Dental Fillings In Turkey

Dental fillings are the go-to procedure when a tooth gets damaged by cavities or similar issues. Dental fillings may have been a common experience during childhood. Read below to learn how you can get cosmetic dental fillings that are effective as well as aesthetic.

What are Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are commonly used to cover up damage caused by cavities. The filling restores the missing enamel and may prevent the tooth from decaying further. Dentists may also use dental fillings to cover up minor physical damage to teeth. For example, bad habits like teeth grinding can wear down your teeth, and dental fillings are a popular choice to obscure the damage and contain it.

Different Types of Dental Fillings

Modern dentistry uses several types of material for dental fillings. The material is chosen based on effectiveness, its ability to bind to natural enamel, and how well it lasts in your mouth. Different materials bring different advantages. Let’s look at the five most common types of dental filling you can choose from at the dentist’s:

Composite Fillings

Composite dental fillings are made from two different materials, hence the name — a combination of a resin and a plastic. The filling is mixed as a paste, which is put into the cavity, where it hardens. Composite fillings are becoming popular because the material can closely imitate natural enamel, so they are well suited to filling cavities in teeth that are exposed when you smile — it’s not easy to tell the difference between a composite filling and natural enamel. Despite looking very much like real teeth, composite fillings do not last as long as some alternatives and often require replacing every five years or so. The material is also relatively expensive.

Ceramic Fillings

Ceramic fillings are made from medical-grade porcelain. Like composite resin, ceramic dental fillings can look very much like natural enamel and can be shaded to match the colour of your teeth. This type of filling is also highly resistant to staining, and compared to composite resin it is not prone to abrasion, so it lasts longer. However, the material itself is fragile — ceramic needs to be a reasonably large piece to be durable, which means your tooth must provide the necessary bulk for the filling to stay in place. As a result, ceramic dental fillings are often placed using special techniques called inlays and onlays. The aesthetic value of ceramic dental fillings comes at a higher price than composite resin fillings.

Gold Dental Fillings

Gold dental fillings were quite popular in the past (as seen in pirate pictures). In modern times, though, they have become far less popular, and dentists rarely offer them anymore. Gold fillings are expensive, but dentists once preferred the material for its sturdiness — gold doesn’t corrode and can last in your mouth for 15 years or more. These days, dentists prefer other materials.

Silver Amalgam Fillings

Silver amalgam dental fillings are made from a mixture of metals and minerals. If you thought this filling is entirely silver, it isn’t — silver amalgam fillings are about 50 percent mercury, with the other half made up of silver, zinc, copper, and tin. Despite its mercury content, silver amalgam is considered safe to use: both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Dental Association deem these fillings safe for most patients.

Silver amalgam is a very popular type of dental filling, and in most parts of the world it is the most widely used. Dentists prefer the material because it’s surprisingly durable and sturdy — a silver amalgam filling can last up to 15 years — and patients like it because it’s largely affordable. Though budget-friendly and long-lasting, silver amalgam dental fillings cannot imitate natural enamel and stand out in your mouth, so on front teeth, smiling may expose the filling. Silver amalgam also changes size in your mouth, contracting or expanding enough to show cracks over time, at which point you will need a new filling.

Glass Ionomer Fillings

Glass ionomer dental fillings, also known as glass and acrylic fillings, are mainly used in children’s teeth rather than adults’. The material is well suited to children’s teeth because the enamel is still changing, unlike in adults. These fillings protect children’s teeth from decay by releasing fluoride, a germ-killing mineral. However, the material is neither aesthetically pleasing nor especially durable — glass ionomer fillings last around five years or less, and it isn’t possible to match the material to tooth colour.

Which Type of Dental Filling is Best for You?

It might seem like there’s a lot of filling material to choose from. You can look through the pros and cons of each and choose what suits you best, but your dentist is the best person to advise you on which dental filling to use.

Most patients prefer ceramic dental fillings, mainly because the material can look like real teeth, and ceramic is commonly used in cosmetic procedures. If you are aiming to make your teeth look better while covering up damage, ceramic fillings might suit you — though they are fragile and can be expensive to replace. Composite dental fillings can be aesthetically pleasing as well, and are generally cheaper than ceramic, making them a good cosmetic option. If you value durability above all, then silver amalgam dental fillings are the best choice: the filling looks conspicuous against your natural teeth, but the material is affordable and durable. In short, for those who want to preserve their smile while covering up a cavity, cosmetic materials like ceramic and composite fillings are recommended, as metals like silver can noticeably affect your smile, especially on front teeth.

The Procedure to Get a Dental Filling

The procedure for getting a dental filling is relatively straightforward, and can usually be completed in a single visit. First, you need to have your teeth checked by a dentist, who may recommend a filling or an alternative (you can read about those below).

The procedure starts with your dentist numbing the affected area using a local anaesthetic — if the damage is minor, you may not need numbing. The dentist then cleans the cavity to remove the decayed material, using dental tools such as a drill, a laser, or an air abrasion tool. When the area is numbed, you won’t feel a thing while the tools are in use. A thorough cleaning follows the decay removal, so that no bacteria are trapped inside the filling.

After cleaning, your dentist begins the filling process. The filler you chose goes in first, and the dentist then seals the filling and hardens it against the enamel — several other materials may be applied. Finally, the dentist shapes the filling to match the tooth structure, and once it hardens, the procedure is done. You may have to stick to soft foods until the filling completely sets, after which you can brush your teeth as usual.

Possible Risks from Dental Fillings

Getting a tooth filling is not considered a risky dental procedure, but as with any treatment you may occasionally suffer complications. These risks are quite rare. Here are some potential complications of getting dental fillings:

Infection

A filling inside a cavity can sometimes pull away from the enamel, creating small pockets between the tooth and the filling material. Bacteria can get into these gaps and cause infections, and you may experience inflammation or a worsening toothache as a result. Infection is a risk if a cavity is not filled properly.

Tooth Damage

Dental fillings can sometimes crack or break, and in the process may damage the tooth. This doesn’t happen frequently, but in rare instances a hard bite or a knock to the mouth may cause a filling to crack and damage the enamel, which can result in infection or irritation. If you suspect a filling has cracked, you should see a dentist immediately. Overall, dentists recommend getting a filling rather than avoiding one — your teeth can be damaged more by a lack of a filling than by having one.

Are There Alternatives to Dental Fillings?

Dentists do not normally use alternatives to dental fillings, though options are available. If a dental filling would not adequately treat a cavity, for example, the dentist may recommend other approaches.

You can consider dental inlays and onlays to repair damage caused by decay or physical trauma. Inlays and onlays are a type of dental filling, but are commonly used to manage more extensive tooth damage. This type of treatment is longer-lasting than a standard filling — some inlays and onlays can last up to 30 years — and is designed to strengthen the tooth and restore its original shape as much as possible.

If you are seeking to repair cracked or similarly damaged teeth, you may benefit from dental veneers. This cosmetic treatment uses thin shells of porcelain to change the shape and shade of teeth; veneers may obscure damage from cavities and can even act as a protective barrier. In serious cases where a tooth needs to be removed, you can use a dental crown, a dental bridge, or a dental implant to act as an artificial tooth — a dental implant can restore a lost tooth from the root up.

However, these treatments are more expensive than dental fillings. You can discuss the alternatives with your dentist, as another method may suit your condition better — just be aware that cosmetic dental procedures, other than fillings, are not cheap.

Affording Cosmetic Dental Fillings

At our clinic in Antalya, a white composite filling is £59 with cash payment (£66 by card), all-inclusive. In the UK, the same tooth-coloured filling typically costs around £150 privately, so UK patients save roughly 60%. The NHS covers white fillings on front teeth under a Band 2 charge, but composite fillings on back teeth are usually treated as cosmetic and charged privately in full.

Getting a dental filling is not a major, costly procedure. However, costs can add up if you choose cosmetic dental fillings, or if the clinic you use charges a lot. If you have a medical insurance policy that covers dental care, the insurer is likely to cover a standard filling, but you may have to pay out of pocket for cosmetic procedures such as ceramic fillings.

You can reduce the overall cost of a dental filling by choosing an affordable clinic. If dental care is expensive in your country, as it commonly is in many Western countries, you can consider travelling to Turkey for affordable dental care. Turkey is one of the world’s leading dental-tourism destinations, offering care on par with Western Europe but at much lower clinical costs — so you can get the same quality of care for a far more affordable price. You can check our dental treatment prices or plan a full treatment with our Turkey Teeth Cost Calculator.

Combining fillings with other work? Our all-inclusive Turkey teeth packages bundle your treatment, hotel, airport transfers, and VIP care into one clear price.

Preventative Care Tips

Dental fillings can treat a cavity, but the material cannot fully restore the original functionality of a tooth. The best approach is to avoid the habits that put you at risk of cavities in the first place.

Dental cavities form because of bacteria in your mouth. After we eat, food residue gets stuck between the teeth, and the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar in this residue, releasing acids during digestion. This acid is highly detrimental to the natural enamel of your teeth — it gradually corrodes the enamel, causing cavities that expose the sensitive internal parts of the tooth. When a cavity gets deep enough to reach a nerve, you experience severe tooth pain.

Avoiding cavities is easier than you think:

• Brush your teeth twice a day, as dentists recommend
• Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which promotes enamel health and keeps mouth bacteria at bay
• Limit sugary foods and beverages
• Don’t eat at night after brushing — going to sleep with sugar residue on your teeth is a good way to end up with cavities

Good oral hygiene in general will keep your teeth cavity-free. For more detail, see our guides on choosing oral care products for your caries risk and the benefits of regular dental check-ups.

Your Dental Fillings Are Guaranteed

Tooth-coloured composite and ceramic dental fillings (including inlays and onlays) placed at our clinic carry a 2-year guarantee, along with a written aftercare plan, provided you attend your yearly check-up and follow the preventative advice above. See full details of our warranties.

Why Choose Smile Dental Turkey for Your Dental Fillings?

Natural-Looking, Tooth-Coloured Fillings

We focus on aesthetic, tooth-coloured composite and ceramic fillings that blend seamlessly with your natural enamel — so a filling on a visible tooth stays invisible. Every filling is placed by an experienced, government-registered dentist. You can meet the full team of dentists in Turkey and read every credential in full.

Officially Accredited & Verified

• Turkish Dental Association (TDB) — Accredited Member: Our clinic and clinicians adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards nationally recognised in Turkey.
• Turkish Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery — Member: Reflecting our specialist surgical team.
• AACI Accredited (American Accreditation Commission International): Independent international accreditation for dental organisations, verifiable on the official AACI registry.
• ISO 9001:2015 Certified by AACI: The internationally recognised standard for quality management in healthcare.
• Official Health Tourism Certificate (Turkish Ministry of Health): The government accreditation that makes your treatment guarantee legally valid and enforceable after you return home. Many clinics operating in Turkey do not hold this certificate.
• HealthTürkiye — Government-Listed Provider: We are officially listed on the Turkish Ministry of Health’s international health-tourism platform (operated by USHAŞ). You can verify our clinic directly on the government .gov.tr portal.

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Get Your Free Assessment

Not sure whether you need a simple filling, an inlay, or a more extensive restoration? Start your free online dental consultation — send us a few photos and our dentists will recommend the right treatment for your tooth, with no obligation.