Temporary fillings in the UK - when are they used and how much do they cost?

Temporary fillings in the UK - when are they used and how much do they cost?

On 21 February 202425 June 2024In Polish Dentist in the UK, General Dentistry

A temporary filling in the UK is used to protect the tooth from bacteria and harmful external factors or in cases of heavy bleeding. It is much less permanent than a filling, but nevertheless often necessary to heal a tooth. Read our article to find out exactly what a filling is, when it should be removed and how much it costs. 

What is a temporary filling?

A temporary filling, or colloquially known as a sealer, is nothing more than a plastic dental material. The most popular is zinc sulphate cement. It is durable enough to protect the tooth, but also easy to remove. 

The main purpose of a temporary filling is the aforementioned protection of the inner part of the tooth against bacteria and external factors. 

When is a flechette used?

As mentioned, temporary filling is used when permanent filling has little justification.   

This is very often the case with root canal treatment, which requires several visits. A sealer is then used to protect the tooth and not remove the permanent filling each time.  

Temporary filling is also used in the case of treatment of teeth in children who do not tolerate long visits. Then these are separated into shorter ones and the tooth is protected with a flechettor. 

Another reason to use a phlebotomy is severe bleeding and the difficulty of stopping it. 

The image shows a close-up of the wide-open mouth of a person undergoing dental treatment. The mouth shows even, white teeth and dental instruments inserted for treatment or oral inspection.

When should a temporary filling be replaced by a permanent one?

It all depends on the treatment process itself, but in most cases a flechettor should be used for a maximum of a few weeks. It is important not to exceed the appointment time set by the dentist. Why?

A temporary filling that is less permanent will begin become unsealed and thus bacteria begin to enter the dentin. This can cause pain and inflammation. We wrote more about this in the article "Inflammation - unbearable pain".

Once the temporary filling has been removed, the dentist will immediately replace it with a permanent filling, i.e. a filling. Currently, the most common filling used is a composite filling, which should protect the tooth for 3 to 10 years. We wrote more about this in the article "Tooth filling in the UK".

The image shows a close-up of a young woman's face during a visit to the dentist. She can be seen to have her mouth open and the dentist, wearing blue gloves, is holding a dental tool to her teeth. The woman has blonde hair and looks focused during the procedure. In the background you can see a blurred green background, probably an outdoor landscape.

Temporary fillings in the UK - price 

What is obvious these depend on the specific surgery. At ours, you'll pay £90 for a flechettor. A reminder that a temporary filling, over time, you'll need to replace with a permanent one. Here prices start from £130. 

If at this point you are concerned about the cost of - Rest assured, we have good information. At our practice, you can take advantage of the instalment system and spread the entire cost of treatment into instalments convenient for you. Importantly, the first year is zero interest. 

You can read more about this in our article "Teeth on credit: dental treatment on hire purchase" . The system is 100% safe and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 619628).