How Much Is a Filling in the UK? Private Prices in 2026
TL;DR
A private white filling costs £90 to £250 in the UK, with a typical single-surface filling at £150. NHS Band 2 covers every filling in one course for £76.60.
Table of Contents
How much is a filling: the short version
A private white filling costs £90 to £250 per tooth in the UK, and the typical single-surface filling costs £150. That £150 is the median from myTribe research in August 2026, which read the published fees of 9,269 UK dental practices. A small filling on a front tooth sits near the bottom of the range, and a large filling on a back tooth sits near the top.
On the NHS in England, the price is fixed: Band 2 costs £76.60 and covers every filling you need in one course of treatment. The gap between £76.60 and £150 to £250 is the reason many people ask what private care buys them. The short answer is choice of material, appointment time and dentist, not a different filling. A white composite filling is the same material in both systems when it is clinically needed.
Figure 1: A dentist places a filling for a patient in the chair. A private white filling uses composite resin matched to the shade of the tooth.
Private filling prices by size
Size is the main driver. Dentists charge by the number of surfaces the filling covers: one surface is a small repair, three or more is a large one.
| Filling | Typical private cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White filling, small (1 surface) | £90 to £160 | Front teeth and small repairs. |
| White filling, medium (2 surfaces) | £130 to £220 | Most common size for a back tooth. |
| White filling, large (3+ surfaces) | £180 to £250 | Large repairs, often on molars. |
| Amalgam filling (silver) | £80 to £150 | Cheaper, rarely chosen for visible teeth. |
The myTribe median of £150 for a single-surface white filling sits near the top of the DentistCost small range of £90 to £160, because London and South East practices pull the median up. DentistCost puts a medium white filling at £130 to £220 and a large one at £180 to £250.
What the big chains charge
Starting prices vary widely between practices, even inside one chain. The Dose Club read the published price pages of Bupa Dental Care, mydentist and an independent practice on 22 October 2026. A starting price is the lowest price for the simplest case, so your quote can come in higher.
| Practice | Small white filling, from | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bupa Dental Care, Islington | £300 | Central London. The dearest starting price found. |
| Bupa Dental Care, Sale | £240 | North West. Same chain, £60 less than Islington. |
| mydentist, England and Wales | £174 | Standard price list, regional differences apply. |
| Wood Lane Dentistry, Sonning Common | £157 | Independent practice in Oxfordshire. |
NHS vs private: what you pay
NHS dental charges in England are fixed bands, in force from 1 April 2026. Band 1 is £27.90 for a check-up and simple care. Band 2 is £76.60 and covers everything in Band 1 plus fillings, root canal work and extractions, however many fillings the course needs. Band 3 is £332.10 for crowns, dentures and bridges. White fillings are provided on the NHS when clinically needed, for example on front teeth. For a back tooth the NHS may offer a silver amalgam filling instead, and a white filling there is a private choice.
Worked example: two fillings, private vs NHS
Say you need two medium white fillings. At the myTribe typical price of £150 each, the private bill is £300. On the NHS in England, both fillings fall in one course of treatment, so you pay one Band 2 charge of £76.60. The difference is £223.40. That is the real comparison to make before you book: two fillings, one course, one fixed charge against two per-tooth private fees.
What changes the price
- Size: a one-surface filling costs far less than a three-surface one on the same tooth.
- Tooth: back teeth cost more. They take longer, need more material and are harder to reach.
- Location: central London practices charge 30 to 50% more than the Midlands or the North.
- Material: white composite costs more than amalgam, and it takes longer to layer and shape.
Sources: myTribe Insurance private dental treatment research, August 2026 (9,269 practices, 248,154 prices; white filling typical £150, range £120 to £180); The Dose Club private dentist prices, price pages read 22 October 2026 and checked 24 October 2026 (white filling starting price £78 to £300); DentistCost filling cost guide, updated 8 November 2026 (white £90 to £250, amalgam £80 to £150); NHS England dental charge bands from 1 April 2026 (Band 2 £76.60). Prices checked 14 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a private filling in the UK?
A private white filling costs £90 to £250 per tooth. The typical single-surface filling is £150. A small filling is £90 to £160, a medium one £130 to £220, and a large one £180 to £250.
How much is a filling on the NHS?
£76.60 in England. That is the Band 2 charge, and it covers every filling in one course of treatment, however many teeth need one.
Is a white filling dearer than a silver one?
Yes. A private white filling costs £90 to £250, and a private amalgam filling costs £80 to £150. White composite takes longer to place and shape, which is part of the price.
Why do filling prices vary so much?
Each practice sets its own fees. Size, tooth position, material, location and the dentist all move the price. Central London can cost 30 to 50% more than the Midlands or the North.
Do I pay per filling on the NHS?
No. You pay per course of treatment, not per item. One Band 2 charge of £76.60 covers all the fillings in that course.
More from the Blog
Was this article helpful?
Comments
Loading comments...