath at bottom. They were removed and porcelain(white?) fillings put in instead(after discussion with dentist re cost and how long would last etc) Incidently dentist said they would last far longer than the amalgam. At the time it cost £150(16 years ago mind you) and have never had any issues with them or need to have them replaced etc.

Because standard white fillings (often known as composite resins) aren't. What you've described sounds like porcelain inlays which aren't the same thing at all. Also, I doubt they would be covered by the NHS.

devildog

I thought they were porcelain and it was applied in layers(each layer had to dry before the next applied) You are right NHS only covered the basic work and I had to pay difference but it was so worth it.

fluffnutter

Ninja_Mouse wrote: »

I think I will check out some private dental care as the NHS dental service is not something I've found to be that great.

They've had the same training. And most do both.

Corpsebride86

The white fillings are strong and in my experience stronger than the silver amalgam ones.

The white fillings on the molars have to be done privately. I have only ever paid £45 for white fillings in my molars and last time I had major filling work done (one filling in front and one on a molar) I paid £86, that was the private treatment cost and the NHS filling in one.

I do have quite a few fillings (not my fault I clean my teeth 3 times a day religiously I have something that is a precursor for osteoporosis and so the enamel on my teeth is weaker and thinner than it should be) the only filling I have ever had a problem with was the one silver one I have, unfortunately having been out of work until recently I have been unable to afford to go private to have a white one put in, I have however had to have this filling replaced three times as it keeps comming out or fracturing and causing problems.

where as the white molar fillings I had put in have lasted for 4 years upto now and are still going strong.

I wasnt offered the chance of white molar fillings I asked about them. but before I give the go ahead to any treatments I always ask about the alternatives.

pcombo

Simple idea OP brush your teeth and stop eating stuff with lots of sugar.

jugglebug

Just a quick point about what is and is not covered by NHS dentistry.

NHS dentistry exists to cover your clinical needs, ie disease process, not anything cosmetic.
When it comes to treatment of disease it is down to the dentist.
Therefore if there is a hole in a tooth that can be restored with a filling then they place a filling. What material they use is down to them (Within certain restrictions)
What this means is that if Amalgam will do the job then that is all they are obligated to provide, and can offer a tooth coloured one privately if they wish.
However
If they want to for whatever reason they could choose to use the tooth coloured alternative, but in some cases this would be tantamount to setting fire to a handful of fivers as the NHS will not pay for the extra costs involved. Those folks who have had tooth coloured restorations on the NHS probably have very shallow fillings (these were always available on he NHS anyway)
Essentially the NHS will pay a fixed fee to the dental practice per course of treatment (not per filling) and the dentist has to provide the most appropriate care within the restrictions of that fee (which oddly enough varies from practice to practice, even 2 dentists working in the same street may be getting paid differing amounts by the NHS for the same work)

devildog

I think that the idea of simply brushing your teeth and stop eating stuff with lots of sugar is a little too simplistic!!
Both my two children(late teens) have eaten the same type of food, have the same dental hygiene etc.One has never had a filling, the other lives at the dentist!! As we found out, medical conditions can also play a large part in the state of your teeth.