How Much Does a White Filling Cost in the UK?

Most people asking about white fillings are really asking two questions: what do they cost, and why could I not just have one on the NHS? Both have clear answers.

The short answer

A private white filling in the UK typically costs £90 to £250, depending on the size of the cavity and the tooth. At Bollington Dental Practice a composite (white) filling starts from £125, and a silver amalgam filling from £95. On the NHS, fillings sit in Band 2 at £76.60, which covers the whole course of treatment however many fillings you need.

Why prices vary so much

• How big the cavity is. A small filling on a front tooth is a short appointment. Rebuilding most of a back molar is closer to an hour of careful layering, and is priced accordingly.
• Which tooth it is. Back teeth are harder to reach, harder to keep dry while the material sets, and take more of the chewing load.
• The material. Composite is bonded to the tooth in layers and shaped and polished by hand while you are in the chair. Amalgam is packed into the cavity and sets on its own. The difference in chair time is most of the difference in price.
• How much tooth is left. Past a certain point a filling stops being the sensible answer. If more than about half the tooth has gone, a crown holds it together far better than an ever-larger filling, and we will say so rather than patch it twice.

What about the NHS?

Fillings are Band 2, currently £76.60 in England. That is one charge for the whole course of treatment, so three fillings still cost £76.60.

The part that causes confusion is colour. NHS rules provide white fillings on front teeth, where appearance clearly matters. On back teeth the NHS will generally provide amalgam, and will only use white material where there is a clinical reason. So if you want white fillings on your molars purely because you prefer how they look, that is usually a private choice rather than something the NHS declines out of meanness.

Access is the other issue. Like most practices locally we are unable to take on new NHS adults at present.

Want the full picture on prices? Our treatment cost checker shows every published fee, what each includes, and what plan members save, and builds you an estimate in under a minute.

NHS, typical private and our price compared at a glance

NHS charges shown are the England band charges for 2026. We are not able to take on new NHS adult patients at present, and our own prices are confirmed in a written plan before any treatment begins. Every fee is listed on our fees page and in our treatment cost checker.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a white filling on the NHS?

On front teeth, yes. On back teeth, usually only where there is a clinical reason for it rather than a cosmetic preference. If you specifically want white fillings throughout, most people pay privately for the back ones.

How long do white fillings last?

Five to ten years is typical, and often longer on smaller fillings in people with good oral hygiene. Amalgam usually lasts longer under heavy chewing load, which is the honest trade-off. Grinding your teeth shortens the life of either.

Should I replace my old amalgam fillings?

Not simply because they are grey. Replacing a filling means removing more tooth, and a sound amalgam that is doing its job is better left alone. If one is failing, leaking or the tooth is cracking around it, that is a genuine reason to change it, and swapping to composite at that point is entirely reasonable.

Why does the same filling cost more at one practice than another?

Usually chair time and materials, occasionally the size of the cavity being quoted for. Ask whether the price covers the whole tooth or one surface of it, because a quote for a single surface will always look cheaper than a quote to rebuild a cusp.

If you have a tooth that catches food, feels sharp, or twinges on something cold, get it looked at before it becomes an emergency. Call us on 01625 574609; every price is published on our fees page.

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