Dental work in pregnancy - should this be free?

[afrikat]

I have had 2 large fillings fall out in the past week and I need to get inlays to fix the teeth (basically half a crown). Because these will need to be white (I don't want enormous metal blocks in my mouth and also worried about the mercury) the dentist said it will not be free and will cost £300+

I have friends who are also pregnant who are saying it should all be free and their dentists gave them white fillings for free.

Anyone any experience or is there somewhere I could get a definitive answer? The NHS website just says that 'if you are pregnant you do not need to pay for your dental treatment' but then other sites I have checked said that cosmetic dentistry (ie white stuff) isn't free...

I don't really have time to find a new dentist to get a 2nd opinion as I currently have 2 teeth with big holes and sharp edges that I am scared will crack more if I leave them much longer...

White fillings are cosmetic you can only get them as a private patient.

Yes, NHS work should be free. But I don't think you can get white fillings on the NHS. My dentist once gave me a white filling for free while I was pregnant but he said it was because it was very small. It sounds like you'll need large fillings, so if you want them white it'll be classed as private work, and therefore paid for.

Actually no, I'm wrong!

No you have to pay extra for white fillings. I was quoted £140 for 2 white fillings

white fillings NHS apparently

I would have thought white ones would attract a premium I'm afraid. I pay denplan so I get them on those tho I'm technically losing out on free check ups when pregnant!

But now I've seen that link I'm not so sure! Maybe print that off and take it in?

Your dentist is required to provide treatment to secure your oral health. If the most economical way to do that is with metal fillings or onlays (a very big difference between the way "fillings" are made and "onlays" are made) then that is available on the NHS. Otherwise, you have to pay.

I had white fillings on the NHS. It was some years ago, but I thought they'd stopped using the metal stuff (probably wrong though).

Yes, very wrong.

It ought not to be used now though; it's a health hazard!

I was offered mercury fillings free post pregnancy but told white ones would be private as there was no medical reason not to have metal (although I was bfing).

If they've offered you the metal ones for free then I think they've met their obligation, unless you can show you need white ones and can't have metal.

It's clearly never been proven to be a health hazard, otherwise they wouldn't be using it.

That NHS website says
"Fillings are used to repair a cavity in your tooth caused by decay. The most common type of filling is dental amalgam, made from a mixture of mercury and different metals. Dental amalgam fillings are often used on your back teeth as they are hard-wearing.
Your dentist will offer you the type of filling most appropriate for your clinical (medical) needs. This may include a tooth-coloured (white) filling. For example, if you need a filling for one of your front teeth, your dentist may suggest a tooth-coloured filling, but the use of tooth coloured fillings on back teeth is considered purely cosmetic."

White fillings are a health hazard and contain many chemicals I wouldn't want in my child. Do some research before scaremongering.

Entirely depends on the dentist in my experience. My dad's dentist only does white fillings for both front and back, as NHS treatment because he's not happy about mercury.

My dentists have generally done white fillings at the front, and metal at the back on the NHS, but I'd have to pay for white at the back.

My current dentist does white fillings for pregnant women (because of the mercury again - I don't know about crowns) for free, both front and back.

And hijacking! If there is a medical reason you can't have silver fillings then the NHS will pay. Please note that onlays aren't generally made of the same stuff as silver fillings.

You dot have to pay for white fillings I have white fillings on the NHS but maybe it's just my dentist is nice ;)

You should pay for white fillings on the NHS, shell. Whether your dentist charges you or not is another matter entirely. But they are entitled to, and should.

My fillings have been gold recently. I also have a white filling on the front of a tooth but its only noticeable if I grin Cheshire cat style.

All done on NHS exemption.

Mercury fillings are no longer allowed in several European countries article and research papers on the effects of mercury here.

Mrsmorton I can't find anything to say that white fillings are bad for your health. Please link.

Bis gma is known for its oestrogenicity, have a google if you're that interested.

Of course, no fillings is always the best answer

Have done some research and it seems if it was a front tooth white would be free but as they are both back teeth it is classed as cosmetic therefore only metal is free. So I either lose my vanity and save some money or accept I need to pay to avoid having metal on show at the back. I think some of my friends just had v generous dentists!

Op, do you have any existing mercury fillings? If not, I would ask for a temporary non mercury filling and would not have a mercury filling put in while you are pregnant. PM me if you want.