Barsha Heights, Tecom, Dubai 
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Dental Filling Types Compared: Materials, Cost, Lifespan
17/05/2025 · Dental Restorations in DubaiOrthodontics in Dubai
17/05/2025
Dental filling types fall into five materials: composite resin, ceramic, glass ionomer, amalgam and gold. Composite resin suits most everyday cavities because it bonds to the tooth and matches enamel shade, and it is AED 400 to 800 per filling at our Dubai clinic. Ceramic, glass ionomer, amalgam and gold are not on our published price list, so they are quoted at consultation.
Not sure which filling material your tooth needs? Message us on WhatsApp or call +971 4 266 6763, and read how we place composite fillings at Mint Dental Care.
Dental filling materials compared side by side
This is the comparison most patients want before they sit in the chair. The table sets each tooth filling material against appearance, the teeth it suits, how long it tends to last, and whether we publish a price for it.
| Material | Appearance | Where it suits | How long it lasts | Priced on our list? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite resin | Shade-matched to enamel, natural look | Front teeth, small and medium cavities in molars | About 7 to 10 years | Yes, AED 400 to 800 |
| Ceramic inlay or onlay | Tooth-coloured, resists staining | Large cavities and worn molars | About 10 to 15 years | No, quoted at consultation |
| Glass ionomer | Tooth-like but duller than composite | Baby teeth, gum-line and root-surface decay | About 3 to 5 years | No, quoted at consultation |
| Amalgam (silver) | Clearly metallic grey | Back molars where looks do not matter | About 10 to 15 years | No, quoted at consultation |
| Gold inlay | Clearly metallic yellow | Back molars under heavy chewing load | 15 years or more | No, quoted at consultation |
How to read the comparison table
No single row wins every column. Composite leads on appearance and single-visit convenience, ceramic and gold lead on lifespan, glass ionomer leads on fluoride protection, and amalgam leads on tolerance of difficult, hard-to-dry cavities. The material that fits your tooth is the one that scores well in the columns your specific cavity depends on.
Which filling type suits each tooth
Front teeth are visible and carry light biting force, so composite resin is the usual answer there. Premolars take moderate load and still show when you laugh, so composite again. First and second molars grind food under the heaviest force in the mouth, so a large cavity there often does better with a bonded ceramic onlay than with a wide direct filling.
What modern fillings are made of
Modern fillings are mostly bonded, tooth-coloured materials rather than packed metal. Composite is a resin matrix loaded with fine glass or ceramic particles. Ceramic restorations are milled from a solid block of lithium disilicate or zirconia. Glass ionomer is a glass powder set with an acid, which is where its fluoride release comes from.
Five factors that decide the material
Tooth position, cavity size, how long you want the repair to hold, your bite and grinding habits, and any metal sensitivity. Our dentists weigh all five together, and the written treatment plan says which material goes in which tooth. A step-by-step walkthrough of that decision sits in our guide on how to choose the right dental filling.
Composite resin fillings
Composite resin is the material we place most often, and it is the only filling with a published price on our list at AED 400 to 800 per tooth. It is bonded into the cavity in layers and hardened with a curing light, which means the restoration is finished in the same appointment.
Resin cavity filling, what it actually is
A resin cavity filling is a paste of plastic resin and glass filler that starts soft and sets hard. The dentist removes decay, etches the enamel, paints on a bonding agent, then builds the resin up in thin layers. Each layer is cured before the next goes in, which limits shrinkage and keeps the seal tight.
How long composite resin lasts
Expect about 7 to 10 years from a well-placed composite on a tooth that is cared for. Small front-tooth repairs often run longer because they take almost no chewing load. Wide composites in molars wear faster, and heavy grinders can shorten that figure by several years.
Composite cavity filling cost at our clinic
Our published composite filling price is AED 400 to 800 per tooth. Where you land in that band depends on how many surfaces of the tooth the cavity reaches and how much build-up the shape needs. A one-surface repair sits near the lower end, a three-surface rebuild near the upper end.
Which fillings give the most natural look
For a natural look, composite and ceramic are the two realistic choices. Composite is shade-matched chairside against your neighbouring teeth, so a small front repair becomes hard to spot. Ceramic holds its colour longer because it does not pick up coffee and tea staining the way resin can over a decade.
Ceramic inlays and onlays
Ceramic is the tooth-coloured option for cavities too large for a direct filling. An inlay fills the hollow between the cusps. An onlay covers one or more cusps as well. Both are made outside the mouth, then bonded in, so the shape and contact points are more precise than hand-built resin.
When an inlay or onlay suits a molar
When the cavity is wider than about a third of the chewing surface, or a cusp is already cracked, a bonded onlay spreads the load across the tooth instead of wedging it apart. It is the middle step between a filling and a crown, and it keeps more natural tooth than a crown does.
How ceramic restorations are priced here
Ceramic inlays and onlays are not on our published price list, so they are quoted at consultation after the dentist sees how much tooth is left. For reference, a full crown, which is the next step up, is listed at AED 1,500 to 3,000 per tooth on our dental service prices page.
Amalgam (silver) fillings
Amalgam is the grey metal filling that dominated dentistry for a century. It is packed into the cavity rather than bonded, so it needs a slightly wider preparation to lock in place. Most patients now choose a tooth-coloured material instead, and amalgam is quoted at consultation rather than listed.
What amalgam is made of
Amalgam is an alloy of silver, tin and copper bound with mercury. The mercury is chemically locked into the set alloy, not sitting loose in the tooth. Its strengths are compressive strength and tolerance of a cavity that will not stay dry, which is why it survived so long in back teeth.
Are silver fillings safe to keep?
Major health authorities consider set amalgam safe for most adults, and drilling out a sound, sealed silver filling releases more mercury vapour than leaving it alone does. We advise replacing an amalgam when it is cracked, leaking, decayed underneath or worn through, and otherwise monitoring it at check-ups.
Swapping old silver fillings for composite
If you want a silver filling changed for cosmetic reasons, it is a straightforward appointment under local anaesthetic, and the replacement composite is priced at AED 400 to 800. Bear in mind the new filling restarts the 7 to 10 year clock, and the cavity usually ends up slightly larger than the original.
Glass ionomer fillings
Glass ionomer is the quiet workhorse for low-load situations. It chemically sticks to tooth structure without heavy drilling, sets quickly, and slowly releases fluoride into the tooth around it. In exchange it wears and chips sooner than composite, so it is not a molar chewing-surface material.
Where glass ionomer fits
Baby teeth that will fall out anyway, cavities at the gum line, root-surface decay on older adults, and cavities in patients who struggle to sit through a long appointment. It is also the material most temporary fillings are made from, because it seals well and comes out cleanly.
Fluoride release and decay protection
The fluoride that leaches out of glass ionomer strengthens the enamel immediately around the filling, which gives useful protection at the margins where new decay normally starts. That protection is local and modest. It does not replace brushing with fluoride toothpaste or flossing around the edge of the restoration.
Gold fillings and what a gold filling costs
Gold inlays are the longest-serving filling material in dentistry and the least requested today. The inlay is cast in a laboratory from a gold alloy and cemented into the prepared cavity, which takes two appointments. Its colour is the reason most patients rule it out before cost even comes up.
How long a gold filling lasts
A gold inlay commonly passes 15 years and often goes well beyond that. Gold does not corrode, it wears at roughly the same rate as enamel, so it is gentle on the tooth biting against it, and it can be made in a very thin section without fracturing.
Gold filling cost at Mint Dental Care
Gold is not on our published price list, so we quote it at consultation. The quote depends on the live gold price on the day, the laboratory fee and the size of the inlay, which is exactly why no honest fixed figure can be printed in advance. Ask us for a written quote before you decide.
Which permanent tooth filling material lasts longest
If durability is your priority, the order is gold, then ceramic, then amalgam, then composite, then glass ionomer. If you want durable dental fillings that still look like teeth, ceramic is the one that sits highest on both lists at once.
| Permanent filling material | Typical lifespan | Visits needed | Natural appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold inlay | 15 years or more | Two | No |
| Ceramic inlay or onlay | About 10 to 15 years | Two, or one if milled in-house | Yes |
| Amalgam | About 10 to 15 years | One | No |
| Composite resin | About 7 to 10 years | One | Yes |
| Glass ionomer | About 3 to 5 years | One | Partly |
Durable dental fillings ranked by effectiveness in molars
Effectiveness in a molar is about surviving roughly 700 newtons of bite force thousands of times a day. Gold and ceramic handle that load more reliably than the rest of the group, amalgam holds up well in a small to medium cavity, and composite performs reliably until the cavity gets wide, at which point an onlay is the sturdier answer.
What shortens a filling’s life
Grinding and clenching, chewing ice or hard sweets, acidic drinks that erode the margins, decay restarting at the edge because floss never reaches it, and a cavity that was already very large when it was filled. Four of those five are inside your control.
Are dental fillings safe?
Every filling material used in UAE dental practice is approved for use in the mouth and has decades of clinical data behind it. Safe dental fillings are mostly a matter of matching material to patient, and telling the dentist about any allergy or sensitivity before the appointment starts.
Mercury questions answered directly
The mercury in set amalgam is bound in the alloy, and exposure from an intact filling is far below the levels linked to harm. Amalgam is avoided in pregnancy, in young children and in anyone with a diagnosed mercury allergy. If you simply prefer no metal in your mouth, say so and we use composite or ceramic.
Composite resin and BPA
Some composites release a trace amount of BPA-related compounds in the first hours after placement, which is why we rinse and polish the restoration thoroughly before you leave. The measured amounts are tiny compared with everyday dietary exposure, and BPA-free composite systems are available on request.
Allergy and metal sensitivity
True allergy to filling materials is rare, but nickel and mercury reactions do occur. Tell us at the consultation and we plan around it with composite, ceramic or glass ionomer, none of which contain those metals. Bring any allergy card or dermatology report you already have.
Temporary filling vs permanent filling
A temporary filling is a deliberate short-term seal, not a cheaper permanent one. It exists so the tooth stays sealed between appointments, and it is made soft enough to lift out without drilling. A permanent filling is bonded or packed to stay for years.
| Point of difference | Temporary filling | Permanent filling |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Seals the tooth between visits | Restores the tooth for years |
| Usual material | Glass ionomer or zinc oxide cement | Composite, ceramic, amalgam or gold |
| How long it stays | Days to a few weeks | 3 to 15 years or more |
| Removal | Lifts out without drilling | Needs drilling to replace |
| When we use it | During root canal treatment, while a lab makes an inlay, or to settle pain | Once the tooth is clean, dry and ready |
How long a temporary filling lasts
Plan on a few weeks at most. Temporary cements wear at the biting surface and lose their seal, so the appointment that follows should already be booked when the temporary goes in. Multi-stage care such as root canal treatment, listed at AED 1,500 to 3,500, is the commonest reason for one.
If a temporary filling falls out
Call the clinic the same day so we can reseal the tooth. An open tooth lets bacteria and food back into the cleaned chamber, and that is what turns a straightforward repair into a repeat treatment. Keep the area clean, avoid chewing on it, and do not use a shop-bought cement for more than a night.
Cavity filling cost in Dubai
Only one filling figure is on our published list, and it is the composite one. Everything else is quoted at consultation once the dentist and the X-ray show how much tooth has to be rebuilt. Here is what we do publish around a filling appointment.
| Item | Published price |
|---|---|
| Consultation with a general dentist | AED 200 |
| Consultation with a specialist | AED 300 |
| Periapical or bitewing X-ray | AED 150 |
| Panoramic X-ray | AED 250 |
| Composite filling | AED 400 to 800 per tooth |
| Root canal treatment | AED 1,500 to 3,500 |
| Crown per tooth | AED 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Ceramic, glass ionomer, amalgam or gold filling | Quoted at consultation |
Why tooth cavity filling cost varies
Three things move the number inside the AED 400 to 800 composite band: how many surfaces of the tooth the decay has reached, whether the cavity runs below the gum and needs isolation, and whether the tooth needs a liner because the decay sits close to the nerve.
Keeping fillings affordable
The affordable route is the early one. A one-surface composite at the lower end of the band costs a fraction of a root canal at AED 1,500 to 3,500 on the same tooth two years later. Six-monthly check-ups are what keep repairs in the filling bracket. A fuller breakdown sits in our dental filling cost in Dubai guide.
Materials we quote at consultation
Ceramic inlays and onlays, glass ionomer, amalgam and gold all carry a laboratory or material cost that changes with the case, so we will not print a figure we cannot stand behind. You get a written quote after the examination and before anything is drilled.
Dental filling replacement guide
Fillings are repairs, not permanent parts of the tooth, so every one will eventually need replacing. The job of a check-up is to catch that moment before the tooth underneath is damaged, because a filling replaced on time is still a filling, while a filling left too long becomes a crown or a root canal.
Signs a filling needs replacing
- Sharp sensitivity to cold or to biting down on that one tooth.
- Floss shredding or catching on the edge of the restoration.
- A visible dark line or grey shadow at the margin of the filling.
- A rough, chipped or stepped surface you can feel with your tongue.
- Food packing between that tooth and its neighbour every meal.
What replacement involves
Under local anaesthetic the dentist removes the old material, checks for decay underneath, then rebuilds the tooth. Replacing a composite with a composite is one visit at AED 400 to 800. If the cavity has grown wide or a cusp has cracked, the plan may change to an onlay or a crown, and we tell you before starting.
Can 3 fillings be done in one appointment?
Yes. 3 fillings on the same side of the mouth are routinely placed in a single visit, because one area of local anaesthetic covers all of them. Fillings spread across both sides are usually split over two appointments so you are not left numb on both sides at once.
When a crown replaces a filling
A tooth needs a crown when too little sound structure is left for a filling to grip. The usual triggers are a cavity covering more than about half the tooth, a crack running through a cusp, or a tooth that has just had root canal treatment and is now hollow and brittle.
Filling, onlay or crown
Think of it as three steps up in coverage. A filling rebuilds part of the chewing surface. An onlay rebuilds the surface and one or more cusps. A crown wraps the whole tooth. Each step keeps the tooth working but removes a little more natural structure, so we stop at the lowest step that will hold.
What a crown costs here
Crowns are listed at AED 1,500 to 3,000 per tooth, and our crowns and bridges service page explains how the tooth is prepared and how long a crown takes. A crown is the reason we would rather replace a tired filling early than wait for the cusp to go.
How to make any filling last longer
Material choice sets the ceiling on a filling’s life, but home care decides whether you reach that ceiling. Most fillings we replace early failed at the margin, where plaque sat undisturbed, rather than in the middle of the restoration.
Daily care around a filling
Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth once a day, slipping the floss carefully past the filling’s edge rather than snapping it down. If floss keeps fraying in the same spot, that is a margin problem to have looked at, not a flossing technique problem.
Night guards and grinding
Grinding flattens composite and can fracture ceramic. If you wake with a tight jaw or your partner hears grinding, a custom night guard protects both the fillings and the enamel around them. We take a digital scan for one at a routine appointment.
Diet and acidic drinks
Fizzy drinks, energy drinks and frequent fruit juice soften the enamel at the filling margin, which is where new decay starts. Keep them to mealtimes, rinse with water afterwards, and wait half an hour before brushing so you are not scrubbing softened enamel.
Check-up schedule
Every six months for most patients, and every three to four months if you grind, smoke or have a history of repeated decay. A routine dental check-up with a bitewing X-ray at AED 150 shows decay starting under a filling long before you feel anything.
There is no single filling material that wins for every tooth, which is why this page is a comparison rather than a ranking. Composite resin answers most everyday cavities at AED 400 to 800, ceramic takes over when the cavity is large, glass ionomer suits children and gum-line decay, and amalgam and gold remain durable options we quote at consultation. Bring the tooth in, and the examination and X-ray will narrow five materials down to one.
Mint Dental Care, Barsha Heights (TECOM), Dubai. MOHAP-licensed clinic with a 4.9-star patient rating. Call +971 4 266 6763, message us on WhatsApp, or use our contact page to book a filling consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of filling is right for teeth?
Composite resin suits most teeth, because it bonds to the tooth, matches your enamel shade and is finished in one visit at AED 400 to 800. For a large cavity in a molar, a bonded ceramic onlay holds up longer. The deciding factors are the tooth’s position, the cavity size and your bite.
Which permanent tooth filling material is the most durable?
Gold is the most durable, commonly passing 15 years, with ceramic close behind at about 10 to 15 years. Amalgam sits in the same bracket as ceramic, composite runs about 7 to 10 years, and glass ionomer about 3 to 5. Gold and amalgam are quoted at consultation rather than listed.
How much does a cavity filling cost in Dubai?
Our published composite filling price is AED 400 to 800 per tooth. The consultation is AED 200 with a general dentist or AED 300 with a specialist, and a bitewing X-ray is AED 150. Ceramic, glass ionomer, amalgam and gold fillings are quoted at consultation once the dentist has examined the tooth.
What does a gold filling cost?
Gold is not on our published price list, so we quote it at consultation. The figure depends on the gold price on the day, the laboratory fee and the size of the inlay, and it needs two appointments. If longevity is the goal but gold is not, a bonded ceramic onlay is the tooth-coloured alternative.
Are dental fillings safe?
Yes. Every material we use is approved for intraoral use and backed by long clinical records. Set amalgam releases far less mercury than removing a sound one does, and composite is rinsed and polished so trace residues are cleared before you leave. Tell us about any metal allergy and we plan around it.
How long does a temporary filling last compared with a permanent one?
A temporary filling is meant for days to a few weeks and lifts out without drilling. A permanent filling is bonded or packed to last 3 to 15 years depending on the material. If a temporary comes out before your next appointment, call us the same day so the tooth can be resealed.
Which dental fillings have the most natural look?
Composite and ceramic. Composite is shade-matched against your neighbouring teeth in the chair, so small front repairs are hard to see. Ceramic keeps its colour longer because it does not absorb coffee or tea stain. Amalgam and gold are plainly metallic, and glass ionomer is tooth-like but duller than composite.
When does a dental filling need replacing?
When floss shreds on its edge, a dark line shows at the margin, the surface feels chipped, or the tooth turns sharply sensitive to cold. Composite usually reaches that point around 7 to 10 years, ceramic and amalgam around 10 to 15. A bitewing X-ray at AED 150 finds decay under a filling before symptoms start.