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Original poster

To want a white filling for my 8 year old

115 replies

innogen75 · 03/09/2014 17:55

Just walked out of the dentist after refusing to put a silver filling in of my 8 year old permanent teeth. It would be pretty visible as it's on the bottom front right hand side.

I feel awful that she needs a filling and her teeth aren't great to start off with but I have certainly tried my best with her dental health over the years. The dentist would barely take no for an answer. He said there were no health issues to be concerned about and that because of her age it just needed to be filled quickly and for that reason he refused to try a composite one.

The thing is he doesn't know if there is a cavity there at all to speak of. He said he wouldn't know until he cleaned it out properly. He was very vague about the x rays and it just left me confused.

I am concerned about health issues regarding silver fillings as we have a lot of autoimmune disorders in my family. I simply don't want to run the risk. Also there is the cosmetic aspect to consider.He said he would refer her to the dental hospital but that they would only do silver too. I'm happy to pay but he insisted it wasn't a cost issue.

He wanted me to get a silver one and then replace it when she was a teenager but to my mind that suggest the cavity is suitable for a white one and it's that he doesn't want the hassle of a white one on a child. Any ideas or suggestions?

OP posts:
Original poster
innogen75 · 03/09/2014 18:37

It's the first pre molar if that is the right term...The first flat one next to the front ones on the bottom row.

Thanks for the replies, starting to feel quite vindicated!

Don't suppose anyone can recommend a mecury free practice in the Newcastle area?

OP posts:
TiffanyToothache · 03/09/2014 18:37

Did any of your kids have their white fillings placed whilst wearing a rubber dam?

To want a white filling for my 8 year old
bebebringingup · 03/09/2014 18:40

We own an NHS dental practice and unfortunately the materials used for white fillings is more expensive and therefore as the NHS won't fund it as its regarded as cosmetic dentistry. You'll need to go to private for it.

SirChenjin · 03/09/2014 18:42

No, that's not true - DS1 had a white filling under the NHS.

Original poster
innogen75 · 03/09/2014 18:44

The private versus the Nhs is a bit of a red herring to be honest. I'm already private and am happy to pay it's just that I was told that clinically I had no other option than for her to have a silver one.

OP posts:
Criseyde · 03/09/2014 18:44

White fillings can be provided by the NHS if they are on your front, visible in every day life, teeth. It is not true that they are never funded.

Amalgam fillings are banned in Sweden and Norway, for environmental and health reasons.

TiffanyToothache · 03/09/2014 18:47

Are you sure it's an adult tooth? The premolars are the 4th and 5th teeth back, counting from the midline. The canine is the third one back. Premolars and adult canines don't usually erupt until a child is 10-12 years old, although it is certainly possible it has erupted at age 8.

They replace the primary molars (baby teeth).

I don't suppose it makes a difference though, to your preference, if you are making your choice on concerns about amalgam safety.

The British Dental Association have a Fact File on amalgam safety, which may help you in your decision.

www.bda.org/Images/amalgam_fact_file.pdf

SoonToBeSix · 03/09/2014 18:47

My dd has two white fillings in the Nhs also. It must depend on the practise.

BirdhouseInYourSoul · 03/09/2014 18:49

DD and I had white fillings on the NHS about 5 months ok so they will fund it.

Mrsmorton · 03/09/2014 18:50

White fillings are full of chemicals as well...

Sirchenjin when was the last time you tried doing a white filling on an 8 year old? I only ask because I'm currently doing a job where the 5yo DMFT is three times higher than the UK average and out of the 400 or so children I've seen since I started, I've maybe met one or two 8yos who are compliant enough for this treatment...

OP, what have you done about prevention? Fluoride? Fissure sealants? Oral hygiene etc? They will go hand in hand with treatment.

SirChenjin · 03/09/2014 18:58

MrsMorton - I have never tried to do any form of filling - I leave that up to the dentist, who deemed correctly that a white filling was suitable for DS1 under the NHS.

Mrsmorton · 03/09/2014 19:00

But you can't then gavel that 8 year olds can definitely tolerate this treatment. I have 35 year olds who can't sit still enough for white fillings and won't tolerate rubber dam. Every case is different and your experience, whilst interesting, may not bear any resemblance to that of the OP and her dentist.

Original poster
innogen75 · 03/09/2014 19:02

Tiffany it's interesting you say that as I thought it was a baby tooth but the dentist insisted it was an adult tooth. She has only lost about 6 baby teeth in total all from memory the normal front ones but he was convinced....

The dam thing for composites was interesting too...will ask about that.

If Scandinavia has banned silver fillings that says a lot to me, they always appear to be at the forefront of most things!

We brush religiously twice a day and she doesn't have sugary drinks or anything. She had some sealant a couple of years ago as she already had to have a tooth removed under a general. Just luck of the draw in her case in my opinion, she's had a few other health issues.

OP posts:
FlossyMoo · 03/09/2014 19:03

DD2 is 7 yo and has 1 white filling done by NHS dentist. In fact the dentist never mentioned the colour and just said she needed a filling and did it. Treatment was free.

KillmeNow · 03/09/2014 19:04

I have had a white filling done to my 4th from the front tooth(incisor?).It was a botch job where the dentist ground down the point so it looks ridiculous .But besides that a white filling was put in .I remember the dental nurse querying it with the dentist and she said " Its in the smile zone". I was horrified at the time to think I would have been landed with a nasty silver thing .I wasnt consulted though.

In the same surgery -new dentist because they never stay long-Ive just had to pay £95 for a replacement white filling on the same tooth opposite side.It was at my request though as the manky amalgam one really made my teeth look even worse than they are.At least she left the point in place though.

nooka · 03/09/2014 19:05

I've just had a white filling replaced with an amalgam one and was told that the white ones don't last very well (I had it replaced about six years ago so was not expecting to have any treatment there for quite a while). I much preferred not being able to see the filling, but having to have the filling replaced every five years or so compared to every twelve or thirteen doesn't seem like a good trade off to me (possibly because I hate going to the dentist).

In the OP's case I'd be looking for a second opinion to see if there is a need for a filling at all.

SirChenjin · 03/09/2014 19:06

No gavel was involved. The fact that there are many of us on here with younger children who have had white fillings indicate that there are children who can tolerate this procedure - despite what the OP's dentist asserts (or gavels Hmm)

MrsPear · 03/09/2014 19:10

My nhs dentist won't do silver fillings on children full stop.

SixImpossible · 03/09/2014 19:12

I recently had a white filling in the first lower right pre-molar. My NHS dentist chose white rather than amalgam. AFAIAA there was no dam used. I have only ever had dams used on me when I have seen private dentists. Frankly, it's easier to be compliant when a dam is used.

I'd get a second opinion. I'm puzzled why you would be refused a white filling, unless, perhaps, the tooth is actually a baby tooth. I don't think my elder dc had their permanent premolars until Y5 or 6.

MrsPear · 03/09/2014 19:15

Reading back i am confused whether ds has had a filling or not. I was in such a state of embarrassment. He had his mouth open and she used the whizzy thing to clean and then stuck a bit of white in. She said it was a very small hole but didn't want to get worse as it is a while until adult teeth. But it was nothing like the boy in the picture.

spiderlight · 03/09/2014 19:22

I have two white fillings that are 28 years old and perfectly fine. They are older than the dentist who told me that white fillings don't last.

Original poster
innogen75 · 03/09/2014 19:27

I'm looking at it again and unless I have misunderstood which tooth it is I'm convinced it's a baby tooth. It certainly looks like one. Is there anyway way to tell? Could a dentist seriously not know?

OP posts:
TiffanyToothache · 03/09/2014 19:28

The rubber dam is to keep the tooth isolated and dry, which is necessary for successful placement of white fillings. It is not needed for silver fillings, as moisture control doesn't affect the seal.

One of a number of reasons why white fillings take longer.

Another is the other stages involved in placement of a composite: etch, rinse, dry, bond, cure; incremental placement; curing the composite; finishing and polishing.

Some 8 year olds can tolerate a limited amount of treatment and may well be able tolerate an amalgam when they wouldn't tolerate a composite.

TiffanyToothache · 03/09/2014 19:28

Post a pic?

Bakeoffcakes · 03/09/2014 19:30

I have white fillings which are 23 years old. I've only had one replaced about 5 years ago.