White fillings - Is there any benefit to paying extra for these?

[StaplesCorner]

First time at a new dentists today, NHS appointment, he wants to replace 2 old fillings which is fair enough (I have 7 so he could have said they all need doing!!) but he said there's no point in doing NHS fillings. He said it was too complicated and he doesn't like using the silver-style fillings. Its a big swish practice they do a lot of private work - he said if I needed an NHS extraction in future (different tooth) they'd send me to another practice which makes me think they simply don't want NHS work.

I know dentists are often up against unfair NHS charging bands, but how do I decide if he's gaslighting me or if I really would benefit from white fillings? I just googled and found a site where it said the old fashioned ones are actually stronger and longer lasting!

@LemonSwan

I would never get a silver filling.

They are not silver. They are amalgam - which is a mix of metals - around half is mercury. Yes the actual mercury mercury!

They have been banned in many countries and recently banned in the UK for children under 15 and pregnant/ breastfeeding women.

I only know all of this because c. 15 years ago my mum ended up with really bad chronic fatigue syndrome /MS symptom; after about 5 years of suffering more and more she luckily stumbled upon a doctor who told her to get all her fillings removed. This reversed all her problems and while we cant say for sure it was that - well its pretty coincidental.

So no I would never get amalgam. I have porcelain ceramic fillings and a couple of crowns on back and side teeth and so far ten years in with no breakages/ issues.

This I also know someone who had lots of issues ( extreme fatigue,brain fog, gut issues, neuralgia ..) all resolved when mercury fillings were removed. She used a dentist recommended on the iaomt site (International Association Of Oral Medicine And Toxicology). Watch "The Smoking Tooth" video on there.

There is a documentary called " Poison In The Mouth" regarding mercury fillings thatwas interesting too. The attitude of one of the bigwigs at the British Dental Association when presented with research on toxicology studies ( by the journalist) was alarming.

The person I know faced unhelpful/ obstructive attitudes and denial from her dentist when she raised the possibility of mercury being at the root of her health issues. She did months of research ( which was made more difficult due to brain fog and having difficulty in focusing) and eventually solved her issues.

The mercury is handled and disposed of as a hazardous material..not something to put in our bodies in my opinion.

Thank you @cliffdiver that’s interesting. I was going to ask him if it was clinically necessary rather than just his choice.

I needed a filling which, if I laughed loudly, would have meant a silver filling would be very noticeable.

The filling was for the best part of a quarter of my tooth so it would have been very glinty so I went for white. It's been in well over 10 years and it's fine, you'd never know the tooth was filled

From the NHS website

Where clinically appropriate, white fillings are available on the NHS and are generally charged as Band 2.

For example, if you need a filling in one of your front teeth (incisors and canines), the filling material of choice may be a white filling.

If the filling is in one of your back teeth (such as molars and premolars), for a large filling the more clinically effective option may be an amalgam filling (a silver-coloured material).

Amalgam fillings are being phased out due to environmental reasons NOT health reasons

Thanks to crappy genetics, my teeth are garbage and seem to be kept in my face by sheer willpower alone. I recently went to the dentist for the first time since March 2020 and I need two small fillings on top-rear teeth, and one large and one small filling on bottom-rear teeth. I told him I'll take silver for all but the large bottom one as it's visible when I laugh so I want white.

My NHS dentist is lovely and does my white fillings free of charge I have 3 I think but they are so small that they aren't visible. I think silver fillings look awful but it's a matter of personal choice and finances. It's sounds like your dentist is taking the piss. A single white filling is usually around £60 at my dentist. This might be why he's so popular.

So a bit of news, I rang the Oral Health Foundation and they said there doesnt seem to be a reason why I can't have NHS fillings if I want them - there is no clinical reason or necessity - and a dentist should not present the case that he will be unable to provide adequate treatment on the NHS. I rang the practice manager at the dentists and went through it with her, she'll get back to me. To be honest I am not sure I'd want some guy I'd complained about putting sharp things in my mouth - and I am sure he will take it as a complaint unfortunately. So I might have to change dentists, which might in turn be difficult. However, even privately, the costs originally quoted were steep.

I like that there isn't mercury in the white fillings. My Amalgam fillings lasted many years but when I cracked a tooth eating nuts and one came loose I had white to replace it, same when I needed a crown. So mine are all white now.

Agree with those who have mentioned the mercury. Dentists will say there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that the mercury in fillings is detrimental to health but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence and holistic dentists support this.

White fillings are composite resin which contain BPA. You can get BPA free ones but it’s not common.

I think it’s strange that we are concerned about the effects of Amalgam fillings with regards to mercury, but aren’t concerned that white fillings leech BPA which is known to be an endocrine disrupting agent; especially since we spend so much time making sure all our household plastics are BPA free now.

Weigh the risks and benefits and pick what’s right for you. There will always be pros and cons to everything.

I developed oral lichen planus and the hospital consultant said it could be the result of an allergy to an old amalgam filling. He didn't recommend having my old amalgam fillings removed but if any do fall out, I will certainly be getting white ones to replace. I would get a second opinion on any new dentist wanting to replace an existing filling that hadn't broken or fallen out. I did this myself and the second opinion,from Dental Hospital consultant, was that the fillings did not need replaced.

Yes @Miss2018 is right that white composite does have BPA.

I dont know what NHS offers as standard; but when I got my white fillings privately - it was the porcelain they offered as standard and it has no BPA as far as I am aware.

The porcelain is excellent OP. I have had my teeth scaled by people and had to tell them which teeth are fake, because I dont want them damaged. They dont believe me half the time.

Silver content in amalgam is quite high. As it is a heavy metal it is an effective bactericide, that is bacteria really don’t like it and tend not to grow close to it. Gold is even better.
Bacteria quite like white fillings and they are very technique sensitive so it very much depends on the skill of your dentist as to how long they last. A well executed silver filling will last 40+ years, a well executed white filling about 20 years.

I’ve noticed when people laugh if they have dark fillings, it looks startling even on the back teeth. Possibly I notice more than most people because I’m quite short.

But because of that I always pay extra to get white. My oldest is 20 yrs old and so far so good 🤷‍♀️

First filling I ever had was white. It fell out and my private dentist couldn't fit me in for two weeks. I was in agony and ended up getting a silver filling at a different dentist instead. Never had an issue since.

I probably didnt say but I cant really afford the private white fillings on offer so unless they are clinically necessary I wouldn't have them. Apparently fillings on back teeth are unlikely to meet the threshold for "clinically necessary" but I honestly dont care what they look like and personally I don't have an issue with mercury/silver etc although I appreciate some posters feel strongly about it.

And now I have tooth-ache.

@StaplesCorner

Comments so far are making me feel that he was trying it on a bit - the two white fillings he proposed would cost £320 private.

This sounds about right, my white filling was £160, I wouldn't have a silver but I guess it comes down to whether you want to pay or not.

My old dentist gave me white ones on the nhs when I needed a filling during pregnancy. The mercury amalgam ones weren’t an option. My current dentist feels so strongly against Mercury Amalgam he covers the cost of the difference if you need a filling due to a clinical need. It’s not a big difference and yes you may need to get it redone but that’s not a big deal.

I get white ones for aesthetic purposes. Not sure about longevity. When I see grey ones on other people I always think it looks like tooth decay.

They say amalgam fillings are linked to migraines.

I always go for white fillings as I get enough migraines. Would prefer the old silver fillings all replaced but dont fancy either the cost nor the discomfort. My dentist is private.

NHS dentists are rare where I live. I prefer the private dentists anyway their service is second to none.

My sister, also a dentist, had all her white fillings replaced with amalgams when they started to fail after 10 yrs or so. Just saying.