micnic

Can anyone tell me what colour fillings are used by the school dentists.

My daughter has just been checked and needs two If they use the silver ones then I will be tempted to pay privately.

moneypenny20

OK my two pennyworth My girls both saw the school dentist, not too long after we got here but they had already seen a dentist privately. The school people said they needed treatment which, when I went back to our dentist, turned out to be not true. One of them did require something doing but our dentist didn't think it would be a good idea for a while. When I told the school people I didn't want it done, they got a bit arsey with me.

I think it's a great idea if you're stretched money wise but personally, I'd go the normal dentist route (English route ). Maybe we were unlucky but it seemed like they just wanted to up their numbers to get more government assistance money. Maybe completely wrong though.

micnic

My daughter saw the english dentist only 6 months ago so I do find it hard to believe that she would need two fillings so soon after her last check up. I think I will go private for a second opinion.

Thanks.

moneypenny20

Ahhhh, my next comment hopefully has no bearing on your old UK dentist but we thought ours was great, until we got here and the Aus guy found all sorts of problems that the UK hadn't but the school dentist picked up one thing and missed the others - anyway the girls were complicated but I didn't trust the school one. Most definitely get a second opinion. Can't remember how far away from us you are, but I can recommend a good practice down here.

micnic

i'm in Burleigh Waters. A recommendation would be good if it is near me. I thought our UK dentist was great - he has done my teeth since I was 3!!!
I'd like to think the school one has got it wrong - especially as our UK dentist has always said what good teeth my daughter had!

moneypenny20

There are probably plenty of good ones between here and you but I'll pm you their addy. My UK told me the girls teeth were excellent. Got here and the dentist called me in to show me a hole the size of the ozone hole in my youngest's tooth - not quite but....... he reckoned it must have been there at least two years - how crap did I feel The school dentist wanted to filll two tiny holes in baby teeth, one of which was very very close to falling out

Siren & Brian

But whats the problem with filling them as there is no cost at all ( well here in WA there isnt from school dentists)

moneypenny20

You don't go having needles, drills, proddy pokey things and then shove something in a child's mouth if it doesn't need doing. Well I don't anyway.

micnic

I agree. My 7 yr old was crying through anxiety when she learnt she needed to have two fillings. If I can avoid the upset, discomfort or pain then I will.

If it NEEDS doing then that is a different matter.

tum

In my primary shool years I went to the school dentist also (mind you, that is in the Netherlands). Those comments you made about not being sure if the fillings are necessary as well as the comments of Moneypenny made me shiver. Obviously I don't have many good memories of the school one. How is it possible that between ages 6 and 11 I had to have 4 molars extracted (if that's the word for it) and 4 molars filled!! And after that never had any cavities etc. again (I'm 38 now and yes I do go to the dentist every 6 months). Imo go with your gut feeling, get things checked and avoid dodgy school dentists. For the school dentists who are genuine please accept my apologues

Miranda

Rob12paws

I would be surprised if any fillings that might be necessary were anything other than composites (white/tooth coloured). We're in WA, but when we registered our girl with a dentist here, I made the mistake of saying that I didn't want her having mercury amalgams. Dentist looked at me as though I had suggested she might commit murder!! I was told very bluntly that dentists in Australia DO NOT use mercury amalgams, and most certainly not on children.

That was fine by me.

annn

As a dental nurse here in Australia I can assure you that Australia DOES still use Amalgam fillings. You can ask for composite (white) fillings but sometimes they are simply not the best to have, if your dentist is any good they'll explain the reasons for they're choice of filling material.

School dentists... They may not be dentists as such but therapists.

As for reasons that a deciduous (baby) tooth might be filled, It is possible that the decay may lead to an abscess, which inturn can lead to pain and possibly on to damage the bud of the adult tooth beneath. We tend not to fill kids teeth for fun

If you don't feel happy then find another dentist but never be afraid to ask questions, get the full picture. Sometimes when things are explained and it makes sense it makes the experience a whole lot better.

annn

micnic

thanks for that Annn

I have decided to get a 2nd opinion so will tell the school dentists that I don't want her treated. You are right, it is best to discuss matters - this is what i am struggling with - she saw school dentist on Wednesday of this week and they have booked her in for treatment on Tuesday! She was sent home with a piece of paper saying she needed two fillings but it does not say which teeth need to be filled! there is a telephone number to call to discuss but without either a diagram or the actual teeth to look at it is very hard to fully understand. My daughter indicated a couple of teeth to me but these are are canine and neighbouring tooth towards the front! Don't think that can be right!

I will see what the private dentist says and I shall try to remember to post the outcome.

Nicky

Rob12paws

Thanks for this, Ann. I am seeing her next week so will get her to clarify what she meant. Thought it was too good to be true!!

annn

Just to clarify a bit more..... White fillings are used much more than amalgam these days, but a dentist may still recommend amalgam, if you are told an amalgam would be better then that's because it would. Usually white will be fine but not always. As you have been told white is what your dentist will do so no worries. I was just bothered that after your first post others might think their own dentist dodgy if they had to have amalgam