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Original poster

NHS "metal" fillings versus private white ones for my 5 year old

17 replies

arabella2 · 11/01/2007 15:48

Hello
My son has a decay between two of his back teeth. The dentist says his own kids have the mercury containing fillings and since they are milk teeth (which however only fall out about the age of 10 or 11) he doesn't recommend going for the expensive white ones. Still I am doubtful about my child having mercury in his mouth even if we all do but it seems unfair - does anybody know anything about this??

OP posts:
Mumpbump · 11/01/2007 15:51

Do fillings still have mercury in them? Even if they do, with the amount of litigation, scientific knowledge and regulation that you have nowadays, I can't believe they could pose any risk to health... However, I have no idea, so hopefully someone better qualified than myself will be along to offer an opinion...

bluejelly · 11/01/2007 16:03

There's no proof that mercury in fillings is dangerous.
No point shelling out for white ones I reckon

WeaselMum · 11/01/2007 16:05

I had a number of white fillings done which had all fallen out within four years - don't know if this was just my rubbish dentist but I think it might be worth asking how long white fillings would last. Would be annoying to have to re-do them before the teeth fell out!

suedonim · 11/01/2007 17:04

Our dentist only uses white fillings and I have some she did around 20yrs ago. None of them has ever had to be renewed.

wartywarthog · 11/01/2007 20:22

i still have a white filling that's over 20 years old. no signs of needing it replaced. don't know anything about mercury though.

sandcastles · 11/01/2007 22:30

While I agree that white fillings these days are a very good alternative to amalgam fillings & can last for years, I wouldn't spend money on white fillings for baby teeth...waste of time & money.

They can be tricky to do & rely on 100% co-operation from the patient. At 5 it can be very difficult for a child to sit still long enough for white fillings to be done. If he isn't co-operative they can fall out, leading to replacements being needed.

The mercury content is very low these days & there is no known risk.

Judy1234 · 11/01/2007 23:05

Interesting. My son had a white one from our NHS dentist - no charge. Last week he had to have it put in again. My metal fillings have lasted for years.

fortyplus · 11/01/2007 23:13

I only have 4 fillings - they're all white ones - just had to have one redone after about 15 years.

My Dentist will do both NHS & Private work.

ds2 had one back molar that emerged without a complete enamel coating, so it had to have a filling - I insisted on a white one as I don't like the look of the others. My dentist was happy for me to sign the NHS form that paid him for an amalgam filling - then he charged me the difference in cost.

My dentist has told me that white ones should last longer as they'bond' with the tooth - the amalgam ones are a 'filler' to put in the gap for want of a better description.

But my decision is for purely aesthetic reasons - I think it was proved a long time ago that amalgam fillings are perfectly safe.

sandcastles · 12/01/2007 00:26

fortyplus, they do bond to the tooth, this is one reason why they are better than amalgam fillings....BUT they rely on a totally dry surface to bond to. If there is any moisture between the tooth & filling it will fail. It is near on impossible to get a totally dry surface for children, believe me...I've tried!

Amalgam filling rely on a 'lock' if you like. Where the toothis cut in a special way to cause an anchor for the filling. They do warrent a bit more toothy surface to be removed for this, but the area doesn't have to rely on total dryness for them to work.

I am surpirsed he let you sign off an amlagam filling but did a white one...they aren't allowed to do that! If your son should be called by the Dental Health officer your dentist could get in trouble!

Xenia, it's to do with the bonding. White filling are very good, but the conditions have to be spot on!

RoundTheBend · 12/01/2007 00:38

My DD has white fillings on the NHS too. I was surprised when the dentist asked what would we like and there was no charge.

sandcastles · 12/01/2007 00:41

Some teeth can be filled on the NHS with white fills. Depends on the circumstances tho..

ruty · 12/01/2007 11:08

'there's no proof that mercury in fillings is dangerous.' Well, there is proof that mercury is very dangerous. And metal fillings are 50% mercury. And alzheimers sufferers are found to have 50% more mercury in their brains than those not affected. Where did the mercury come from then? Fish? probably. Metal fillings? Probably. And fillings release quite a lot of mercury vapour when being put in and for a while after, so i would make sure my own child got white fillings only.

CocoLoco · 12/01/2007 11:56

My 3 year old has had white fillings on the NHS (no enamel on 2 teeth) but they have fallen out.

ruty · 12/01/2007 14:11

some dentists are better than others at putting white ones in. Metal ones are easier to put in i've been told. i would ask your dentist before you go. I have white fillings that i had put in 10 years ago.

fortyplus · 12/01/2007 21:32

I think you're allowed a white NHS filling if it's near the front but not on a molar?

sandcastles · 12/01/2007 22:40

fortyplus, yes that is right.

paulaplumpbottom · 12/01/2007 22:47

If they are going to fall out the metal ones should be fine if they are back teeth

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