Tooth Fillings
in Singapore
Composite, glass ionomer and ceramic fillings for tooth decay, cracks and worn teeth — most completed in a single 30-minute visit at our Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade clinics.
A tooth filling repairs a tooth damaged by decay (a cavity), cracks or wear. The damaged part of the tooth is removed and the space is filled with a tooth-coloured material such as composite resin or glass ionomer. Most direct fillings are completed in a single visit of around 30 minutes. At Meiplus Dentalcare, glass ionomer fillings start from $100 and composite fillings from $150, with ceramic inlays and onlays available for larger cavities from $800. Prices are exclusive of prevailing GST.
What Are Tooth Fillings?
A filling restores a tooth’s shape, strength and function, and stops the damage getting worse. It is most often used to treat decay — a cavity — but it also repairs cracked, chipped or worn teeth, including those worn down by grinding.
Tooth decay happens when bacteria in plaque feed on trapped food and produce acid that wears away the enamel. It can progress a long way before you feel anything, which is why routine check-ups matter: caught early, decay is treated quickly and simply with a filling. Left alone, the same tooth may eventually need root canal treatment or extraction.
Decay doesn’t hurt until it’s advanced. By the time a cavity is painful it has usually reached the deeper layers of the tooth. That’s the argument for regular check-ups rather than waiting for a symptom — a small filling is faster, simpler and cheaper than what a neglected cavity eventually needs.
Terms You’ll Hear
- Cavitytooth decay, dental caries
- A hole or area of damage in a tooth, caused by acid-producing bacteria breaking down the enamel over time.
- Direct fillingdone in one visit
- A filling placed straight into the tooth using a soft material — composite resin or glass ionomer — that is shaped and hardened in place while you’re in the chair.
- Indirect restorationinlay or onlay
- A restoration such as a ceramic inlay or onlay, custom-fabricated to fit the cavity rather than moulded in the mouth. Used for larger areas of damage.
- Composite resinthe common tooth-coloured filling
- A filling material made from quartz or ceramic particles in an acrylic resin, shade-matched to your natural teeth.
- Glass ionomerGI
- A filling material made of silicate glass powder and acrylic, used for smaller cavities and as a protective base layer under other fillings.
- Base-linerthe layer underneath
- A protective layer placed at the base of a deep cavity, under the filling itself, to shield the nerve.
Signs You May
Need a Filling
Cavities develop silently in their early stages. As decay progresses you may notice one or more of the following — any of them is worth a check-up.
Visible Holes or Dark Spots
A visible pit, hole, or brown or black staining on the tooth surface is often decay that has progressed far enough to need treatment.
Sensitivity to Sweet, Hot or Cold
Sharp or lingering discomfort when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold can mean decay has reached deeper into the tooth.
Pain When Biting or Chewing
Discomfort when you put pressure on one particular tooth can indicate a cavity, a cracked filling, or damage close to the nerve.
Food Trapping in the Same Spot
Food repeatedly catching in one tooth often means a developing cavity, or a gap opening up around an old filling.
No symptoms doesn’t mean no decay. Most cavities are found at a routine check-up before they cause any discomfort at all — which is exactly when they’re easiest to treat.
Toothache:
What It Might Mean
A toothache happens when the pulp — the innermost part of the tooth, containing the nerves and blood vessels — becomes inflamed or irritated. The kind of pain you feel is a clue to the cause, though only a clinical assessment and X-ray can confirm it.
Seek emergency care immediately if you have
- Severe facial swelling
- Fever alongside tooth pain
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
These can indicate an infection that is spreading beyond the tooth, and need urgent dental or medical attention rather than a routine appointment.
For milder but persistent toothache, book an assessment soon rather than waiting it out. Early treatment is almost always simpler and less costly — a cavity treated with a filling from $100 before GST can otherwise progress to needing root canal treatment.
Types of Tooth Filling
We offer both direct and indirect restorations. The material is chosen to suit the size and position of the cavity — a small cavity on a back tooth and a visible chip on a front tooth call for different things.
Composite Resin
The most common tooth-coloured filling, shade-matched to your natural teeth and shaped in place.
- Best for
- Small to medium cavities, and visible teeth
- Appearance
- Tooth-coloured, shade-matched
- Visit time
- About 30 minutes, single visit
Front teeth are priced separately, from $350.
Glass Ionomer
A tooth-coloured material used for smaller cavities, and as a protective base layer beneath other fillings.
- Best for
- Small cavities, and protective base layers
- Appearance
- Tooth-coloured
- Visit time
- About 30 minutes, single visit
A base-liner under a deep filling is from $50.
Ceramic Inlay or Onlay
A restoration custom-made to fit the cavity, used where too much tooth structure is missing for a direct filling to hold well.
- Best for
- Larger cavities needing more strength
- Appearance
- Highly natural, stain-resistant
- Visit time
- Longer procedure, may need more than one visit
Listed under prosthodontics rather than fillings.
Prices shown are starting figures, exclusive of prevailing GST, and are the lower of our two clinics. Final cost depends on the size and complexity of the cavity. See the full price list.
Direct or indirect — what’s the difference?
A direct filling is soft when it goes in. Your dentist places it into the cleaned cavity, shapes it against your bite, and hardens it there — all in one appointment. A indirect restoration is made to fit the cavity first, then bonded in as a solid piece. That takes longer, but it holds up better where a large portion of the tooth has been lost.
The Tooth Filling
Procedure
A direct filling takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and you walk out with the tooth fully restored the same day.
- 1
Consultation and assessment
Your dentist examines the tooth, and takes an X-ray if needed to see how far the decay extends beneath the surface. This is what determines whether a filling is enough, or whether more is required.
- 2
Anaesthesia
Local anaesthesia numbs the area around the tooth. For very small, shallow cavities this isn’t always necessary — your dentist will tell you either way before starting.
- 3
Decay removal
The decayed or damaged portion of the tooth is carefully removed, leaving clean, sound tooth structure for the filling to bond to. Only the damaged part is taken away.
- 4
Filling placement
The cavity is filled with composite or glass ionomer matched to your natural tooth colour, then shaped and hardened in place. Deep cavities get a protective base-liner underneath first.
- 5
Bite check and polish
Your dentist checks how the filling meets your opposing teeth and adjusts it until your bite feels normal, then polishes the surface. A filling that sits even slightly high will feel wrong for weeks, so this step matters more than it sounds.
Larger cavities take longer. Where a ceramic inlay or onlay is needed instead, the restoration is fabricated to fit your tooth, so expect a longer appointment or an additional visit to have it fitted.
Tooth Filling Cost
in Singapore
What you pay depends on the material used and the size of the cavity. A small filling on a back tooth sits at the bottom of these ranges; a large one on a visible front tooth sits higher.
| Treatment | Fee* |
|---|---|
| Base-linerProtective layer under a deep filling | From $50 |
| Glass ionomer (GI) fillingSmall cavities and base layers | From $100 |
| Composite resin fillingSmall to medium cavities | From $150 |
| Anterior composite fillingFront teeth, where appearance matters most | From $350 |
| Ceramic inlay or onlayIndirect restoration for larger cavities | From $800 |
What affects the final cost
- The size of the cavity, and how much tooth structure is left to work with
- Which material is appropriate — front teeth need more careful shade-matching
- Whether a protective base-liner is needed under a deep filling
- Whether the tooth can take a direct filling, or needs an indirect restoration
*Prices shown are the lower starting figure across our Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade clinics, and are exclusive of prevailing GST. Actual fees vary with the size and complexity of the cavity, the materials used and the time required, and are confirmed after clinical assessment. This price list is not exhaustive.
Is a Tooth Filling
Covered by MediSave?
Short answer: no for MediSave, yes for CHAS. The two schemes cover almost opposite lists, which is the most common source of confusion.
MediSave
MediSave covers only MOH-approved surgical procedures — those involving cutting of gum or bone. A filling is routine and non-surgical, so it falls outside the scheme. See our MediSave guide for the full list of what is and isn’t claimable.
CHAS, PG & MG
Fillings are subsidised for eligible cardholders. This is a government subsidy that comes off your bill directly and is not deducted from your CPF, so using it costs you nothing later.
CHAS Subsidy for Fillings
MOH’s maximum subsidy per claim, in force since 1 October 2025. The amount depends on your card type and whether the filling is simple or complex.
| Procedure | Pioneer Gen | Merdeka Gen | CHAS Blue | CHAS Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filling, simple | $40.00 | $35.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 |
| Filling, complex | $60.00 | $55.00 | $50.00 | $33.50 |
The figures above are government subsidy amounts, not fees — they come off your bill. They are published by the Ministry of Health and are the maximum claimable per procedure. Our own filling fees are listed separately and are exclusive of prevailing GST. Whether your filling is classified as simple or complex is determined clinically. Meiplus Dentalcare is an accredited CHAS, Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation provider — our team will confirm your eligible subsidy at your appointment.
FAQs on Tooth Fillings
What is a tooth filling used for?
A tooth filling repairs a tooth damaged by decay (a cavity), cracks, or wear. The damaged portion of the tooth is removed and replaced with a filling material, restoring the tooth’s shape, strength, and function while preventing further deterioration.
Does getting a tooth filling hurt?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the filling itself. Some mild sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure is normal for a few days afterward and typically resolves on its own. For very small, shallow cavities anaesthesia isn’t always needed.
How long does a tooth filling take?
A direct filling — composite resin or glass ionomer — typically takes about 30 minutes and is completed in a single visit. A ceramic inlay or onlay, used for larger cavities, is fabricated to fit your tooth and may take longer or require an additional visit.
What’s the difference between composite and ceramic fillings?
Composite resin is a direct filling, placed and shaped in a single visit, suited to small and medium cavities. Ceramic inlays and onlays are indirect restorations, custom-fabricated to fit larger cavities. They offer more strength and durability, but cost more and typically take longer to complete.
How long do tooth fillings last?
Composite and glass ionomer fillings typically last several years with good oral hygiene, though they may need replacing sooner than ceramic restorations, which tend to be more durable. Regular check-ups help catch a failing filling early, before further decay develops underneath it.
I have a toothache but no visible cavity — what could it be?
Toothache without an obvious cavity can still indicate early decay not yet visible, a cracked tooth, gum disease, a damaged or leaking filling, or sensitivity from worn enamel. The type of pain gives a clue — sharp and sudden points to a cavity or crack, a dull persistent ache points to infection or gum disease. A dental assessment with X-ray is the only way to identify the cause reliably.
How much does a tooth filling cost in Singapore?
At Meiplus Dentalcare, glass ionomer fillings start from $100 and composite fillings from $150, with front teeth from $350. A protective base-liner under a deep filling is from $50, and ceramic inlays or onlays for larger cavities start from $800. Prices are exclusive of prevailing GST, and the final cost depends on the size and complexity of the cavity, confirmed after assessment.
Is a tooth filling covered by MediSave or CHAS?
Not MediSave — fillings are routine and non-surgical, and MediSave covers only approved surgical procedures. Fillings are subsidised under CHAS, however, with MOH’s maximum subsidy ranging from $20 to $40 for a simple filling and $33.50 to $60 for a complex one, depending on your card type. See our MediSave and CHAS guide for the full picture.
When should I see a dentist for a toothache?
Seek emergency care immediately if you have severe facial swelling, fever, or difficulty breathing alongside tooth pain — these can indicate an infection spreading beyond the tooth. For milder but persistent pain, book an assessment as soon as you can. Early treatment is almost always simpler and less costly than waiting.
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