How much is a filling in the UK?

At Toothi London, a composite white filling costs from £145. The final price depends on the size of the cavity, how many surfaces of the tooth are involved and which tooth it is. On the NHS in England, fillings fall under Band 2, which is £76.60 for the whole course of treatment. This guide explains what moves the price, what is included and how NHS and private fillings differ.

All our prices are on our fees page. We only place tooth-coloured composite fillings, so every filling is matched to the shade of your natural tooth. You can read more about how we approach fillings in Edgware.

Your dentist will give you the exact price for each filling in your written treatment plan before work begins. If several teeth need treating, each filling is priced individually.

Toothi is a fully private practice and does not provide NHS treatment. These are the official NHS charges in England from 1 April 2026, for comparison.

The NHS charge is a single fee for the course of treatment, so if you need several fillings, the Band 2 charge stays the same. The rules on materials are set nationally and can change, so ask your NHS dentist what applies to you. Private filling prices vary between practices; comparing published price lists is the clearest way to see what you will pay.

A filling is not one fixed procedure. The work involved changes with the tooth and the cavity.

• ✓  Size of the cavity. A small area of early decay takes less time and material than a large cavity that has spread under old fillings.
• ✓  Number of surfaces. A filling on one biting surface is simpler than one that wraps around the side of the tooth, between teeth, where shaping the contact point takes more care.
• ✓  Which tooth. Back molars are harder to reach and take heavier biting forces. Front teeth need close shade-matching for appearance.
• ✓  Replacing an old filling. Removing an existing filling first, metal or white, adds time.
• ✓  Depth of decay. If decay is close to the nerve, extra care is needed. If it has reached the nerve, the tooth may need root canal treatment instead, or a crown afterwards.

Your filling price covers the anaesthetic, the filling material and the appointment time. X-rays are charged separately at £15 each when needed. Most fillings are done in a single visit. Read more on our white fillings page.

Amalgam (the silver-coloured material) has been used for many years and is durable. Its use is being reduced across the UK and Europe for environmental reasons, and it is generally not used for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Composite is a tooth-coloured resin bonded to the tooth. It usually allows a more conservative preparation because it does not need undercuts to hold it in place. With good care, a well-placed composite filling can last for many years, though how long it lasts varies with size, biting forces, grinding habits and how well the area is kept clean.

If you have an NHS dentist and you are happy with the material used, NHS treatment is good value and provides what is clinically needed. Many people choose private care for a filling because they want tooth-coloured composite on back teeth, more appointment time, or easier access to appointments, including at weekends.

What matters most is treating tooth decay early. A small filling now is usually simpler than a larger filling, root canal or crown later. A regular check-up, from £55 at Toothi, is the easiest way to catch problems while they are small.