How Much Does a White Filling Cost in the UK?

White fillings in the UK can vary hugely in price.

In a private practice, prices can range from around £100 up to £500.

There is also a lot of variation by region and practice type — prices in London and the South East tend to be much higher than elsewhere in the country.

Larger dental fillings that cover more surfaces of the tooth tend to cost a lot more than small or single-surface fillings.

This is partly because they use more material, but mostly because they take a lot more time.

Back teeth in general tend to cost more than front teeth, because the fillings tend to be larger, access can be more difficult, and the techniques are trickier.

NHS Vs. Private White Fillings

The NHS sometimes covers white fillings, particularly for front teeth, and the cost is currently £76.60 in 2026.

When white fillings are provided privately, including at NHS practices for back teeth, the cost usually starts at around £100–£150.

What Affects The Cost Of AWhite Filling?

A number of factors influence how much a white filling will cost:

Size Of The Filling / Number Of Surfaces Involved

This can range from one surface up to five surfaces in a back tooth.

Fillings involving five surfaces (essentially every surface of the tooth) take a lot longer and require a lot more material than smaller or single-surface fillings.

Location In The Mouth

Back teeth require trickier techniques and more material to fill, so they are usually more expensive than fillings in front teeth.

However, front tooth fillings that reconstruct most of the existing tooth structure can also be more expensive.

Type of Composite Material Used

There is a huge range of white filling composite materials available to dentists, and these vary massively in price.

The more expensive ones tend to be harder-wearing and more aesthetic, and often come in multiple formats to mimic the different layers of a tooth.

Additional Treatment Needed

If there are existing fillings that need to be removed, or a lot of decay to treat first, this can increase the overall cost and is one of the reasons why white fillings are so expensive.

Experience Of The Dentist

The experience and training of the dentist also influence on white filling will cost.

Region And Type of Practice

Practices in city centres or urban areas tend to be more expensive than those in rural areas, and specialist or fully private practices tend to be more expensive than mixed NHS/private practices with general dentists.

What Is Included In The Cost Of A White Filling?

The fee you are quoted for a white filling should include the entire procedure:

• Local anaesthetic - to make sure you feel nothing during the procedure.

• A rubber dam to isolate the tooth being worked on from the rest of your mouth – the gold standard for fillings.

• Removal of all the decayed or diseased part of the tooth and any old filling material.

• A bonding agent is applied to the tooth, so the composite sticks to it.

• Building up the composite filling in layers to make it stronger and more aesthetic.

• Shade matching to make the filling as close to invisible as possible.

• Finishing and polishing – shaping the filling to look like a natural tooth and polishing it so it has the same gloss as natural enamel and doesn’t discolour over time.

• A bite check to make sure there are no high spots or anything that could cause discomfort or cause the filling to break.

• A follow-up appointment, if needed, for any further adjustments or to check everything is settling.

It’s worth noting that a consultation is not usually included in the price of a filling — this normally takes the form of a dental check-up, which in most practices is charged separately. X-rays, when required, are also usually charged separately from the filling.

Are There Any Additional Costs to Be Aware Of?

Usually, the filling itself should only cost what you were originally quoted.

The main costs to budget for separately are the initial consultation (check-up) and any X-rays, as noted above.

However, there are certain things that can cause the cost to increase once treatment is underway:

• More damage than anticipated – if it turns out to be more decay than expected and the filling ends up larger or more extensive than originally planned.

• Root canal treatment – if the decay is very deep and the nerve is involved, root canal treatment may be needed and will be charged separately on top of the filling.

• An inlay or onlay – if the damage is very extensive, the dentist may advise something stronger than a filling, such as an inlay or onlay, which costs more than a filling.

How To Keep White Filling Costs Down?

Attend regular check-ups with your dentist and see your hygienist regularly.

Regular check-ups allow your dentist to catch problems early, and early intervention usually means smaller fillings that cost less.

• Keep up good daily oral hygiene to reduce your risk of decay – particularly flossing between your teeth once a day and using a good-quality fluoride toothpaste.

• Watch your diet, as this is extremely important for reducing the incidence of white fillings – try to keep sugar intake to a minimum and keep the frequency of sugary foods as low as possible.

• Ask whether a white filling is available on the NHS or whether you'll need to pay privately. If you see a dentist who provides NHS treatment, the NHS fee will usually be less.

• Remember the cheapest quote isn't always the best value – technique and materials matter, and a more expensive white filling done by an experienced, skilled dentist will often last a lot longer than a cheaper, faster version.