Any dentists on here/ people with dental filling experiences?

[katem98]

Hi all, it sounds ridiculous but I am absolutely petrified of the dentist. I need 2 fillings and I have just booked one in for September. The dentist advised I pay extra (£200) for a white filling. This is quite a bit compared to the £75 for the silver filling.
She said that the silver filling can be more painful than the white as they remove more of the tooth. I have so many outgoings coming up and would prefer to just pay the £75! Is it really worth having the white filling pain wise? I’m not worried about the look of the silver as it is located right at the back of my mouth. Any experience hugely appreciated!

I've had amalgams and composites. Last time he gave me composites for the same price as amalgam. But if they're in the back of your mouth you don't need white fillings.

I'd be really suspicious of the dentist saying the amalgam fillings will hurt more?! Fillings aren't supposed to hurt at all. Other than the injection. So that sounds like a dodgy dentist to me. Who's hustling you for more money.

I had a silver filling 2 months ago, took about 2 weeks to settle down and getting use to. Didn't feel no pain i was so nervous I worn me airpods, was done within 10 mins if less. 😀xx

I'm terrified of the dentist but I now see a lovely one (NHS) who uses the numbing gel before injecting me.
Wish I'd found her when I was younger as I'd have gone regularly and might not have ended up with dentures.

I just had an onlay fitted and the anaesthetic didn't work very well and I had to have 3 injections. I can't have the ones with adrenaline in though so can be slightly less effective. If there's any pain at all they will numb you more.

I am actually allergic to amalgam fillings so all mine are white and I have quite a few. They are fine in my experience but sometimes need replacing after 10-15 years.

I appreciate that this will not affect the UK due to Brexit, but the EU prohibited the use of amalgam fillings in January of this year except when it is absolutely medically necessary (ie allergy to the other type).

It might be worth reading up on why before opting for amalgam fillings.

https://dentistry.co.uk/2024/11/08/dental-amalgam-everything-you-need-to-know-about-its-use-and-ban/

On a purely technical aspect amalgam filling are called that because they were ( are?) an ' amalgam' of various metals, not least part of which was ( is?) mercury...well known for its poisinous properties ! I would avoid having the amalgam if possible just because of that alone but 'horses for courses'...I had a low income childhood and my mouth is like a scrap metal yard with all the amalgam fillings. The white fillings must be cheap as chips to make but yet another example of rip off Britain, they are sold at a premium ...sigh !

With all of the handling and disposal requirements I’d think that amalgam fillings aren’t necessarily that cost effective.

Why? The mercury is inert in its amalgam form

I have only two fillings. One was done 25 years ago maybe. It was done in silver and lasted a couple of years if that. Filled with white and has stayed in ever since. Other is silver right at the back and I don't expect it to last long as it's half the tooth pretty much and I'm a grinder.