Filling costs depend mainly on size and position - a small filling on a front tooth is a different job from a large one across the chewing surface of a molar. Most practices quote per filling after examining the tooth. Children and teenagers up to 18 are covered under the free School Dental Scheme.
We'll give you a figure, not a range
Quoting a national average here wouldn't help you much - the cost depends on your teeth. After an examination we'll give you a written plan with the cost of each item, before any treatment is booked. Ring 03 441 8248 and we'll arrange it.
What changes the price
- The size of the cavity - how many surfaces of the tooth are involved
- Which tooth, and how accessible it is
- Whether it's replacing an existing failed filling
- Whether the decay is deep enough to need additional protection over the nerve
- Whether an X-ray is needed to assess it
Why size matters more than material
People often ask about the material, but the bigger driver is how much tooth needs restoring. A filling covering one surface takes a fraction of the time of one rebuilding three surfaces and a cusp.
This is the practical argument for check-ups: the same tooth caught early is a small filling, and caught late is a large one, a crown, or a root canal.
Free for under-18s
Basic dental care including fillings is publicly funded for children and teenagers up to their 18th birthday. We're a registered provider for adolescents, so there's no cost to you for standard treatment in that age group.
When a filling isn't the right answer
There's a point where a filling has too little tooth left to hold onto, and the remaining walls are at risk of splitting. Paying for a large filling on a tooth that needs a crown often means paying twice. We'll say when you've reached that point.
