Yes, the NHS covers white fillings. On front teeth, white composite is the NHS standard at no extra cost. On back teeth, the NHS default is amalgam, and a white filling there may carry a private top-up unless you fall into an exempt group. Children under 15, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women get white fillings everywhere in the mouth as standard, with no upgrade charge at all.
Will the NHS Cover White Fillings?
The NHS covers white fillings, but not identically on every tooth. Your dentist chooses the filling material based on the tooth’s position and your clinical circumstances, not simply on your preference. Front teeth, where appearance matters most and bite forces are lower, receive composite as the NHS default. Back teeth, where chewing forces are greatest, may still be filled with amalgam unless a specific rule applies to you.
NHS Filling Price List: England, Scotland, Wales
| Nation | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| England | £76.60 (Band 2) | One charge covers unlimited fillings in the same course |
| Wales | £47.00 (Band 2) | Same band structure as England, lower prices |
| Scotland | 80% of treatment cost, capped at £384 per course | No fixed band price; charge scales with actual clinical work |
| Northern Ireland | 80% of cost, similar cap structure | Item-of-service system, not banded |
The material itself, composite or amalgam, does not change the NHS charge in England or Wales. You pay the same Band 2 fee either way. Our guide to NHS dental bands explained covers what else sits inside Band 2 alongside fillings.
Front Teeth vs Back Teeth: Why It Matters
Front teeth are visible when you speak and smile, so a silver-coloured filling stands out immediately. NHS dentists provide composite here as standard, since a metal filling on a front tooth would be clinically unnecessary to avoid and cosmetically obvious.
Back teeth work harder. Amalgam has a long track record of durability under heavy chewing forces and is quicker to place, particularly in a tooth that’s difficult to keep completely dry during the procedure. This is why the NHS still offers amalgam as the default option for molars, while allowing composite where the dentist judges it clinically appropriate or where an exemption applies.
Can You Get White Fillings on the NHS When Pregnant?
Yes. Pregnant women receive composite fillings as the NHS standard on every tooth, front or back, with no private upgrade charge. This follows a 2018 EU regulation restricting amalgam use in pregnant and breastfeeding women. The restriction is precautionary and environmental, driven by mercury pollution reduction goals under the Minamata Convention, not evidence that amalgam harms mother or baby. NHS dental treatment is also free throughout pregnancy and for 12 months after birth, so you pay nothing for the filling itself once you hold a valid maternity exemption certificate.
Can Your Child Have White Fillings on the NHS?
Yes. Children under 15 receive white composite fillings as the NHS default across all teeth, again due to the same 2018 amalgam restriction. In practice, amalgam is essentially never used on children’s teeth in the UK today. NHS dental treatment is also free for anyone under 18, and under 19 if in full-time education, so a child’s filling costs nothing at the point of care.
Why the Amalgam Rule Exists
The restriction on amalgam for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women stems from the Minamata Convention, a global treaty aimed at reducing mercury pollution in the environment. Amalgam contains roughly 50% mercury by weight, bound within a stable metal alloy. Major bodies including the British Dental Association, the NHS, and the World Health Organization state that amalgam is safe for the general population when placed as intended. The restriction exists for environmental and precautionary reasons around vulnerable groups, not because of demonstrated harm from amalgam fillings themselves.
What Type of Filling Do You Get on the NHS?
You get whichever material your dentist judges clinically appropriate for that specific tooth, within NHS rules. In practice this usually means:
- Composite (white) on front teeth, for everyone
- Composite on any tooth, for children under 15, pregnant women and breastfeeding women
- Amalgam or composite on back teeth for other adults, at your dentist’s clinical judgement, with amalgam typically offered as the no-extra-cost NHS option
Do Most Dentists Use White Fillings Now?
Composite use has grown steadily, driven partly by the amalgam phase-down for vulnerable groups and partly by patient preference for a natural appearance. Many practices, NHS and private, now place composite as their default for most fillings, reserving amalgam mainly for larger back-tooth cavities where its durability offers a genuine clinical advantage. Amalgam remains a clinically valid, safe material and has not been banned for general use in the UK.
White Filling Cost in Scotland
Scotland does not use England’s fixed Band 2 price. Instead, eligible patients pay 80% of the actual cost of their treatment, capped at £384 per course. A single small filling therefore costs less than a course involving several fillings plus other work, since the charge scales with the clinical work involved rather than applying one flat fee. All under-26s in Scotland receive NHS dental treatment completely free, alongside the standard UK-wide exempt groups such as pregnant women and people on qualifying benefits.
NHS Dental Charges for Pensioners
Reaching pension age does not exempt you from paying for a filling in England. Pensioners pay the standard Band 2 charge unless they qualify through Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or another qualifying benefit. Our guide to NHS dental bands explained covers the full exemption criteria, including the specific benefits that qualify.
How Much Does a White Filling Cost Privately?
| Scenario | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Fully private composite filling | £90 to £250 per tooth |
| NHS Band 2 charge, plus private cosmetic upgrade for a back-tooth composite instead of amalgam | £76.60 plus roughly £30 to £100 per tooth |
A cosmetic upgrade charge only applies when amalgam would be the clinically appropriate NHS option and you are choosing composite purely for appearance. If composite is the appropriate NHS treatment for your tooth, you pay only the standard Band 2 charge.
How to Request a White Filling on a Back Tooth
- Ask your dentist directly whether composite is a clinically suitable option for that specific tooth
- Ask them to confirm in writing whether a private cosmetic upgrade charge applies, and how much it is, before treatment starts
- Mention if you fall into an exempt group, since this removes any upgrade charge entirely
- Remember that a dentist cannot charge you privately for a treatment genuinely available to you on the NHS within the same course
Frequently Asked Questions
Are white fillings free on the NHS?
On front teeth, yes, at the standard Band 2 charge with no extra cost for the white material. On back teeth, composite is included at no extra charge if you are in an exempt group or if your dentist judges it clinically necessary; otherwise a private cosmetic top-up may apply.
Do you have to pay for white fillings on the NHS?
You pay the standard Band 2 charge (£76.60 in England) unless you qualify for free NHS dental treatment. This charge is the same whether the filling is composite or amalgam.
Which teeth can have white fillings on the NHS?
All teeth can technically receive composite. Front teeth get it as standard. Back teeth get it as standard only for children under 15, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or when your dentist judges it clinically necessary for another reason.
Can you get white fillings for back teeth on the NHS?
Yes, either as the standard NHS option if you’re in an exempt group or if clinically indicated, or with a private cosmetic top-up if you’re requesting it purely for appearance when amalgam would otherwise be offered.
Are white fillings covered by the NHS in Scotland?
Yes. Scotland uses an 80%-of-cost charge capped at £384 per course rather than a fixed Band 2 price, but the same front-teeth-standard, back-teeth-clinical-judgement approach to filling material applies.
Can I get a white filling free on the NHS if I’m not pregnant or a child?
Yes, if your dentist judges composite clinically appropriate for that specific tooth, or if the tooth is at the front of your mouth. You only face a possible extra charge when requesting composite purely for cosmetic reasons on a back tooth where amalgam would otherwise be suitable.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. Charges and clinical guidance can change; confirm current costs and your specific circumstances with your dental practice.
About the Author: Written by the Well Ideas editorial team, dedicated to researching and sharing practical, evidence-informed wellness guidance for a healthier everyday life.
