If a composite filling is put in well it lasts years. i ahve some from when i was a kid. The amalgams havent lasted as long.
Amalgams suck in my view, and I would never have one again. Not only are they not safe, but they have other drawbacks too. Especially if put in badly.
I recently went to a private dentist - was not cheap, but I decided to cut back on other stuff to afford it. I had some fillings, including having two amalgams out and replaced. They were coming out because there was decay underneath them.
Additionally, I had a composites done by the NHS a year ago. Always hurt, was not right. I didnt see the point in going back even if they did it free, because I had lost confidence in them. The private dentist took it out and said it had a layer in it that shouldn't have been there - a layer they usually only put in for an amalgam filling. Anyway, had it out, and now the pain is gone.
I am very happy with the work done. Not only was it well explained, it was not rushed, time was taken to get it as good as it could be. Loads more expensive, but also loads better. I think medium- long-term it will be as cheap because it is so much better.
I had one tooth removed a couple of years ago, on NHS at Christmas. It was good to have the problem gone, but then it is gone for good...It can be the right option though if a private dentist isnt an option, and if your NHS dentist is no good.
No guarentee that a private dentists will be good either, of course. But I've only even been to one private dentist and he is very good. I've been half a dozen NHS dentists and all but one were really bad. The one that was good was from when i was a child, and I heard she left the NHS because the system doesnt allow good practice to be carried out. So its worth looking around and getting a recomendation if you do go private.