My boyfriend has never had a cavity before. He just went to the dentist and was told he has 5, 2 of them pretty big. Would you recommend white or gold for him? I heard that white only last about 7 years, and then everytime you remove a filling of any sort, it gets bigger. So, with gold, I think that lasts a lifetime. He is only 25, so I don't know what to tell him. Any suggestions? Cost is not an issue. What is an issue it the future of his teeth, and what is best for them.

[This message has been edited by kellybelly99 (edited 10-22-2001).]

Will someone please respond....Help!

White fillings are for the teeth which people normally see. The front teeth have less grinding and compressive forces so the white fillings last awhile. Molars on the hand need hard durable fillings such as silver or gold. I am not aware of any greater durability of gold over silver. My choice has been silver because it is not as expensive and maybe not so pretentious.

I would avoid putting the white filling in molars because it will probably crack or come loose when eating. The other option for molars are crowns. But, you are talk big bucks and a lot more time in the dentist's chair.

Kellybelly,

I've had white fillings on my molars for almost eight years with absolutely no problems. A "cosmetic" dentist that understands this, would probably be the best person to consult.