Fillings

What is a filling?

Composite (white) fillings , Ceramic (white) inlays or onlays.

Amalgam fillings

Amalgam fillings (silver coloured metal alloy) have been traditionally used to successfully repair teeth in the event of damage or cavities. This is a well-established, quick and safe procedure to restore a tooth to function for the long term.

Amalgam fillings are a mixture of mercury and various other metals including silver, tin and copper. Amalgam fillings are considered a highly cost-effective options for many people and covered under the NHS.

Is Amalgam safe?

There have been some concerns over the use of mercury in amalgam fillings. However, numerous scientific studies over the last century have shown that the small amount of mercury in fillings is safe and there is no evidence of a link to any health issues.

Alternatives to Amalgam

Many people seek a more natural looking alternative to amalgam. These options give a more attractive finish and therefore are considered ‘cosmetic’ and may not be necessarily available on the NHS.

Composite (white) fillings – Increasingly popular as they blend in with your natural tooth. Newer composites are now just as strong and hard wearing as amalgam. They are much more technique sensitive and require more time to place.

Ceramic (white) inlays or onlays – Ceramics are extremely hard wearing and durable option for the larger cavity or fractured tooth. They are usually made outside of the mouth and fitted with composite cement. They can be extremely aesthetic and are usually the best in appearance but are more expensive than fillings and are technique sensitive and require more time to place. We offer same day CADCAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacture) CEREC restorations on the same day to our most discerning patients.

Before and afters