To want a white filling for my 8 year old

[innogen75]

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?

Sorry to deviate a bit, but is it the case that children are free at a private practice?

Its just private dentistry concentrates more on preventative care rather than patching up, which is what I'd love for my dc's if I had the readies.

I have an amalgam filling on bottom tooth nearest front teeth. I am late 40s and had it done in early 20s. Dislike it as seems to show through tooth [tatoo effect]. Probably does not show as much as i think though my young children thought rotten tooth [cover mouth when yawning alert!].
My current dentist [who I rate highly] says will change to white if I want when needs redoing. Due xray next checkup, so we will see.

I am used to it now and wonder if a white filling would have lasted so long?
Have a 15 year oldish white filling that seems ok [touch wood].

dS2 had a white filling in a baby tooth when he was 6. It was done in very quickly , no dam, no conversation about white or silver, dentist just did it.

Its just private dentistry concentrates more on preventative care rather than patching up, which is what I'd love for my dc's if I had the readies.

With the greatest respect, that's absolute bunkum.

Oh

Thats the spiel I got from the local private practice to explain their extortionate fees

I had a white filling put in as a teen as it was my front tooth and a metal/black filling would colour the tooth. The practice was NHS at the time but is now private - its in Gateshead - ill link it. Ive not needed it since its gone private but had LOTS of work done as a kid (teeth knocked out in an accident)

Gateshead practice

Not all white fillings are created equally. There's glass ionomer which can be used in baby teeth and as a temporary filling/lining for adults and there's composite which is used for cosmetic stuff. Some of the composites are amazing and come in hundreds of different shades so you can layer them to match the other teeth.

All it's fillings need good moisture control which is a nause in anyone under 12 IME. Some adults can't swallow their own saliva and children produce a lot of the stuff so it's literally swimming in there.

OP, maybe a pic would be helpful? Certainly some clarification as the current guidelines recommend white (composite) fillings in single surface restorations in adult teeth. They aren't appropriate for baby teeth.

FWIW I use glass ionomer where possible or another intermediate solution called IRM but that is paper white. I don't like using amalgam, especially where there are no other fillings but if the alternative is for more decay=abscess and extraction then amalgam is a good option.

Composite fillings are full of Bis GMA which is banned in Canada, I'm not sure where Canada ranks on the anecdotal evidence pyramid but, Sweden may not have all the answers.

I've looked at a teeth chart and it's a first molar, her second molar is the one which has been removed. I can only think I've misunderstood which tooth he pointed at as I'm certain it's a baby tooth. Perhaps he meant her first adult molar which is already there.

Regardless though I'm not going to give consent for a silver one so will ring round tomorrow. Thanks everyone, I feel I did the right thing Now.

Can you count from the middle because that's still confusing. I think the type of filling is a secondary issue and your dentist's communication with you is the primary problem.

Why has she had a tooth removed? Has she had her adult molars sealed? Hypoplasia? Decay only happens for one reason and if your "luck of the draw" is poor enamel then it means you and your dentist have to put in even more leg work to keep things healthy.

First baby molar would be fourth tooth back from the midline. She would be highly highly unusual to have an adult tooth there at 8yo.

The cause is definitely definitely the most important thing though OP. Silver, white or gold filling, preventing decay in her adult teeth is so so so so important. I have a 6 yo who has to have his first adult molars extracted, they've been there less than a year. It's so sad, he will need jaw surgery now to realign everything.

Not saying you're not doing all these things, just banging my drum which I do all day, every day to every parent I meet. I figure helping just one child to a toothache free adulthood is worth pissing off all of these parents

That's ridiculous. I had all my back molars filled in with white plastic as a child to prevent cavities and I've never in 25 years needed anything done to them, they've held up so well. Why put in a filling that you know will need to be replaced? Mad.

Thanks Think I will check that one out

She's in bed, first day back and she's shattered bless her, might do pic tomorrow.

Without wanting to drip feed at the very end he rather reluctantly suggested some kind of white paste as an option but went on to say that would require very regular x rays......

I think I might jump ship to be honest, I had a supposedly white filling done 2 weeks ago but in reality it's greyish and doesn't match the white one it replaced. When I said I wasn't happy with the colour he said Its because the filling was too shallow and it reflected the yellow underneath.....odd as the same tooth looked perfectly white the day before! not a whole lot of change from £200 either......

bonbonA fissure sealants are different to fillings. Sometimes when a tooth has to be filled but you can't get moisture control because the gums are bleeding or you're doing "stepwise" restorations or you're stabilising someone's teeth before embarking on a big plan or you're filling children's teeth, you will use an intermediate filling material.

You can't say this is ridiculous based on having fillings 25 years ago, that's slightly unreasonable.

I'm not counting from the midline as it's getting confusing to me lol, there's really only 2 teeth on that side anyway because of the second molar removal.On the teeth chart it's definitely the first molar I thought he was talking about but he did point vaguely really. If it is the adult molar he meant then yes that was sealed but looks like that hasn't achieved much. .The second molar was removed due to decay when she was 4, not through lack of care as I couldn't have done anything else to prevent it.

Her adult teeth are very yellow unfortunately and she was on medication as a baby which I don't think helped.

Why does it not appear to have achieved much, I mean what can you see?

Adult teeth always look yellow next to baby teeth, don't worry toto much, it's unlikely to be medication if they are uniformly yellow.

Interesting reading mercury

Just depends what answer you're looking for composite

I mean if he meant it's the adult molar that needs filling then having it sealed previously as it was hasn't really prevented anything.

Yes they do look uniformly yellow lol

I have had one filling and paid for white (adult) - what on earth is that scary looking dam thing in the picture? I'm not in the least bit afraid of dentists but I wouldn't have fancied having that strung across my mouth. My dentist used what I can only describe as a little mouth vacuum cleaner hose that the assistant held and sucked all the saliva away from where he was working. It didn't take that long and I don't see why an 8 year old couldn't tolerate it.

Actually I was going to ask if anyone with children has had their teeth scaled and polished?

I asked again today in the vain hope of making them at bit whiter but was told that it is not advised on children's teeth.

I had white fillings many years ago, thinking I may have to have them replaced at a later date. They are still in situ (even on some chewing surfaces which are not meant to be as robust and hard-wearing)! I've had them for almost 30 years without needing replacements.

Go to another dentist, as others have said. You may have to pay, but it'll be worth it! The white fillings take no longer (or not much longer) than an amalgam, IME.

I've only ever had white fillings in back & front teeth and they seemed to be put it quite painlessly & quickly. Definitely find a nicer dentist with better communication skills and more empathy!

ThatBloodyWoman Wed 03-Sep-14 19:31:47
Sorry to deviate a bit, but is it the case that children are free at a private practice?

Some dentists who will see adults privately and children on the NHS. Some do not. All but one of the dentists I've worked for did. The other one had separate fees for children. No dentist I've worked for saw children for nothing.

My children have only had white filings. They also have their teeth scaled and polished every 6 months.

My dcs only had white fillings, not sure if it was private or nhs though. My practice is private for adults but kids are nhs I think, and I didn't have to pay for the white fillings for the dcs.