Composite Fillings

It's important to be aware of potential drawbacks associated with composite fillings:

• Composite fillings are more labour intensive for your dentist to place in your tooth, raising the cost of the procedure.
• They can wear out slightly sooner than metal fillings, particularly with heavy wear from chewing or grinding. However, composite fillings can be more easily repaired.
• You may experience some minor sensitivity following the procedure.
• They may become stained from exposure to coffee, tea and red wine, or other foods which can stain the teeth.
• Composite fillings are more expensive than amalgam fillings, starting from £150 per tooth.

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Unlike metal fillings, composite fillings will not corrode or expand over time. However, they can have a shorter lifespan than amalgam (metal) fillings. Composite fillings will last around 5-7 years.

If your filling becomes loose, damaged or falls out, your dentist can easily replace or repair it. Composite fillings can easily be repaired or added to, meaning if a piece of your filling breaks, we can add it back on instead of replacing the whole thing.

There are a number of factors which determine the lifespan of a composite filling, including:

• The locations of the filling in the mouth
• Oral hygeine
• Diet
• Bruxism or teeth clenching / grinding