General & Restorative20 July 20253 min read

Tooth Filling Types: Composite, Amalgam, Ceramic, Gold

Each has pros and cons. Here's how to choose the right filling material for your tooth.

Dr. Fatima Hassan

General Dentist & Endodontist

Composite (tooth-coloured)

Bonded directly
Matches tooth shade
AED 400–900
Lifespan: 5–10 years

Amalgam (silver)

Very durable
Visible silver colour
AED 300–600
Lifespan: 10–20 years
Being phased out in Dubai (mercury concerns)

Ceramic (porcelain, E.max)

Lab-made, bonded
Best aesthetics
AED 1,800–3,500
Lifespan: 15+ years

Gold

Strongest, rarely chosen today
AED 3,000–5,500
Lifespan: 30+ years

Recommended choice

Small anterior: composite
Medium posterior: composite or ceramic
Large: ceramic onlay or crown
Budget: composite

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.