Fillings are used to restore a cavity in your tooth. The most common type of filling is dental amalgam, made from a mixture of metallic Silver, mercury and other metals. Dental amalgam fillings are often used on your back teeth as they’re hard-wearing and aren’t as visible.
Your dentist will offer you the type of filling most appropriate for your clinical needs. For example, if you need a filling for one of your front teeth, your dentist may suggest a white filling, but the use of tooth-coloured fillings on back teeth is considered purely cosmetic and will be charged privately.
Fillings on the NHS can be made of:
- Amalgam (silver-coloured) – a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin and copper
- Composite (tooth-coloured) – powdered glass and ceramic added to a resin base; they’re as hard-wearing as amalgam fillings.
- Glass ionomer (tooth-coloured) – powdered glass, which reacts chemically with your tooth and bonds to it. Normally used as temporary or semi-permanent filling.
The British Dental Association recently reported that, “Dental amalgam has been in use and extensively studied for 150 years as a restorative material. Its safety and durability are well established, and it remains the most appropriate material for a range of clinical situations.
Fillings on the NHS come under band two for dental charges.
What differences are there between amalgam (metal) and composite (white) fillings?
Amalgam fillings are often the material of choice for back teeth; this is because they are robust and can withstand the forces of biting down. Additionally, with back teeth, aesthetic considerations are less important because the fillings will not be very visible.
Composite fillings are white, and are the material of choice for front teeth. This is because the front teeth are under much less pressure when you are chewing. As your front teeth are visible, it is more important that the filling material blends in better with the colour of your teeth.