Your dentist will offer the most appropriate type of filling according to your clinical needs. The most common type of filling is an amalgam, made from a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc.
Fillingsįillings are used to repair a hole in a tooth caused by decay. It can take some time for the lab to prepare a new crown, so you probably won't have the crown fitted on the same day. To fit a crown, the old tooth will need to be drilled down so it's like a small peg the crown will be fixed on to. It's made from either metal, or porcelain and metal, and is fixed in your mouth.Ĭrowns can be fitted where a tooth has broken, decayed or been damaged, or just to make a tooth look better. CrownsĪ crown is a type of cap that completely covers a real tooth. It's made by taking an impression of the surrounding teeth, which will eventually support the bridge.Ī bridge is usually created from precious metal and porcelain and will be fixed in your mouth (unlike dentures, which can be removed). BridgesĪ bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. With the exception of teeth whitening, implants and veneers, the treatments on this page are usually available on the NHS.Īlways ask your dentist whether the treatment they're recommending is available on the NHS and how much it'll cost before you go ahead. The cost depends on the type of treatment and which cost band the treatment is covered by. Some are readily available on the NHS, while some may only be available on the NHS in certain circumstances.Īs with glasses and prescription costs, you have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment. This is a guide to the main treatments carried out by dentists.