White Fillings

White (composite) fillings repair cavities and small fractures using a resin matched to the shade of your own tooth, so the repair is designed to be virtually invisible when you smile. Composite is a blend of tooth-coloured resin and finely ground glass or ceramic particles that bonds directly to tooth structure — a genuinely different approach from the metal amalgam fillings many adults grew up with, and the standard we use for fillings at our Wimpole Street practice.

White fillings suit most patients and most situations: a new cavity found at your check-up, a chipped edge, a worn or leaking old filling, or small gaps and defects near the gumline. They are placed on both front and back teeth. Very large cavities, heavily broken-down teeth or heavy grinding habits may be better served by an inlay, onlay or crown — your dentist will explain the options honestly, and suitability is confirmed at an in-person consultation with a GDC-registered dentist.

A typical appointment takes 30–60 minutes and is usually completed in a single visit. Your dentist numbs the area with modern local anaesthetic so treatment is designed to be comfortable throughout. The decayed or damaged portion of the tooth is removed conservatively, keeping as much healthy tooth as possible, and the surface is cleaned and prepared with a gentle conditioning gel that helps the composite bond securely.

Shade-matching comes next: composite is available in a wide range of tints and translucencies, and your dentist selects the combination that blends with your surrounding enamel. The material is then placed in thin layers, each sculpted to rebuild the tooth’s natural contours and hardened with a blue curing light in seconds. Finally, your bite is checked and adjusted, and the filling is polished to a smooth, natural lustre.

Because composite bonds chemically and micro-mechanically to enamel and dentine, less healthy tooth needs to be removed compared with traditional amalgam fillings, which rely on mechanical undercuts to stay in place. Bonding also helps support the remaining tooth structure. Composite contains no mercury, and it insulates rather than conducts temperature, which many patients find reduces the hot-and-cold twinges sometimes associated with metal fillings.

White fillings start from £185 at our practice. The final fee depends on the size of the cavity, the number of surfaces involved and the position of the tooth — a small single-surface filling is quicker and simpler than rebuilding a large corner of a molar. After your examination, your written, itemised quote is confirmed before treatment begins, so you know the exact figure for your tooth rather than an estimate.

How does composite compare with the alternatives? Amalgam is durable but silver-grey, requires more tooth removal, and is being phased down internationally for environmental reasons. Ceramic inlays, onlays and crowns are made in a laboratory, cost more and take two visits, but can be a sound choice for larger restorations where composite may be less durable. Your dentist will recommend the option that balances longevity, appearance and cost for your specific tooth.

Many patients also ask us to replace visible metal fillings with composite for cosmetic reasons. This can usually be done, though we generally advise replacing sound amalgam only when there is a clinical or genuine aesthetic reason, as every replacement removes a little more tooth. Where an old filling is leaking, cracked or has decay beneath it, replacement with composite typically improves both the health and the appearance of the tooth.

Aftercare is straightforward. The anaesthetic wears off within a few hours; avoid chewing on the numb side until it does. Mild sensitivity to temperature or pressure for a few days is common and usually settles — persistent or worsening pain should always be reviewed. Composite fillings typically last 5–10 or more years, depending on size, position, your bite and how well the tooth is cared for. Individual results vary, and good brushing, interdental cleaning and regular check-ups all extend the life of any filling.

If you are considering white fillings in London, it is worth choosing a practice where the clinician takes time over layering, shade-matching and polishing — the details that separate an adequate filling from an excellent one. Our practice in Marylebone, near Harley Street, combines experienced GDC-registered dentists with modern materials and magnification, and every treatment starts with an honest conversation about whether a filling is genuinely the right option for your tooth. We are easy to reach from anywhere in central London.

Everything begins at the consultation. Before any filling is placed, your dentist examines the tooth carefully, often with magnification and a small digital X-ray where clinically justified, to establish how deep the decay runs and whether the nerve is likely to be affected. This matters because a cavity that has reached close to the nerve may behave differently after treatment, and it is far better to discuss that possibility honestly beforehand than to surprise you later. You will see the images on screen, hear the options in plain English, and receive a written, itemised quote before anything goes ahead.

Nervous about injections? You are far from alone, and there are practical ways we help. A topical numbing gel is applied to the gum before any local anaesthetic is given, the anaesthetic itself is delivered slowly to keep it comfortable, and we always check the area is fully numb before starting. You can raise a hand at any point and we will stop. Many patients who dreaded fillings for years tell us afterwards that the anticipation was considerably worse than the appointment — and that knowing they can pause at any moment made all the difference.

Our Wimpole Street practice is a short walk from Bond Street and Oxford Circus stations, with Regent's Park also close by, so a single-visit filling fits easily around a working day in central London. If you have several teeth needing attention, appointments can often be combined so fewer visits are needed overall, or staged over time to suit your diary and budget — your written plan sets out both options so you can choose what works for you.