DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Replacing amalgam fillings with white composite: UK costs
Plenty of people reach a point where they want their old grey fillings gone and replaced with something tooth-coloured. Swapping a sound amalgam filling purely for looks is a cosmetic decision, so it sits on the private side of the fence. This guide explains when a swap is worth doing, what shapes the cost, and the real prices below show the going rate near you.
The quick version
- Replacing a working metal filling with white composite for cosmetic reasons is private-only work, not something the NHS funds.
- If the old filling is cracked, leaking or has decay underneath, an NHS replacement may be possible under Band 2, a fixed £76.60 in England from 1 April 2026.
- You pay per tooth, so replacing several amalgams at once adds up quickly, and a full-mouth swap costs a lot more than a single tooth.
- Removing an old filling can reveal more decay or a crack, which sometimes turns a simple swap into bigger treatment such as a crown or root canal.
- Price per tooth varies with the size of the old filling: a small one is a quick job, a large one needs more time to remove and more material to rebuild.
- The real prices below reflect what different practices actually charge per tooth, so use them to sanity-check any quote before you commit.
Published and surveyed prices
Where these 9 prices come from — 7 named sources
- gov.wales
- nhs.uk
- manchesterdental.co.uk
- thelondondentalcentre.co.uk
- friendsdental.co.uk
- whitesdental.co.uk
- dentistryforyou.co.uk
Each is a published price list, an official survey, or a receipt/quote a reader shared. The full per-price list with year and area is on the white filling page.
Why the price varies so much
Two things drive the price: how many fillings you want changed and how big each one is. A single small filling is straightforward, but many people have several old amalgams and want them all matched, which multiplies the cost. Larger fillings take more time to remove cleanly and more composite to rebuild. Your dentist may also charge more if the tooth needs extra protection after a deep old filling comes out. And because taking the metal out can expose hidden decay or a fracture, the plan can shift to a crown or root canal, which is priced differently from a straight filling swap. Where you live matters too: practices in and around big cities generally charge more per tooth than those in smaller towns, simply because their overheads are higher. Whether the practice is an independent dentist or part of a larger corporate group can also affect the price list, since corporate groups often set standard fees across all their sites while an independent has more room to set its own rates. On top of all that, if you ask specifically for a shade-matched, layered composite that blends in with your natural teeth rather than a basic white filling, that extra time and skill tends to cost more than a plain swap.
How to pay less
- Replace fillings only when there is a real reason, such as a leak or crack, rather than swapping healthy ones on impulse.
- If a filling is genuinely failing, ask whether an NHS Band 2 replacement is appropriate before going private.
- Group several replacements into one visit where your dentist agrees it is sensible, to save on repeat appointment fees.
- Compare the real prices below across a few practices, since per-tooth rates differ a lot locally.
- Ask for a written, itemised quote per tooth before treatment starts, so you know the total before any drilling begins.
- If cost is the main driver, prioritise the fillings that are visible when you smile or talk and leave back teeth that don't bother you for another time.
Common questions
Will the NHS replace my amalgam fillings with white ones?
Only when there is a clinical need, such as a broken or leaking filling, and even then a back tooth is usually refilled with amalgam. Swapping sound metal fillings for white ones on looks alone is private treatment.
Is it safe to have old metal fillings removed?
For most people a dentist can remove amalgam safely using suction and isolation. Removing a filling that is still doing its job is not usually recommended unless you have a good reason, so talk it through first.
How much does it cost to replace several fillings?
Because you pay per tooth, the total rises with each filling you change. Ask for an itemised quote, then check the real prices below to see what local dentists charge per tooth.
Why do quotes for the same job vary so much between dentists?
The number and size of your fillings matters most, but so does the practice itself. An independent dentist may price differently to a corporate chain, and city practices tend to charge more than ones in smaller towns. That is exactly why it is worth checking the real prices below rather than accepting the first quote you get.
Will replacing an amalgam filling always cost the same as the original filling did?
No. Removing old amalgam and rebuilding the tooth in composite is a different job to placing a fresh filling in healthy tooth structure, so pricing is usually set separately per tooth rather than matched to what the original filling cost years ago.
Can the price change once the dentist starts work?
It can, if removing the old filling uncovers decay or a crack that was not visible beforehand. In that case the treatment plan may need to change to a crown or root canal, and the price will change with it, so ask your dentist to flag this possibility and its likely cost before you begin.