Silver Fillings

The trusted workhorse

Silver (amalgam) fillings have been used for over 150 years and remain a strong, safe and long-lasting way to repair back teeth. Made from a mixture of metals including silver, tin and copper, they cope brilliantly with heavy chewing forces — which is why they're still a mainstay of NHS dentistry for molars.

Advantages

• Extremely durable — amalgam fillings routinely last 15–20 years or more.
• Tolerant of tough conditions — they set well even where a tooth is hard to keep dry, such as far back in the mouth.
• Available on the NHS for back teeth, making them an economical choice.

Are they safe?

Yes. Dental amalgam has been studied as thoroughly as almost any material in medicine, and authorities including the British Dental Association consider it safe for the vast majority of patients. Under environmental regulations its use is being phased down internationally, and it is avoided in children under 15 and pregnant or breastfeeding women as a precaution — in those cases we use alternatives.

Silver or white?

It usually comes down to position, size and preference: amalgam excels in large fillings on heavy-biting back teeth, while white fillings (from £40) are the choice where appearance matters. We'll always explain which options suit your tooth and give you a written estimate before starting.

Questions? Call us on 0141 554 0499.