Dentists

Mercury fillings given to millions of Britons every year can be dangerous, the world's biggest health regulator has warned.
Simply chewing could release harmful mercury vapour from the fillings which could be breathed into the lungs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
The regulator had previously advised U.S. dentists that the fillings are safe.

Despite the warning, the British Department of Health issued its own statement yesterday that it continued to believe mercury fillings posed no danger.

Patients in Britain have about eight million mercury fillings a year, a million of which are in children and young adults.
Campaigners blame the highly toxic mercury found in amalgam fillings for a range of ailments.

These include fatigue, depression heart conditions and Alzheimer's disease.

Earlier this month, the U.S. regulator dropped much of its reassuring language on the fillings from its website.

Instead it now says: 'Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and foetuses.'

It adds that mercury vapour is released when amalgam fillings are placed or removed, and during the chewing of food.
The FDA is now carrying out an urgent review of its rules and may end up banning mercury fillings.

Norway and Denmark banned mercury from fillings earlier this year while Finland and Japan have severe restrictions.
More than half of an amalgam filling is made up of mercury, which is more poisonous than lead.

It is mixed with silver, copper and tin, forming a highly durable combination to lock in the mercury.

But it is now accepted that mercury vapour escapes and small amounts are passed into the bloodstream and organs.
Some research suggests that this could be linked to high blood pressure, infertility, and disorders of the central nervous system.

Dentists themselves have been found to have high levels of mercury in their bodies and 500 practices in Britain refuse to offer mercury fillings.

Other evidence indicates mercury is safe.

A study of Portuguese and U.S. children found no difference in the rates of neurological symptoms between those with amalgam and those with mercury-free fillings.

Alternatives such as white fillings or glass resin composites cost more and some say are not as strong.

The Department of Health said the number of amalgam fillings in England and Wales had decreased by 15 per cent in the last year for which figures were available, 2004/2005.

A spokesman said: 'These fillings are a safe, durable and affordable cavity choice for dental patients that do not pose a health risk.'

This was supported by the British Dental Association, which said the FDA's decision was consistent with advice given to pregnant women in the UK to avoid dental 'intervention'.

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Mercury/Silver Fillings
An Historical Perspective and Update

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amalgam fillings in your mouth are poisoning you part 1

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amalgam fillings in your mouth are poisoning you part 2

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mercury amalgam fillings are toxic. Suzan nearly died from her toxicity, and as soon as she had them removed Dr Hesham El-Essawy, Holistic Dental Surgeon for the Safe Removal of Mercury Amalgam Fillings she started to live again.

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candles said:

I just got back from my first dentist appointment in years at a new NHS dentist surgery.

Anyway, i was given an x-ray and a white filling. I then went to the receptionist and she asked me if i had had a filling done. I said yes (but neglected to tell her it was a white one). She didn't ask if i had an xray done and i didn't think to tell her (i got told by a mate a minute ago that they cost aswell!)

Anyway, the whol bill was only £40 or so which is SO cheap. I feel guilty now tho, lol. Will they find out that it should cost more and send me a bill? Why dont the dentist and receptionist communicate?

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candles said:

That's what im saying.
By the looks of it ive only paid for a standard mercury filling>? (because its so cheap) and not for a whote filing or the x-ray... It was a fairly big filling on one of my bottom molars I think.

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JTrader said:

they should cost about £100 for a big one. a tiny one might cost £40 but not a big one!

u will probably get a phone call from them...........

When did u get it done? and did you get the white one as a result of seeing this thread!?

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UKtradergirl said:

the white fillings don't have mercury in them. I had a normal filling done when i was pregnant, so this stuff makes for shocking reading. Lucky my poor baby came out in one piece!

Candles- if you had your treatment on the NHS you normally pay a small amount. However it looks like what they have done with you is not charged you, if you are on benefits you get it completely free, if you are not on benefits they probably made a mistake! The £40 is the cost for a white filling as opposed to a normal one. (i know this because when i got my filling when i was pregnant, it was 100% free (because i was pregnant) and would have been £40 extra had i gone for the white filling).

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candles said:

I dont mind them sending me a bill. Got it done 10 minutes ago!


I just dont want them thinking i was trying to pull a fast one! lol.
I haven't been to a dentist in 10 years and and after the work was done she just said to me "45 mionute appointment.....did you a have a filing done?" I said "yes" (didn't even cross my mind to mention it was a white one or that i had an x-ray done)

Then she charged me £44

No, i always get white ones cos the look nicer.

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If you normally pay for NHS dental treatment, there are three standard charges. The amount you pay will depend on the level of treatment that you need.

NHS dental charges

The three NHS charge bands are listed below.

* Band 1 £16.20 - this charge includes an examination, diagnosis, and preventive advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, scale and polish, and planning for further treatment.
* Band 2 £44.60 - this charge includes all the necessary treatment that is covered by the £16.20 charge, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment, or extractions.
* Band 3 £198.00 - this charge includes all the necessary treatment that is covered by the £16.20 and £44.60 charges, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures, and bridges.

Dental treatment costs explained

If, within two months of completing a course of treatment, you require further treatment within the same charge band, or a lower charge band - for example, an additional filling - you do not have to pay anything extra.

However, if you need further dental treatment after two months of completing an earlier course of treatment, you will have to pay an additional charge.

If your initial treatment is classed as a separate, urgent treatment, it may not be included in any subsequent course of treatment that your require. For urgent dental treatment (including out-of-hours treatment), you will have to pay a separate charge of £16.20.

You will not have to pay for:

* denture repairs,
* the removal of stitches, or
* if your dentist has to stop blood loss.

There is also no charge if your dentist only has to write out a prescription. However, if you pay for prescriptions, you will have to pay the usual prescription charge upon collecting your medicines from the pharmacist.

Personal dental treatment plan

Before carrying out any band two, or three, dental treatment, your dentist should give you a personal dental treatment plan. You will be asked to read and sign the plan, which provides details of the dental work that your dentist is going to do, and the amount that you will have to pay.

If you have discussed having private treatment with your dentist, the details and costs of this treatment will be listed separately on your treatment plan. Before having dental treatment, you should talk to your dentist about the benefits of the treatment, plus any risks that are involved.

Paying for treatment

Your dentist is entitled to ask for your payment at any stage of your treatment. This may be before, during, or after, your treatment has taken place. As payment policies vary between practices, you should make sure that you ask your dentist about when you will have to make your payment.

Referral to another dentist

If you are referred to another dentist to complete a course of treatment, you will still only pay one charge. For NHS dentistry, this will be £16.20, £44.60, or £198.00. You will pay the full amount to the dentist who refers you.

If you are referred to a private dentist (and you accept this option) you will:

* pay the appropriate NHS band charge to the dentist who referred you, and
* pay a fee for the dental work that is carried out by the private dentist who you are referred to.

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