Old tooth fillings?

[droopydrawers]

Title: Old tooth fillings
Content: Prompted by needing a filling today I am thinking of asking about having the old silver ones removed for white ones.

I don't think they would do it via the NHS although my dentist does NHS work as he did on me today.

Does anyone have an idea of cost if I go private?

I hate going so to volunteer is almost a step too far !!!

DD

[boxtops]

why, though? My dentist is private and depending on the tooth, it can cost up to £250 for back tooth fillings. If they need replacing you will probably have them replaced in white anyway?

[boxtops]

^^ and yes, I don't think they'd do it on the NHS just for cosmetic reasons

[MANFROMPLUTO]

My dentist will not replace fillings just for cosmetic reasons as it weakens the tooth every time you drill into it. He will replace with white fillings privately when they come up for replacement for some other reason.

[Hopkirk]

I worry about the mercury in my mouthful of old fillings, but I guess the damage is already done.

It could explain a lot.

[sometimesit]

The stress of worrying about this is very negative on health.
What you need to do is draw up a course of research into this.
What I know is basically similar to the answers above.
I'm private and personally am no longer TERRIFIED of the Dentist.
The cost can be managed mine is about 10x the NHS but I get 75% back from a Medical Insurance that worked out cheaper that Denplan (for me).

When this was first on the TV about mercury fillings I was very alarmed and wanted them removed. However I have no ill effects and that must be about 25 years ago. I have gradually had them replaced in a phased way as a matter of course.
I would encourage you to not put yourself under stress about going to the Dentist and teach yourself to relax and communicate to the Dentist. My problem is not with pain at all but the fear of unknown. It took me nearly 40 years but look back and think how silly I was.

[boxtops]

sometimes, I used to be fearful of the dentist (I didn't go for years then needed a lot of treatment) but now I go regularly, it is about trusting the dentist, too.

[grannydi]

Amalgam fillings have been used for over a hundred years. Yes, the white fillings look better if you are prone to opening your mouth wide when laughing.
I have amalgam fillings in my mouth which have been there for 60+ years. And it hasn't worried me. What isn't broke don't try to mend.
As to cost, that will greatly vary according to the part of the counrty in which you live. London being the most expensive and the North cheapest.
Grannydi,Retired dentist

[SlackAlice]

If I have a new filling or have an old one redone then I'll pay to have a white filling. Would not consider drilling out good fillings to replace with white filling.

If it aint broke, don't fix it!!

[Prudie]

I've got some amalgam fillings that I've had since my teens. I've also had a few white fillings in more recent years but not one of them has lasted. I can understand wanting white ones from a cosmetic viewpoint though.