What would be your opinion of this ?

Question

I am 17 years old and I have a cavity on one of my back lower molars , I told my mum and asked her to phone the dental surgery for an appointment and also ask them if they could fit a white filling so I dont need to have a silver filling as it will show when I laugh , I have braces at the moment and I dont want a silver filling as my teeth are being fixed and I want them to look nice later on , my mum is going mad about how much it may cost and she thinks I am being vein although I think it is quite sensable ..what do you think?

Answer 1

Do they still do silver fillings? Check with the dentist.

Answer 2

There should be hardly a difference in the cost these days for the white filling.  If you were 50 that would be different and have a silver filling but you are 17 and have your whole life ahead of you.  You should have the white filling. Tell her to call me.  Good luck.  

Answer 3

You are right and quite sensible. Chances are that you have braces because you wanted to look better , so how much sense does it make to have one procedure done to look better but another procedure ... to look worse? It will probably cost you $200.

Answer 4

I don't think you can get white fillings done on molars on the NHS, just the front ones. NHS do the work needed, they don't do cosmetic work unless in extreme circumstances. Privately, it may well be a different case, though. However, assuming your parents are paying, then they have a point on the cost front. Different story if you paid it yourself.

However, it is a bit vain - lots of my friends have silver fillings in thier lower molars and I can assure you I haven't noticed them when they laugh. Even if I did notice them, I wouldn't say it made them any less attractive or anything.

I have them myself, they have never caused me to lose friends or anything, and no-one has ever said to me 'those fillings make you look ugly'.

Answer 5

I wish I'd been able to have white fillings when I was younger!  Try to find out from the dentist what the difference in cost is, I've had white ones and I don't think there was much in it.

I don't think you're being vain, white ones are better.

Answer 6

Hello,

I'm in the UK and here, the 'white' fillings have pretty much taken over from the silver 'amalgam' fillings for cavities of the biting surfaces.  Amalgam, as you know, is a mercury-based filling, and white, a.k.a. 'composite' fillings, are 'set' hard by shining an ultraviolet light on them.  

I don't think you're being vain, in fact I agree with you. It might be worth getting a quote for the relative dental costs, - - composite may not be as much as your Mum expects.  Another tack you could try, is to say that you're worried about the recent publicity, suggesting that the mercury from amalgam fillings leaks out into the rest of the body, (although that's not in fact as serious as the hype suggests).  

Also, I think you should want the minimum amount of tooth tissue drilling out, before the cavity is filled.  Because you can't get a re-issue of tooth tissue.  If you have to get an amalgam filling now, drilled out and replaced in a few years' time, when you have money of your own, - -  you will end up with less tooth tissue of your own, than if you had had composite put in at the start.

If your Mum thinks you have a whole mouth full of cavities, and you don't in fact look after your teeth, these arguments may have less force!!

I hope this is of some help.

Best wishes,

Belliger  (retired uk doctor)

Answer 7

on the nhs its just silver ones i think , so you would have to pay for it privatly, but even so i don't thinks that much for one white filling, like maybe 70quid, which isn't much when you really want it doing it and its there for life..or unitl it needs replaying. your 17 do you not have a part time job?

Answer 8

Maybe you should work until you can buy it your self. Let your mum pay for it then promise you will pay her back with intrest.

Answer 9

Although white will look nice, it is not always the best option, there are a few reasons for this, white fillings usually aren't as hard wearing as silver fillings(amalgam) and may need to be replaced sooner than what a silver filling would. also if it is a large cavity a silver filling is best and will last a long time, but I can't imagine that you open your mouth that big when you laugh! If you are having orthodontic work then i'm sure that your oral hygeine should be quiet good and that the cavity is quiet small?? Some Dentists charge privatly for white fillings so be careful of the cost. This sounds like a choice you and your mam are going to have to make together, maybe ask the Dentist to explain the pro's and cons'. you are being sensible as you have taken this time to make your teeth nice so you want to keep them that way, my advise to you would be all the above and don't eat as many sugary things then you wont need fillings and you will have a nice straight smile...good luck.

Answer 10

You are vain and very shallow

Answer 11

do u work?? becuz if i were u i would try to pay for it myself.. same situation different scenarios!!! my mom doesnt wnt topay for braces but i am

Answer 12

i don't think they do white fillings on the NHS anymore....my dentist wouldn't do me one unless i paid privately...which i did.

i am with you on this one...metal fillings look awful...so save up & get a white one.