White Fillings
Discussion
I have an appointment next week to have 2 fillings.
The first is to replace a white filling in a root filled tooth (5th from the front, top left) and this qualifies for treatment at the NHS rate.
The second is a new filling (5th from the front, bottom right) but this apparently doesn't qualify for the NHS rate. If I want a white filling in that tooth it'll have to be done privately at a charge of £85.
Now I know that the NHS will only pay for white fillings in front teeth normally so why the difference between the two teeth in this case ? What do the NHS class as a front tooth ?
The first is to replace a white filling in a root filled tooth (5th from the front, top left) and this qualifies for treatment at the NHS rate.
The second is a new filling (5th from the front, bottom right) but this apparently doesn't qualify for the NHS rate. If I want a white filling in that tooth it'll have to be done privately at a charge of £85.
Now I know that the NHS will only pay for white fillings in front teeth normally so why the difference between the two teeth in this case ? What do the NHS class as a front tooth ?
Sounds like rubbish to me. I went to an NHS dentist about a crack in one of my back teeth last year. I asked about having it filled white, and she said they ALWAYS recommend having white fillings. Would still have been done on the NHS, just a little more expensive.
As it happens I decided to go private...I'd seen toilets at music festivals that were cleaner than the waiting room at the NHS dentist.
As it happens I decided to go private...I'd seen toilets at music festivals that were cleaner than the waiting room at the NHS dentist.
Thanks for the replies so far guys.
From what I've been reading on t'net the NHS charge will cover white fillings in front teeth or on the sides of other teeth but not the biting surface of molars. It seems that both of the affected teeth are second pre-molars (every day is a school day !
) but I'm still not sure why the new filling can't be done as part of the course of treatment to fix the old filling as it'll be fairly visible when I open my mouth.
To make matters worse part of the affected tooth has detatched itself this afternoon and the cavity is considerable so the filling will be larger than I first expected.
From what I've been reading on t'net the NHS charge will cover white fillings in front teeth or on the sides of other teeth but not the biting surface of molars. It seems that both of the affected teeth are second pre-molars (every day is a school day !
) but I'm still not sure why the new filling can't be done as part of the course of treatment to fix the old filling as it'll be fairly visible when I open my mouth. To make matters worse part of the affected tooth has detatched itself this afternoon and the cavity is considerable so the filling will be larger than I first expected.
Steve748 said:
If there is a lot broken off the tooth you may have to have a crown. I have just had a back one done with a white crown £495 
Go visit the dental hospital and see what they say?
crikey, £495! i just wouldn't be able to afford that. dental hospital can be an involved affair - i had about 6 trips over 3 weeks to have the 2 root canals, a white filling and a ceramic crown - but at least its free. i'm guessing what i had done would have been £1000+ privately. Go visit the dental hospital and see what they say?
t, don't bother.shirt said:
Steve748 said:
If there is a lot broken off the tooth you may have to have a crown. I have just had a back one done with a white crown £495
Go visit the dental hospital and see what they say?
crikey, £495! i just wouldn't be able to afford that. dental hospital can be an involved affair - i had about 6 trips over 3 weeks to have the 2 root canals, a white filling and a ceramic crown - but at least its free. i'm guessing what i had done would have been £1000+ privately. Go visit the dental hospital and see what they say?
as far as I can remember they only give white fillings free if when you smile you can see them. I had every black filling replaced the other year for white ones bout £65 each if I remember right. no regrets as yet. I once had a back tooth removed by the nhs, shocking experience remember spitting mouthfulls of blood out the car window on the way home..... I look after my teeth now!
crackthatoff said:
as far as I can remember they only give white fillings free if when you smile you can see them.
I'll be annoyed if that is true because I had to have a root filling in my front tooth 5 years ago after I was hit in the mouth by snow/ice ball, which severed the nerve, and I wasn't offered a free white filling. Consequently I now have a slightly grey tooth!Calitri said:
My dentist told me that although white fillings look better they only last half as long (ish). When they do need replacing they will have given a third less protection to the cavity than a silver one, and it therefore the cavity gets alittle bigger as you go on?
Can anyone confirm?
I havge heard this too. however i always opt for white. i have one amalgam in my mouth under my gold crown and when this fails i guess i will have the tooth root treated and then have cosmetically perfect teeth.Can anyone confirm?
my children do not have metal fillings. one son has aspergers syndrome and i feel his brain has enough to cope with without mercury in his bloodstream.
Calitri said:
My dentist told me that although white fillings look better they only last half as long (ish). When they do need replacing they will have given a third less protection to the cavity than a silver one, and it therefore the cavity gets alittle bigger as you go on?
Can anyone confirm?
Utter utter garbage.Can anyone confirm?
The only reason he is saying that is because he has no clue how to place them correctly.
The simple reason is that dentists only improve their skills with extensive postgraduate training and composite and ceramic bonding techniques are not taught adequately at dental school.
Mojooo said:
amalgam (silver) fillings) are definitley definitley stronger than white ones. I have had multiple white ones replaced with silver and they are much better/stronger.
While they might have a more wear resistant surface than plastic composite fillings, they are far more likely to induce cracked teeth.Porcelain white fillings are easily as strong as metal and possess a far superior seal and protective nature (again when placed properly)
The problem is that not that many dentists actually use them and they certainly are not economically viable on the NHS.
If I was having a filling, I would only have a white composite (if it was small) or a porcelain filling if it was a bit larger.
There is no need to use amalgam at all. Any dentists wanting to dispute this should argue with Pascal Magne.
peterpeter said:
Mojooo said:
amalgam (silver) fillings) are definitley definitley stronger than white ones. I have had multiple white ones replaced with silver and they are much better/stronger.
While they might have a more wear resistant surface than plastic composite fillings, they are far more likely to induce cracked teeth.Porcelain white fillings are easily as strong as metal and possess a far superior seal and protective nature (again when placed properly)
The problem is that not that many dentists actually use them and they certainly are not economically viable on the NHS.
If I was having a filling, I would only have a white composite (if it was small) or a porcelain filling if it was a bit larger.
There is no need to use amalgam at all. Any dentists wanting to dispute this should argue with Pascal Magne.
Good knowlege... can we assume you have been waiting for this thread for some time!
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