Meet Our Dental Team
Our experienced dental team is fully qualified and registered with the GDC, delivering safe, high-quality care in line with the highest professional standards.
Because our patients deserve nothing less.
Both composite bonding and dental fillings use a tooth-coloured composite resin — but they serve very different purposes. Understanding the difference is important when deciding which treatment is right for your teeth.
Composite bonding is a cosmetic treatment used to improve the appearance of healthy teeth — repairing chips, closing small gaps, or reshaping uneven edges. Fillings, on the other hand, are a restorative treatment designed to repair teeth affected by decay or structural damage.
This guide explains the key differences to help you understand your options. The most suitable treatment will always depend on a clinical assessment by your dentist.
| Feature | Composite Bonding | Dental Fillings |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Cosmetic improvement | Treating decay or damage |
| Material Used | Composite resin (tooth-coloured) | Composite resin or amalgam |
| Strength | Moderate — suited to low-stress areas | Moderate to high — designed for load-bearing |
| Durability | 5–10 years with care | 5–15 years depending on material |
| Aesthetic Result | Excellent — shaped and polished to match | Good (white fillings) to functional (amalgam) |
| Treatment Time | 30–60 minutes per tooth | 30–45 minutes per tooth |
| Cost (Per Tooth) | From £197.50 (member) / £395 | From £92.50 (member) / £185 |
| Longevity | 5–10 years | 5–15 years |
| Maintenance | May need touch-ups or polishing | Routine check-ups and hygiene |
| Best Suited For | Chips, gaps, reshaping, minor cosmetic flaws | Cavities, decay, small fractures |
Primary Purpose
Bonding
Cosmetic improvement
Filling
Treating decay or damage
Material Used
Bonding
Composite resin (tooth-coloured)
Filling
Composite resin or amalgam
Strength
Bonding
Moderate — suited to low-stress areas
Filling
Moderate to high — designed for load-bearing
Durability
Bonding
5–10 years with care
Filling
5–15 years depending on material
Aesthetic Result
Bonding
Excellent — shaped and polished to match
Filling
Good (white fillings) to functional (amalgam)
Treatment Time
Bonding
30–60 minutes per tooth
Filling
30–45 minutes per tooth
Cost (Per Tooth)
Bonding
From £197.50 (member) / £395
Filling
From £92.50 (member) / £185
Longevity
Bonding
5–10 years
Filling
5–15 years
Maintenance
Bonding
May need touch-ups or polishing
Filling
Routine check-ups and hygiene
Best Suited For
Bonding
Chips, gaps, reshaping, minor cosmetic flaws
Filling
Cavities, decay, small fractures
Composite bonding is a cosmetic dental treatment where a tooth-coloured composite resin is applied directly to the surface of a tooth and carefully shaped by hand. It is then hardened with a curing light and polished to blend naturally with the surrounding teeth.
The treatment is typically used for cosmetic improvements — repairing small chips, closing minor gaps between teeth, reshaping uneven or worn edges, or covering surface discolouration. It is completed in a single visit, usually taking 30–60 minutes per tooth, with little to no preparation of the natural tooth required.
Composite bonding is most suitable for patients with healthy teeth who want to improve their appearance. Ideal for those with minor chips, small gaps, uneven edges, or mild discolouration who prefer a conservative, reversible cosmetic treatment.
A dental filling is a restorative treatment used to repair a tooth that has been damaged by decay. The decayed portion of the tooth is removed, and the resulting cavity is filled with a durable material to restore the tooth's shape and function.
Modern white fillings use a composite resin that is colour-matched to your natural teeth, providing a discreet result. Fillings are one of the most common dental treatments, typically completed in a single appointment of 30–45 minutes. They are essential for preventing further decay and protecting the tooth from additional damage.
Dental fillings are appropriate for patients with tooth decay, small cavities, or minor structural damage that needs clinical restoration. They are recommended when a dentist identifies decay during an examination and the tooth can be preserved with a conservative filling rather than more extensive treatment.
Composite bonding is a cosmetic treatment for improving the appearance of healthy teeth. Fillings are a clinical necessity for treating decay and preventing further damage to the tooth.
Fillings are specifically designed to restore function in areas that bear biting pressure. Bonding is applied to the tooth surface and is best suited for areas with lower mechanical stress.
Fillings typically last 5–15 years depending on size and location. Composite bonding lasts 5–10 years and may require periodic maintenance or replacement.
Bonding offers a higher level of cosmetic refinement — it is sculpted and polished to enhance shape and symmetry. White fillings provide a natural appearance but are designed primarily to restore, not reshape.
Fillings address an active clinical problem — decay. Bonding is an elective cosmetic treatment chosen to improve appearance. Your dentist will recommend a filling if decay is present, regardless of cosmetic preferences.
White fillings start from £92.50 per tooth for members (£185 non-members). Composite bonding starts from £197.50 (£395 non-members). Membership halves the cost of both treatments.
Costs depend on the extent of treatment, the number of teeth involved, and individual clinical needs. Below are our current prices for each treatment.
| Treatment | Our Price (Per Tooth) | Typical Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Composite Bonding | From £197.50 (member) / £395 | 5–10 years |
| White Filling (Small) | From £92.50 (member) / £185 | 5–10 years |
| White Filling (Medium) | From £130 (member) / £260 | 7–12 years |
| White Filling (Large) | From £152.50 (member) / £305 | 5–15 years |
Composite Bonding
White Filling (Small)
White Filling (Medium)
White Filling (Large)
Composite bonding is a cosmetic procedure and is typically privately priced. Fillings are a clinical treatment and costs vary based on the size of the cavity and the material used. Final costs depend on your individual treatment plan.
If your teeth are healthy but you want to improve their appearance — fixing chips, closing gaps, or reshaping edges — composite bonding is the appropriate cosmetic solution.
Composite BondingIf you have a cavity or active decay, a dental filling is the clinically necessary treatment to restore the tooth and prevent further damage.
Dental FillingFor small chips, worn edges, or superficial cracks on otherwise healthy teeth, composite bonding offers a conservative repair without drilling.
Composite BondingFor teeth under regular biting stress or with larger areas of damage, fillings are designed for functional durability and can last up to 15 years.
Dental FillingThe best way to determine which treatment is right for you is with a personalised consultation. Our dental team will examine your teeth and recommend the most appropriate option — whether that is cosmetic bonding, a restorative filling, or a combination of both.
This page is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised dental advice. Individual diagnosis and treatment recommendations require a clinical examination by a qualified dental professional. All treatment outcomes depend on individual clinical factors and cannot be guaranteed. The suitability of composite bonding or dental fillings is determined during a clinical assessment. South Kensington Medical & Dental is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and all practitioners are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).
Our experienced dental team is fully qualified and registered with the GDC, delivering safe, high-quality care in line with the highest professional standards.
Because our patients deserve nothing less.
At South Kensington Medical & Dental, we are fully registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and our clinicians are registered with the relevant UK regulatory bodies, including the GDC and GMC. Our dentists, dental nurses and medical professionals deliver care that meets the highest clinical, safety and ethical standards, because our patients deserve nothing less.
