To be puzzled dentist put in amalgam filling!

[Sweetpotatoaddict]

Went to dentist today for replacement of a filling, scale and polish. At last appointment got quote for a white crown for my first molar on the top, at cost of £400. Am nhs patient currently free as have baby. All fillings put in recently have been white, and private when required. After treatment today was rinsing mouth out and noticed spitting out amalgam....... I wrongly assumed that filling would be white, why on earth would I pay £400 for a white crown when the tooth in front has a giant silver filling in it .
Aibu to think that surely the dentist should have at least asked what I wanted?

You probably should have specified tbh... did you say anything?

Yes they should have asked you. I'd go back and have it real done.

I didn't know dentists still actually did amalgam fillings

I got stung like this before christmas. After treatment I went to reception to book a follow up appointment and was handed a bill. I nearly fell over. I had no idea the dentist had put in two white fillings, I was not consulted before hand. I paid. And sat in my car silently weeping.
It seems it's a thing.

Free treatment would not automatically include white fillings unless very visible.

Free treatment is usually metal.

But if it's free treatment you're getting, you'll be getting nhs fillings, which are metal. You won't get white on the NHS.

As PP have said you won't get white free on the the NHS, and from your OP it sounds like you asked how much a white would be, but didn't confirm that's what you wanted and that you were willing to pay for it.

I've had white fillings as a pregnant NHS patient, so it's certainly possible.

I had previously had white on nhs so wrongly assumed the tooth requiring to be filled would qualify for a NHS white one.
The white crown quoted for was for the tooth behind. Would have had no issue paying for private white filling in tooth, my issue is that it wasn't even discussed what material the tooth would be filled with. I have had all new recent fillings in white, and any amalgams requiring replaced with white.

I did say to the dentist when he asked me when suited to come in for my impression for the white crown, that I felt a white crown was now pointless as I had a huge silver filling in the tooth infront and he hadn't even asked me or informed me what the tooth would be filled with. He did apologise, and said it could be redone in white but it's a little late now. I'm breastfeeding which he knew, and there is some suggestion that only essential drilling of amalgam should take place in lactating women.

I recently had a filling and checked beforehand that it would be white. The dentist said that it would only be white if the tooth was dry enough; if he couldn't get it dry enough it would be silver. Could this have happened in your case?

Why did you need a giant filling in the first place?

possibly because I have teeth

I understand that larger fillings will be amalgam on the NHS whereas smaller or more visible ones may be white. I had a mixture of both done recently as replacements/repairs to old fillings. The huge ones were amalgam unless I wanted to pay privately.

Yip, it just seems ridiculous to put an amalgam filling in as part of a treatment plan in the tooth in front of one the patient has asked for a white crown on.
Although with 2 little ones i never get a chance to look in the mirror, so I'm not even sure why I'm upset.

I've got teeth. Never had a giant filling though. maybe you need to look after them better. perhaps your dentist thinks you're not that bothered or you wouldn't need giant fillings

My NHS dentist said they only do white fillings in the front teeth.
It probably varies region to region though

NHS only provides amalgam unless it's a front tooth. Most dentists will let you top up whatever the NHS pay and choose a white filling - but if you're getting free treatment then it's NHS or nothing. Could be worse, they're making me have a metal crown as I have to go to the community dentist, although I would prefer to pay for the white one.

It's because you're having free treatment. If you'd wanted a white filling, you should have told them you wanted to pay for it.

Why is your crown costing £400 though? Mine is costing £230

Batfurger. What an awful thing to say. She may look after them perfectly well, but still need a filling. Most people have them during the course of their life. Perhaps if you haven't got any you are just lucky. My dentist told me recently that some people just have crumbly teeth, no matter how well they try and look after them. Some children get bad teeth if the pregnant mum gets chicken pox. Some people need fillings after anti biotics. So you can't say she should look after them better. The reason pregnant mums get free treatment whilst pregnant and for 12 months after is because pregnancy hormones effect teeth!!!!

Bollocks. 99% is down to looking after yourself.

Off to bed Bat, you've got school in the morning!

Yes OP, NHS free dental treatment is silver.

I had a filling recently and the evil dental therapist said it had to be silver as it was too big for a white on the NHS

Batfurger...Why do you think they get free treatment then? Google it!!!! Also try googling the effects of chicken pox whilst in the womb, and the effect of some antibiotics on teeth!!!! Honestly, not making it up at all. Not 99% at all!!!

Assuming the op is an adult then what happened while she was being gestated is of no consequence.

The NHS seem to think it's preventable just not MN.

Why was the therapist evil grumpy ?