South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Composite bonding or a filling: the same material, two different jobs
Patients are often surprised to learn that cosmetic bonding and a white filling are made from the same tooth-coloured resin. What separates them is intent. A filling replaces tooth structure lost to decay or fracture so the tooth is sound again. Bonding adds resin to a healthy tooth to change its shape, close a gap or hide a mark. The technique overlaps; the reason for doing it does not.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Composite bonding if…
- Your teeth are healthy but chipped, uneven, slightly gappy or marked.
- You want a cosmetic change without removing enamel.
- The teeth involved are at the front, where appearance matters most and forces are lighter.
- You are looking for a modest improvement rather than a full smile redesign.
Choose Fillings if…
- A check-up or X-ray has shown decay that needs removing.
- Part of a tooth has fractured or an old filling has failed.
- The tooth is a molar or premolar that takes chewing load.
- Your goal is to stop a problem progressing rather than to alter appearance.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Composite bonding | Fillings |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Improving how a healthy tooth looks | Repairing decay or damage |
| Material | Tooth-coloured composite resin | Composite resin; amalgam is still used in some cases |
| Strength | Moderate; intended for edges and low-stress areas | Moderate to high; shaped to carry biting force |
| Expected lifespan | Around 5 to 10 years | Around 5 to 15 years depending on size and material |
| Appearance | Layered, sculpted and highly polished for a seamless finish | White fillings blend well; amalgam is silver and visible |
| Time needed | 30 to 60 minutes per tooth | 30 to 45 minutes per tooth |
| Fee per tooth | From £395 | From £185 |
| Anaesthetic | Usually not required | Usually required, as decay is drilled out |
| Upkeep | Occasional polishing or small touch-ups | Routine check-ups and hygiene |
| Best suited to | Chips, gaps, reshaping and minor discolouration | Cavities, fractures and worn-out old fillings |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Composite bonding
No decay is involved, so the visit begins with shade selection rather than drilling. The enamel is cleaned and etched to give the resin a surface to grip, a bonding agent is applied, and composite is built up in thin layers, each set with a curing light. The dentist sculpts the final shape freehand, checking it against the neighbouring teeth, then refines the edges and polishes to a natural gloss. Several front teeth can be treated in one sitting.
Fillings
After local anaesthetic, the decayed or broken portion of the tooth is removed and the cavity cleaned and shaped. If composite is used, the cavity is etched and bonded and the resin placed in increments, each cured before the next, so it seals tightly to the walls. The surface is then carved to reproduce the tooth’s natural contours and adjusted until the bite feels normal. Amalgam, where chosen, is packed into the cavity and carved before it sets.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
A white filling at Wimpole Street will start from £185, and composite bonding from £395 per tooth. The higher bonding fee reflects the extra time spent on layering, shaping and finishing a surface that will be on show, rather than a difference in material.
Fillings tend to last five to fifteen years depending on their size and position; bonding on front teeth typically lasts five to ten. Both can be repaired rather than replaced if a corner chips, and both benefit from a mouthguard if you grind at night.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Composite bonding
Strengths
- Sound enamel is preserved; the tooth is not drilled
- Finished in one appointment, often without an injection
- Can be adjusted or reversed later
- Precise control over shape and colour
Trade-offs
- Not designed to withstand heavy chewing forces
- Resin dulls and stains over time and needs polishing
- Does nothing to treat decay or structural weakness
- Higher fee than a filling of similar size
Fillings
Strengths
- Halts decay and restores the tooth’s integrity
- Composite versions are discreet and bond to the tooth
- Lower fee per tooth
- Suitable for back teeth under load
Trade-offs
- Requires removal of affected tooth tissue
- Very large fillings weaken the remaining tooth and may lead to a crown later
- Amalgam is visible and contains mercury, which some patients wish to avoid
- Local anaesthetic is normally needed
FAQ
Common questions
The fee reflects time and artistry rather than material. Bonding on a front tooth is layered in several shades and finished to a high polish so it disappears against the neighbours, which takes longer than restoring a cavity on a back tooth.
No. Decay has to be removed before any resin is placed or it will keep spreading underneath. Once the cavity is cleaned out, the repair is by definition a filling, even if it is shaped cosmetically.
Fillings generally have the edge, with five to fifteen years typical, because they are enclosed by tooth structure. Bonding sits on the surface and is more exposed, so five to ten years is the usual range.
On a back tooth, yes; it simply needs to match. On a front tooth a filling can be finished to the same standard as bonding if time is spent on it, and many dentists effectively treat front-tooth fillings as bonding.
Yes. If a front tooth has decay near the edge and a chip beside it, the dentist can fill the cavity and reshape the edge in one procedure using the same resin.
Our default is composite because it bonds to the tooth and looks natural. Amalgam remains an option in specific situations, and the choice is discussed with you rather than assumed.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
