Dental Fillings: Types, Lifespan and When to Replace

Key takeaways

• Composite (tooth-coloured) resin is now the usual material for most small and medium cavities.
• Amalgam is being phased out internationally, but intact amalgam fillings do not need replacing because of the material alone.
• A composite filling typically costs AED 400–900; lab-made inlays, onlays and crowns cost more.
• Mild sensitivity for a few days to weeks is common; lingering pain or pain on biting needs a check.

What a filling does and when one is enough

Once decay has broken through the enamel into the dentine, the cavity cannot heal on its own. The dentist numbs the tooth with local anaesthetic, removes the decay and replaces the lost structure with a material that seals the tooth and restores its shape and bite. Fillings also repair chipped teeth, worn notches and failed old fillings.

A filling is enough when plenty of healthy tooth remains to support it, as with most small and medium cavities. Very early decay confined to the enamel may need no drilling: fluoride, better cleaning and monitoring on later dental X-rays can stop it. The fillings treatment page describes the appointment.

Composite (tooth-coloured) fillings

A composite filling is a tooth-coloured mix of resin and fine glass or ceramic particles, shaded to match the tooth. It is placed in one visit, built up in layers that are each hardened with a curing light, then shaped and polished.

Because composite bonds to the tooth, less healthy tooth usually has to be removed than for amalgam, which relies on undercuts to stay in place. It contains no mercury and suits most cavities in front and back teeth. Its limitations: it needs a dry tooth and careful technique, the edges can stain over time, and very large back-tooth fillings under heavy biting may wear or chip sooner. It typically lasts 5–10 years, often longer when small.

Amalgam and why it is being phased out

Amalgam is the traditional silver-coloured filling, an alloy of mercury with silver, tin and copper. It is strong and tolerates moisture during placement; the American Dental Association (ADA) notes evidence that amalgam fillings have a higher survival rate and longevity than composite ones. Its drawbacks are its appearance, the extra tooth removed to hold it, and environmental concerns about mercury.

Regulation is moving away from it. The European Union first restricted amalgam for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, then banned it for all patients from 1 January 2025, except where a dentist judges it strictly necessary for a patient's specific medical needs. In 2025, parties to the UN Minamata Convention on Mercury agreed a worldwide end to the manufacture and trade of dental amalgam from 1 January 2035. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that higher-risk groups avoid new amalgam where possible: people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, nursing mothers, children (especially under six), and people with neurological conditions, reduced kidney function or a mercury allergy.

The FDA advises against removing amalgam fillings in good condition with no decay beneath, because removal takes away healthy tooth and briefly increases exposure to mercury vapour.

Ceramic and gold fillings

Ceramic and gold fillings are made outside the mouth from a scan or impression, then bonded or cemented in place, usually at a second visit. One that sits within the cusps is an inlay; one covering one or more cusps is an onlay.

• Ceramic is tooth-coloured, stain-resistant and very hard, but thin sections can chip under heavy grinding.
• Gold is very durable, gentle on opposing teeth and needs little tooth removed, but it is visible and costly.

Choosing a material by tooth and cavity size

Grinding, how easily the area can be kept dry, and budget also matter. Glass ionomer, a tooth-coloured material that releases fluoride, is sometimes used near the gum line, in baby teeth or as a temporary filling.

Cost of fillings in Dubai

A composite filling typically costs AED 400–900, depending on how many surfaces it covers, the size and depth of the cavity, whether it is a front tooth or a molar, and whether a protective lining is needed. A child filling typically costs AED 350–700.

Ceramic and gold inlays and onlays are made in a laboratory and priced individually, so they cost more. If a tooth needs a crown instead, a crown (ceramic or zirconia) typically costs AED 2,500–6,000. The guide to onlays, inlays and crowns compares the options, and the pricing page lists current ranges.

Sensitivity after a filling: normal vs concerning

Normal: mild sensitivity to cold, air or sweet food for a few days to a few weeks, easing gradually. It is commoner after deep fillings and usually settles without treatment; a sensitive toothpaste helps meanwhile.

Concerning, so contact the dentist if you notice:

• pain on biting that does not settle within a few days, often a slightly high filling that needs a quick adjustment;
• sensitivity to heat, or pain that lingers after the trigger has gone;
• spontaneous throbbing, or pain that wakes you;
• symptoms that worsen, or last beyond about four weeks;
• swelling of the gum or face.

Usual causes are a high bite, pulp inflammation under a deep cavity, a crack or a gap at the filling's edge. Dentists reduce the risk with a protective lining under deep fillings and a bite check before you leave. If the pulp cannot recover, root canal treatment is needed.

How long fillings last

These are typical ranges, not promises. Large fillings, chewing-surface fillings, grinding and frequent sugar all shorten a filling's life, and new decay at the edges is the commonest reason for replacement. Fluoride toothpaste, daily cleaning between the teeth, regular check-ups and a night guard for grinders help fillings last; see cavity prevention for adults.

Signs a filling needs replacing (and when to leave it)

Signs that a filling may be failing:

• a visible crack, chip or missing piece;
• a dark, soft line around the edge, or a shadow on an X-ray, suggesting new decay underneath;
• new sensitivity in a tooth that used to be comfortable;
• food packing, or floss shredding on a rough edge;
• a bad smell or taste around the filling.

A bad smell or taste usually means the seal has failed: tiny gaps at the edge let bacteria in, food collects under the margin or the bond has broken down, and decay can develop underneath. Brushing will not fix it, so book a check-up; caught early, the repair is usually smaller.

Some fillings are better left alone: minor staining with a sealed edge, a small ledge with no decay, or an intact amalgam filling. Every replacement removes a little more tooth, so polishing or a small repair is sometimes kinder. A replacement itself usually takes a single appointment.

When a filling is not enough: inlays, onlays and crowns

When a cavity is wide or the cusps are undermined, a large filling can flex under biting forces and split the tooth. An onlay rebuilds and protects weakened cusps while keeping more natural tooth than a crown. A crown covers the whole tooth and is often advised for a heavily filled or cracked tooth, or a back tooth after root canal treatment. The dental crown cost guide explains what drives the price.

Practical decision guide

General dental decisions should preserve healthy tooth structure whenever possible. A good plan moves from diagnosis to the least-invasive durable treatment, then to prevention so the same problem does not repeat.

Check this first

• X-rays, pulp vitality, crack lines, gum pocketing, bite contacts, and how much natural tooth remains.
• Whether the problem is active disease, old restoration failure, trauma, wear, or a cosmetic concern.
• Whether a filling, onlay, crown, root canal, extraction, or monitoring is the right next step.

When to book sooner

• Pain wakes you at night, lingers after hot or cold, hurts on biting, or comes with swelling.
• A crown or filling falls out, a tooth cracks, or a sharp edge is cutting the tongue or cheek.
• You notice pus, fever, spreading swelling, or difficulty opening, swallowing, or breathing.

Topic-specific notes

• For material choices, ask why that material fits the tooth location, bite force, aesthetics, allergy history, repairability, and expected lifespan.

Questions to ask at the appointment

• What is the diagnosis, and what evidence supports it on the x-ray or clinical exam?
• What is the smallest treatment that solves the problem predictably?
• What failure signs should I watch for after treatment?

Dubai patient note

If insurance is involved, ask whether pre-approval is required, what codes will be submitted, and what alternatives are clinically acceptable if coverage is limited.