Milk teeth filing - I'm confused?!

[majorcrowdpleaser]

Took dc for check up at dentist and was really shocked and dismayed when the dentist said 8 yr old dd needed a filing at the side of each back molar. DD is so good at cleaning her teeth :(

I asked the dentist if she would need an injection and would they be amalgam filings - but she said no need for an injection as it was only just the surface on each side and that yes it would be the metal filings on the NHS.

I then asked if they were milk teeth and would dd loose them and if no, how much for white filings? The dentist said no dd wouldn't loose the teeth and it would be £50 per tooth!!

I said I wanted to give it some thought and would book the appointment another time( as I was convinced that being only 8 years old dd would loose these teeth). I asked again and she assured me she wouldn't.

So, when I get home I googled milk teeth and sure enough everything I come across says she will indeed loose all her milk teeth including the back molars!!??

The dental surgery are now chasing me to make the appointment and I am not sure what to do.

We are on the waiting list for a nearby dentist as I don't have a lot of confidence in this current one due to problems with my own treatment.

[Imnotaslimjim]

How many molars back is the last tooth, 2 or 3? If 3 then it's a permanent tooth and will need filling. But what is the issue with amalgam fillings? They're proven to be safe and if they're at the back they won't be seen easily

[majorcrowdpleaser]

They are the last two at the bottom( both sides).

If they are going to be permanent then I would prefer her to have the white as I have a mouth full of filings and hate them they are so ugly.

I am just a little confused because my friend tells me her two teenage daughters have lost all of their milk teeth including the molars and when I have googled everything I come across says children will lose all of their baby teeth?

[majorcrowdpleaser]

Just had a quick look on a diagram - its the second lower molars

[Imnotaslimjim]

They do lose all of their baby teeth but the 3rd molar are permanent.

[gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn]

The 3rd molars come in on average age 6 (although my nearly 5yo has one already) these are permanent

[majorcrowdpleaser]

I'm going to have another look when she gets home from school. I had though they were the second molars but perhaps they are the 3rd?

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

I would pay for the white ones if you can afford to do so.
My children are under NHS care but in a private dentist. I was told if they ever needed fillings they would be the white ones and I wouldn't have to pay because the practice had a no amalgam policy.

[dementedpixie]

They get a set of extra molars around age 6 which are permanent teeth and do not replace any of the milk teeth.

[dementedpixie]

www.google.co.uk/search?q=teeth+eruption+chart&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=sFvoZzOpRxctgM%3A - the 6th tooth from the front is a permanent molar

[titchy]

I'd assume your dentist is quite capable of telling whether it's a milk molar or a 7 year molar....

[wintersdawn]

I was always told that dentists don't do white ones on the molars as they aren't as strong as the other ones and therefore don't last as long on the molars.

[LittleGreyBear]

I'd pay extra for the white fillings if you can afford it. Definitely worth it as the black fillings are so noticeable, especially on children.

Also, make sure your DD doesn't have too much sugary food/drink in between meals. This can cause teeth to rot, regardless of how well you brush!

[WipsGlitter]

I paid for white ones for DS. I too have loads of ugly black ones and hate them.

[Chrisinthemorning]

An 8 year old is likely to have the first permanent molars, so if it is the very back ones, they are probably permanent teeth.
Usually it requires an injection, unless very small cavity.
If very small, the NHS will usually allow a white filling. If larger, silver amalgam would be the NHS option.
Composite - the White filling- is technique sensitive and requires good cooperation and to be kept very dry during placement- not easy in such a young child. So often amalgam is a better option, as it is stronger and can last longer. Children have big fat nerves in the teeth also, and composite can cause increased sensitivity and sometimes leakage, leading to recurrent decay.
FWIW if my 8 year old needed a filling in a first permanent molar, I would go for amalgam, and would then change it to composite in their 20s.

[FishWithABicycle]

If you pay extra for the white fillings your DD will need to have them replaced sooner because they are less long-lasting than the amalgam ones.

They are molars and will rarely be seen - consider letting her have the ugly amalgam ones. It might give her the motivation she needs to improve her dental hygiene. She can always get them replaced with white when she is older.

[IdaJones]

I'd assume your dentist is quite capable of telling whether it's a milk molar or a 7 year molar....

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