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ljd4
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 58 total posts
Name:
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Filling in baby tooth
Hi everyone,
My son had a cavity in one of his baby teeth and the dentist filled it with a silver filling. I didn't realize it until the next morning and was shocked, I didn't think that anyone used those anymore. When I called the office, they explained that it is too hard to get a tooth colored filling in a child, because the mouth has to be totally dry when doing it, also that they do not last as long. I'm not totally comfortable with this, and was wondering if I could get some feedback from some of you-thanks!
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Posted 9/9/11 8:02 AM  |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My daughter had 2 baby molars that needed to have fillings. They were both silver. It's my understanding that they don't have mercury in them anymore (I'm assuming that's what you're worried about)
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| Posted 9/9/11 8:30 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
Silver fillings DO have mercury in them.
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| Posted 9/9/11 9:15 AM |
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Melbernai
I am a lucky Momma!
Member since 7/05 15652 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My daughter has a silver filling. I didn't even think about the mercury part. I have never had a cavity and so I didn't even think of that! I will be bringing her in for a cleaning in October, so will ask about it then. I didn't question the silver, I just figured that the tooth will fall out soon enough so I wasn't worried about it for cosmetic reasons. It is a top molar also so it's not very visible.
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| Posted 9/9/11 9:28 AM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My DD also needed to have fillings in 2 molars and she too has the silver ones. I believe the reason for the choice was that they are harder than the white ones and therefore will last longer. I'm not totally sure of the reasoning, but it made sense to me at the time the dentist was explaining my options.
ETA: I just read on the FDA website that the level of mercury in dental fillings is below the level that is considered dangerous. Even in people with 15 silver fillings, the mercury levels in the blood is "far below the lowest levels associated with harm". BUT, it only mentions safety in people 6 and older. Probably b/c it hasn't been studied in children younger, but who knows. I think for DD's next fillings (she needs 2 more) I will be asking for the white ones since she just turned 5.
Message edited 9/9/2011 9:33:37 AM.
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| Posted 9/9/11 9:28 AM |
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My DC is going in for dental work this week and we demanded the white fillings because of the mercury in the silver fillings.
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| Posted 9/11/11 9:30 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
Posted by pharmcat2000
My DD also needed to have fillings in 2 molars and she too has the silver ones. I believe the reason for the choice was that they are harder than the white ones and therefore will last longer. I'm not totally sure of the reasoning, but it made sense to me at the time the dentist was explaining my options.
ETA: I just read on the FDA website that the level of mercury in dental fillings is below the level that is considered dangerous. Even in people with 15 silver fillings, the mercury levels in the blood is "far below the lowest levels associated with harm". BUT, it only mentions safety in people 6 and older. Probably b/c it hasn't been studied in children younger, but who knows. I think for DD's next fillings (she needs 2 more) I will be asking for the white ones since she just turned 5.
I know that is what they say, however, when the stuff is considered toxic waste at the dental office, it doesn't leave me with a good feeling putting it in my child's mouth.
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| Posted 9/12/11 8:00 AM |
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ljd4
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 58 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I don't know if I should have them take the filling out or if that would be too much for my son, maybe I will just insist on the tooth colored ones in the future and if they will not do it, then find a new dentist. The thing that really gets me is that I looked up when the tooth usually falls out and not until aruound age 11 so he will have it for 3 years or more.
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| Posted 9/12/11 9:06 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
Posted by ljd4
Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I don't know if I should have them take the filling out or if that would be too much for my son, maybe I will just insist on the tooth colored ones in the future and if they will not do it, then find a new dentist. The thing that really gets me is that I looked up when the tooth usually falls out and not until aruound age 11 so he will have it for 3 years or more.
I honestly wouldn't worry too much since it's just one filling. I've switched practices over the filling issue though. There are many that just will not do a white filling on kids. My son won't sit for a filling, and needs a couple, so we found a new place (Kidsmiles in Holbrook), and he'll have it done under sedation and get the white fillings
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| Posted 9/12/11 9:14 AM |
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Michelle913
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/06 645 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My daughter had a molar filled recently and they used a white filling. I wasn't comfortable with the silver. Her dentist said they only use white.
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| Posted 9/12/11 11:38 AM |
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DML
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 567 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My son has a few fillings - they are all white. however, if they are on baby teeth, don't forget, they do fall out ina few years.
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| Posted 9/12/11 1:43 PM |
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curley999
Family!
Member since 5/05 2314 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
My DD has had several fillings and they are all the white composite ones. Her dentist said that they do not use the silver ones at all for both apperance and health in children.
Message edited 9/12/2011 2:19:15 PM.
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| Posted 9/12/11 2:18 PM |
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ljd4
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 58 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
What dentists do you go to if they only do white fillings? I may switch.
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| Posted 9/12/11 3:13 PM |
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MikesBride
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 1245 total posts
Name:
Ilana
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
If it makes you feel better I got a ton of cavities as a kid and all my fillings were silver...I'm totally fine. 
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| Posted 9/12/11 6:18 PM |
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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
DD has one filling in her baby molar and its white. We use Kiddsmiles.
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| Posted 9/13/11 11:35 AM |
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Michelle913
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/06 645 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
Adelberg and montalvan in nesconset. They are wonderful!
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| Posted 9/13/11 2:21 PM |
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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
DS is 5 and just had a filling done and it was white. We go to Kiddsmiles too. They didn't ask what we wanted. They just did the white.
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| Posted 9/14/11 10:31 AM |
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ljd4
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 58 total posts
Name:
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Re: Filling in baby tooth
Too bad our insurance doesn't cover pediatric dentists. 
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| Posted 9/14/11 11:44 AM |
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