White Fillings

White fillings are used to repair teeth damaged by decay or injury using natural-looking materials that blend in with your smile.

What Are They?

A white filling replaces the part of a tooth that has been lost due to decay or damage. Types of white fillings include:

• Composite
• Glass ionomer
• Compomer

What Will My Dentist Do?

The procedure for placing a white filling typically includes:

• Numbing the area with a local anaesthetic (for most fillings)
• Removing decay and any old filling material with a high-speed drill
• Removing weak parts of the tooth to prevent future breakage
• Cleaning and drying the area with water and air spray
• Etching the surface with a mild acid to help the filling bond
• Applying a bonding agent and placing the filling material
• Shaping the filling to match your tooth
• Hardening the material with a curing light
• Trimming and polishing the filling for comfort and fit

What Are the Benefits?

• White fillings bond to the tooth, making them ideal for chipped, broken, or decayed front teeth
• They can be color-matched to your natural teeth
• They are less noticeable than silver (amalgam) fillings, which can darken over time
• Less tooth structure needs to be removed compared to silver fillings
• They can sometimes be used in back teeth if the damage is minimal

Note: On the NHS, white fillings are not usually offered on the biting surfaces of back teeth due to durability concerns and the need for a very dry working area, which can be difficult to achieve in that part of the mouth.