I read your webpage about white fillings. I need a filling on one of my lower teeth, which I wanted to do as a white filling. However, my dentist said my dental insurance only covers amalgam fillings. Do you think that is because it really won’t cover any composite fillings or that he is uncomfortable doing composites? Your page said not to press a dentist who tries to convince you to do an amalgam filling instead.
Ge Ann L. from Missouri
GeAnn,
I cannot be certain about the comfort level of your dentist with composite fillings (white fillings). However, I suspect he in not completely comfortable placing them because the information he gave you about dental insurance isn’t completely correct. Here is how it works. Insurance generally looks to cover the less expensive acceptable treatment. If you need a filling on your front teeth, than your insurance will more than likely cover the composite fillings because in that position the filling is very visible. However, on the back teeth either type of filling would work because they are not as visible. Because amalgam fillings are less expensive than white fillings, that is the treatment your insurance would cover.
That doesn’t mean you would have to pay for all of a composite filling if you wanted one on your back teeth. Your insurance will cover the amount necessary for the amalgam and you would make up the price difference between amalgam and composite fillings.
However, just because you can get a composite filling, doesn’t mean you should pressure your dentist to place them. As you read on our website, these type of fillings require additional training for the bonding procedures. This is not something your dentist was likely to learn in dental school. it is something for which he would have had to do considerable post-graduate training. You can get the fillings you want. You just need to call around and find a dentist who has the training and experience necessary to perform the procedure.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Ted Hadgis.