I went to a pediatric dentist who said children can’t get white fillings, but I have a friend who gets them for her children. Is my dentist right or hers?
Pamela M.
Dear Pamela,
It’s not a right or wrong as much as what the individual dentist is comfortable doing. If your pediatric dentist isn’t comfortable giving white fillings to children, don’t press it. The results won’t be good, neither will your child’s experience. It’s better you go to a dentist familiar with placing them on children.
One word of caution. They do require the patient to be perfectly still. If the white filling doesn’t stay dry, the bond won’t hold. For that reason many dentists who place white fillings on children will suggest you get nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide is perfectly safe. Dubbed laughing gas, it will relax your child. In fact, a friend of mine just took her child in for six white fillings. She opted for the nitrous with him, even though he’s a compliant child. He’d need six shots of lidocaine and she wanted him to be as relaxed as possible. He ended up so relaxed he actually slept through half the procedure.
The key will be to find a dentist who’s done this procedure with children that you’re both comfortable with.
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