So... my son needs to have some fillings put in. I can't believe it. We were good about brushing but not flossing and all the cavaties are small but between his teeth. I feel guilty because it's totally my fault ( a 4 year old can't floss).
Anyway, we are trying to decide whether to do white or silver fillings. The teeth are in the back of his mouth and are all baby teeth that will fall out. The dentist is trying to convince me to go with silver, but I really want to do the composite (tooth colored). The cost difference is minimal so I think why not spend the little bit extra and get the nicer looking ones. My husband says I am being silly and should go with the silver because there is easier maintenance and they will fall out soon anyway.
So... moms... give me your opinion. What have you done/would you do and why?
go for the silver one!!! I got one when I was young, and I LOVED my silver tooth! my dad used to be able to make me cry by putting some tin foil on his tooth, and telling me that he "stole" my silver tooth. lol. It's cheaper, and since it's in the BACK of his mouth, nobody will notice too much.
Husband is right Mom, why waste even a little $ on baby teeth that won't be there too much longer..
The silver amalgam ones include mercury, which is toxic, and once in the body, is hard to get out. There's a belief in some medical circles that mercury is gradually released from the fillings and can add significantly to the toxic load every modern person carries in their organs, bones, fat, and even breast milk. Because the most mercury is released when the fillings are new, I would avoid it for just that reason alone, even though those fillings will eventually fall out.
I became seriously ill with chemical sensitivities over 20 years ago, and my doctor convinced me to have ALL of my silver amalgam fillings replaced with gold. Each time I went for removal of one section of my teeth, I followed immediately with several hours of an intravenous chelating agent to remove whatever free mercury I had inhaled or swallowed during the dental procedure. It was a grueling summer, and horribly expensive (probably much more so now, with the price of gold at an all-time high), but it did seem to help my health overall.
My dentist has been replacing my old silver fillings due to the concern of mercury. Many dentists don't even use silver fillings anymore. My 4 year old also has a lot of cavities, and I felt awful as well!! I don't think our dentist even offered silver fillings as an option... I do know that she recommended the composite. Look online to see what the merit is with silver fillings and concerns with mercury. I just took my dentist at his word and have never really looked into it much. (My husband's dentist... yeah, I know, weird we have different dentists) said the same thing about silver fillings.
I would say composite but thats just me. And don't be too harsh on yourself teeth issues are a lot genetic. So if it runs in either side of the family no reason to feel bad.
We only use the composite (white) fillings, and never the mercury (silver) fillings. The silver fillings can have health implications, like heavy metal toxicity. They are terrible for a forming mind. Research the dangers of silver fillings and then decide. We actually go to a dentist who will only do composites. He won't allow any of his staff to have mercury fillings (yes, it is mercury, the same thing that they supposedly took out of vaccines because of the dangerous side-effects). Even if you are looking into this for cosmetic reasons, I'm so glad you are looking into it!!
My Pediatric Dentist only uses white. He says kids are cruel and why give them ammunition. He is one of he few we found to actually only use white. He is in OKC and we drive over 125 miles to get to him but he is WELL worth the effort on our part to go twice a year.
Kids enamel is inherited and tooth brushing and flossing has little to do with how their teeth are at this age. It really is genetics. If he is brushing his teeth regularly, once a day or more then he is fine. I have one who won't brush his teeth for anything and has perfect teeth and one who brushes a lot and has 4 fillings and one cap, the cap is due to a fall and tooth breaking off.
I believe Dr. Lee, they will fall out soon but if you can choose and don't have to pay too much extra then insist on white, or go to another Pediatric Dentist and find one who'll do white. Once the little ones are asleep it only takes a few minutes for the fillings to be done, K was only under about an hour for all 4 fillings and the cap, and the cap took the longest. The other kids in the surgery center that were just getting fillings were in and out in about 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
If the cavities are in the back of the mouth... silver is fine.
My daughter has those, too.
Its fine.
It is not an 'appearance' issue, if it is in the back of the mouth.
My daughter has no problem about it nor do we. And she has no problem with it if someone sees in her mouth if her mouth is open that big.
It is not visible.. like say how it would be if it were the front teeth.
And yes, it is just baby teeth.
Composites.. have some shrinkage as well, from what I hear, as it sets. Thus new cavities can still occur.
good luck,
Susan
Go with the silver! This is my reason....
When I was 6 or 7 years old. I had 8 cavities (diagnosed in 1 visit).When the dentist informed my parents of his discoveries my mom said, "Thats impossible; she doesn't have any tooth pain, her smile is white & healthy, and she wanted to get 2nd opinion
The second dentist said I had 9 cavities due to improper brushing. He scolded my parents because they didn't show/supervise me how to brush my teeth. The procedure took 3 visits...I hated it
Overall
** I learned the importance of going to bed each night with a clean mouth. I learned that you can't undo bad habits just learn & improve.I also learned it didn't matter if someone asked/told me to brush because no matter what I was the 1 who will have to visit the dentist.
My silver fillings lasted a long time & my new white teeth that came after (no cavities) I was proud of.
Silver lasts longer the white aren't necessary unless it was a front tooth
-Good luck!
Here is my fyi my son too has caviaties not poor hygiene genetically prone to them yes baby teeth will fall out but we don't want to let them go due to adult teeth are right above and could possibly harm them.All the dentists have pulled silver tooth fillings out of their office for "children due to mercury exposure" they are nolonger used at all where i'm from they use composite only which is more expensive than you think my 1 tooth alone was over $100 no coverage by insurance since i'm an adult they still do silver fillings.
Tooth color fillings all the way. Any time I see a child with silver, no matter where the filling is, I think, "Poor kid". I also think "Oh, they went to the free dentist clinic."
I used to be a first grade teacher and you would be surprised to know how far one can see into the mouth of a kid.
You don't know exactly when these teeth will fall out, kids' teeth have a range in which they come out, what if your child is a late baby tooth looser?
My "personal" opinion is to get the white fillings.. A couple of my friends kids have silver fillings and it just doesn't look good.. I know there going to fall out BUT if the price difference isn't that much I would do the white fillings to match the teeth...
I understand where you are coming from. I find it so sad when children open their mouths and have a mouth full of silver teeth. Not to say anything bad about anyone... it just doesn't look good. I suggest going with the white. That is what I would do.
My daughter, 6, just had her first filling last month. We/I chose the silver filling, the dentist told us that the silver fillings were easier to work with, tended to last a little longer and be a bit stronger. I don't know if there is much truth to that BUT I do have one enamel colored filling in my mouth and it has never felt quite 'right'...this is the only filling I have ever had, so I don't know if there is a difference. My daughter's filling is in the back of her mouth, and you can't even see it unless you know it's there and you are looking for it, or she is being a lion and roaring, lol!
DON'T do silver! My daughter had to have a silver cap put on one of her very back teeth and like another mom mentioned, no matter how far back it is, I always still see it and I'm sure others do to. The dentist said I had no other option, that the cavity was too bad and they had to cap it so I took her word and wish I had gotten a second opinion. I think caps are "easier" for the dentist then the whitening but do what's best for your son and at least your dentist offered you options, unlike mine! Also, my DD cried for a few hours after having it put in, she kept saying it hurts really bad, I've never had one so I couldn't relate but every time I called the dentist, she kept saying give her some motrin and it will feel better soon. I felt TERRIBLE seeing her in so much pain, she was better the next day but if I could take it all back, I would have scooped her right out of that dentist chair before they did the silver cap and gotten a second opinion. Get the whitening for your son, it looks so natural and may fall off within a year but it's easy to get re-done and looks (and feels) so much better for the child. Good luck with everything.
From what I understand the silver fillings are not good for the overall health of anyone. It can cause heavy metal toxins in the child's system.....I would not get the silver and anyone in the family with silver ones I would have removed and re-filled with the white.
