Any dentists who can advise on a filling?

[yellowraincoat]

Would be really grateful if anyone could advise me. Just been to see my dentist and I need a root canal and filling in one tooth. The tooth is going to be pretty much all filling by the time they're done, it's a huge hole.

She recommended a white filling rather than metal, but obviously it costs a lot more (£125 more in fact.) Is it really worth it? She said it would be less likely to crack if I got a white one - does this happen a lot with metal fillings?

I did ask her, but would love a second opinion. Not too bothered about the cosmetics because it's right at the back.

bump

there was a dentist on the 'im in love with my dentist thread... will link

here

I understood the opposite: that white fillings don't last as long as amalgam. In fact, have just had to have a cracked white filling removed (it lasted about 4 years) and replaced with amalgam on the NHS.

Thanks for the bump, ivy, and thanks for the link PsychicSatsuma.

That's interesting woolly - I had never heard of amalgam fillings not lasting as long, and really not keen on shelling on £125 if I don't need to.

White fillings stick to teeth whereas silver ones are held in by the shape of the cavity. If there is some enamel to bond to but not much tooth to drill then sometimes White is preferable.

It's best to ask your dentist why they have made that decision as there are literally hundreds of reasons why one or the other may be best.

Thank you Grumpy. Like I said, dentist said that there would be such a big hole that the metal filling would crack the remaining tooth. I'd just never heard it before.

Spose I'll be shelling out the £125 then. Bah. Stupid teeth.