Small filling
One surface, for example a groove on the chewing surface or a small pit on the side. Twenty to thirty minutes.
£185
General dentistry · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
White fillings in Marylebone: tooth-coloured composite priced by the size of the cavity
A white filling is a composite resin, a paste of glass particles in a plastic matrix, placed in soft layers into a cleaned cavity and hardened with a blue light. Because it bonds chemically to enamel and dentine, the dentist removes only the decayed tooth and none of the sound structure that older metal fillings needed for grip, and the finished surface is shaded to disappear against the tooth. Composite contains no mercury and the materials we use are free of bisphenol A. At Wimpole Street a small filling will be £185, a medium one £260 and a large one £305, the fee reflecting how many surfaces are involved and how long the layering and shaping take. This page explains when a filling is the right answer, when it is not, and what to expect from one over the years.
- £185 small
- £260 medium
- £305 large
Suitability
Is it right for you?
A good fit when
- A cavity found at an examination or on a radiograph that has passed through the enamel into dentine.
- A tooth that twinges with sweet things or catches food, suggesting decay between the teeth.
- An old amalgam that has cracked, has decay beneath it or has a gap at its edge.
- A chipped corner or worn edge on a front tooth where composite can rebuild the shape.
- A worn notch at the gum line from brushing that is sensitive or trapping plaque.
- Replacing a filling that has fallen out, provided enough tooth remains.
Think twice, or choose another route, when
- Cavities so large that little natural tooth is left; an onlay or crown protects the remaining walls better.
- A tooth that has cracked through or that hurts to bite on, which needs assessment for a crown or root treatment first.
- Heavy grinders with very large back-tooth fillings, where composite wears and fractures faster than ceramic.
- Sound, well-sealed amalgam fillings that are causing no problem; replacing them for appearance alone sacrifices healthy tooth.
- Decay that has reached the nerve, where a filling alone will not settle the tooth.
The process
How it works at Wimpole Street
- 01
Diagnosis
The cavity is confirmed by examination and, where it lies between teeth or under an old filling, a radiograph. The size and position determine the fee, which is confirmed before starting.
- 02
Anaesthetic
A numbing gel goes on the gum before the injection. Small, shallow cavities can sometimes be done without anaesthetic if you prefer.
- 03
Removing decay
Only the softened, infected tooth is removed. A thin band may be placed around the tooth to rebuild a missing side wall and keep the new filling clear of the gum.
- 04
Bonding
The cavity is etched, rinsed and dried, and a bonding agent is brushed on and cured. Keeping the tooth dry at this stage is what decides whether the filling seals.
- 05
Layering
Composite is placed in increments of a couple of millimetres, each shaped and light-cured before the next, so the material sets fully and shrinks as little as possible.
- 06
Shaping and polishing
The filling is carved to the tooth’s anatomy, the bite checked with marking paper and the surface polished until it is smooth and matches the surrounding enamel.
Choices
Options & materials
Medium filling
Two surfaces, typically the chewing surface plus the wall between two teeth, needing a band and a contact point rebuilt. Thirty to forty-five minutes.
£260
Large filling
Three or more surfaces or a cusp rebuilt. Up to an hour. Above this size an onlay or crown is usually the better investment.
£305
Amalgam replacement
Removing an old metal filling under high-volume suction and replacing with composite. Priced by the resulting cavity size.
£185 – £305
Fees
What it costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
Small composite filling One surface. | £185 |
Medium composite filling Two surfaces. | £260 |
Large composite filling Three or more surfaces or a cusp. | £305 |
Examination £30 for new patients; radiographs £20 each. | £95 |
Onlay, where a filling is not enough Laboratory-made ceramic for large cavities. | From £995 |
Indicative Wimpole Street fees, the same as at South Kensington and St Paul's. A written plan with the exact figure is agreed before anything is started.
Outcomes
What the result looks like
A well-placed composite is difficult to find in the mouth, restores the shape of the tooth so food no longer packs, and settles within a week or two. Published survival rates put composite fillings at roughly seven to fifteen years on average, with small fillings in front teeth lasting longest and large fillings on molars in heavy biters failing soonest.
Composite is not indestructible. It wears, picks up stain at the margins over the years, and shrinks fractionally as it sets, which is why layering technique and a dry field matter so much. Any filling, white or metal, is a repair rather than a restoration to new, and the tooth around it can still decay if cleaning slips.
Afterwards
Looking after the result
- Avoid chewing on the tooth until the anaesthetic has fully worn off, so you do not bite your lip or cheek.
- Mild sensitivity to cold for a few days is normal; sensitivity that worsens or pain on biting should be reported.
- If the filling feels high when your teeth meet, book a quick adjustment rather than waiting for it to wear in.
- Brush and clean between the teeth as normal; the margins of a filling are where new decay starts.
- Limit staining drinks in the first forty-eight hours while the surface finishes hardening.
Informed consent
Risks and honest limitations
Every treatment has trade-offs. These are the ones we discuss at the consultation so that a decision is made with full information rather than after the fact.
- Post-operative sensitivity, usually short-lived, occasionally lasting several weeks in a deep filling.
- A deep cavity close to the nerve may not settle and may later need root canal treatment; we warn you at the time if that is a possibility.
- Fracture or chipping of the filling or the surrounding tooth, more likely in large fillings and grinders.
- Staining or a visible line at the margin over the years, which can be polished or repaired.
- Recurrent decay at the edge of any filling if plaque is allowed to sit there.
- A high spot on the bite, easily corrected but uncomfortable until it is.
FAQ
Questions patients ask
Because a two- or three-surface filling takes twice as long as a one-surface filling: a band has to be fitted, a contact point rebuilt and more layers placed and shaped. The fee follows the time and complexity.
For small and medium cavities, including on molars, modern composites perform comparably. For very large cavities in heavy biters, a ceramic onlay or crown outlasts either material.
Only if they are cracked, leaking, decayed underneath or you specifically want them changed for appearance. A sound amalgam is doing its job, and removing it takes some healthy tooth with it.
Twenty minutes to an hour depending on size. Several small fillings can often be done in one visit.
The tooth may be sensitive to cold for a few days, especially after a deep filling. Persistent throbbing or pain on biting is not expected and should be checked.
Yes, at South Kensington or St Paul’s now at the same fees, with follow-up in Marylebone from 1 October 2026.
Keep reading
Related treatments and guides
Marylebone, W1
White fillings at Wimpole Street from 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as the Marylebone diary is live. If you would rather start sooner, the same clinicians already see patients in South Kensington and at St Paul’s.
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.
South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
