If part of a tooth has been lost through decay or damaged due to an accident, we may be able to restore your tooth with a filling, although if the damage is excessive we would look at an alternative more stable treatment for the tooth. A filling will plug the hole and help prevent future pain or discomfort, although this cannot be guaranteed, we will discuss risk factors during the treatment planning stage. A filling can be made out of a variety of materials. The most common of these are amalgam (silver) or composite (white).

Silver fillings are made of a material called amalgam, which is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, copper, and other metals. Amalgam fillings are very hard wearing which is why they are often put into the back chewing teeth.

Some people opt for white fillings, which match the colour of the natural tooth better. White fillings are becoming more popular, but, for the back teeth, they are only available privately. If you need a filling in one of your front teeth, you can get a tooth coloured composite filling on the NHS.