A composite (white, tooth-colored) filling typically lasts about 10 years, and plenty last longer. Studies put the median survival time around 10 to 11 years. The range is wide, because the size of the filling, the tooth it sits in, your habits and the quality of the placement all change the result. Below we explain what the numbers mean, how composite compares with amalgam, and what you can do to get more years from a filling.
TL;DR
- Expect roughly 10 years from a composite filling. Research reports a median of about 10 to 11 years, with some lasting much longer and some failing sooner.
- Amalgam (silver) fillings have historically lasted longer, with median survival above 16 years in one 2025 review, but modern composites are narrowing the gap.
- Your habits matter most: the ADA reports that patient behavior is the most significant factor in how long composite restorations last. Grinding, clenching and frequent snacking shorten their life.
- Most failing composites can be repaired rather than fully replaced, so regular exams that catch wear early are worth it.
Table of Contents
- How long do composite fillings last?
- Front teeth, back teeth and filling size
- Composite vs amalgam: which lasts longer?
- What makes a composite filling last (or fail)
- Signs a composite filling is wearing out
- Repair, replace or leave it alone?
- Our perspective
- Get your fillings checked in Kennebunk
- FAQ
- Sources
How long do composite fillings last?
The honest answer is a range with a center. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis reported a median survival time of 10 years for resin composite restorations. A 2025 systematic review comparing materials put composite at approximately 11 years.
The American Dental Association summarizes long-term follow-up this way: cumulative survival rates for posterior composite restorations were 91.7% at 6 years, 81.6% at 12 years and 71.4% at 29 years. In plain terms, most back-tooth composites are still in service after a decade, and a good share are still working well after two or three decades.
You will also see lower numbers online. One industry publication notes that studies report a range of 3 to 10 years, while a 2011 review suggests 60 percent last 10 years or more when materials are applied correctly. The short end of that range usually reflects large fillings, high-risk mouths or technique problems, not an inevitable ceiling.
What the numbers do not tell you
Survival figures are averages across many patients and many dentists. They cannot predict your filling. A small filling on the chewing surface of a molar in someone with low cavity risk and good home care is a very different case from a large filling that replaces half a tooth in someone who grinds at night.
Two useful ways to read the data:
- Median means half of fillings lasted longer than that figure. A 10-year median is not a 10-year expiration date.
- Failure is not the same as loss. Most clinical failures are things like wear, a ragged edge or staining, and the research notes that most failures of composite restorations allow repair, which extends the filling's life.
Front teeth, back teeth and filling size
Location changes the load. Back teeth (premolars and molars) take heavy chewing forces every day, so fillings there work harder than fillings on incisors. Front-tooth fillings face less biting pressure but are more visible, so wear, staining or edge discoloration are noticed sooner, even when the filling is still sound.
Size matters just as much. A small filling bonds to plenty of healthy tooth structure. A large one has more surface to shrink, more edge exposed to bacteria and less tooth left to support it. The dental literature lists use in excessively wide areas among the factors that compromise composite longevity. The same source says indirect restorations (made outside the mouth) are recommended when a Class II restoration spans more than 60% of the tooth.
That is why a dentist may recommend an onlay or a crown instead of a very large filling. If you want to understand that decision, our guide to onlay vs crown walks through the questions that keep treatment conservative, and our piece on how long crowns last covers the next step up.
Composite vs amalgam: which lasts longer?
If you are comparing the two, here is what the evidence says. Historically, amalgam has shown the longer track record. A 2025 systematic review reports amalgam median survival above 16 years, against roughly 11 years for composite, and notes that modern materials are narrowing the gap. An earlier Cochrane-based meta-analysis found that resin composites had higher failure rates and more secondary decay than amalgam.
Longevity is not the only criterion, though. The table below shows the trade-offs that usually matter to patients.
| Factor | Composite (white) | Amalgam (silver) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical survival in studies | About 10 to 11 years median | Above 16 years median in one 2025 review |
| Appearance | Matches tooth color | Visibly metallic |
| Tooth removal | Usually more conservative | Typically requires more shaping |
| Technique sensitivity | High: needs dry field and correct curing | Lower |
| Repairability | Often repairable | Often replaced when it fails |
On tooth preservation, a German clinical guideline recommends composite for Class I and II cavities and notes its advantage in preserving tooth structure compared with amalgam. For many patients, a filling that looks natural, keeps more of the tooth and can be repaired is worth giving up a few years of average survival. We go deeper on the options in our guide to types of dental fillings.
What makes a composite filling last (or fail)
Research points to a mix of factors, some in the dentist's hands and some in yours.
What your dentist controls
- Moisture control. Saliva contamination during placement is one of the main causes of early failure. A rubber dam can help prevent it, and moisture control and correct light-curing are critical for durable restorations.
- Curing technique. An under-cured composite is weaker and more likely to wear or break down. The same review cites a study in which many dentists lacked adequate knowledge of photopolymerization, which is why technique and training matter.
- Shrinkage management. Composite shrinks slightly as it hardens. Heating the composite or placing a flowable layer beneath it may mitigate shrinkage.
- Preparation and contact points. Poor prep design and poor contact with the neighboring tooth are both on the list of failure factors.
- Choosing the right restoration. Sometimes the most durable choice is not a direct filling at all.
What you control
The ADA reports that patient behavioral practices are the most significant factor in composite longevity. In practice that means:
- Cavity risk. New decay at the edge of a filling (secondary decay) is a leading reason fillings are replaced. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth and limiting sugary snacks all lower that risk. Our list of ways to prevent cavities between checkups is a practical place to start.
- Grinding and clenching. Research notes that bruxism, clenching and other parafunctional habits can mechanically overload restorations. If you wake with a sore jaw or your dentist sees flattened teeth, a night guard protects both your teeth and your fillings.
- Using teeth as tools. Opening packaging, biting nails or chewing ice can chip a composite edge.
- Showing up for exams. A small defect found early is a repair. The same defect found late can mean a crown.
Signs a composite filling is wearing out
According to the clinical literature, failure of composite restorations often shows up as wear, marginal defects, surface staining and marginal pigmentation. Translated into what you might notice at home:
- A dark line or stain around the edge of the filling
- A rough or sharp spot your tongue keeps finding
- Food catching where it did not before
- Sensitivity to cold, sweets or biting pressure (see our tips for sensitive teeth)
- A visible chip, crack or a filling that feels lower than the surrounding tooth
Many worn fillings cause no symptoms at all, which is why exams and X-rays matter. Decay under a filling is often invisible to you and easy for a dentist to spot on a radiograph.
If a filling cracks or comes out, do not wait for it to hurt. Read what to do about a cracked filling or a lost filling, and call a dentist promptly. Severe pain, facial swelling or fever call for urgent care the same day.
Repair, replace or leave it alone?
Not every imperfection needs a new filling. A dentist weighs a few things:
- Is there decay underneath or at the margin? If so, the filling usually needs replacing.
- Is the problem cosmetic only? Slight staining or surface roughness can often be polished.
- Is the defect small and local? A repair adds new composite to the damaged area instead of redoing the whole filling, and it preserves healthy tooth. The research supports this: most composite failures allow repair.
- Has each replacement made the tooth weaker? Every time a filling is redone, more tooth is usually removed. After enough rounds, a crown or onlay can be the more durable option.
If you grind heavily, additive techniques are also worth discussing. The literature says additive techniques are preferable for severely worn teeth, and the grinding itself needs to be managed or any new material will wear too.
Our perspective
At Starboard Dental, we see composite fillings as one of the most useful tools in everyday dentistry, and also one of the most misunderstood. Patients often ask for a number of years. We would rather talk about the conditions that produce those years.
A filling that lasts is the result of careful placement, a realistic choice of material for that tooth, and a patient who understands what the filling needs afterward. We use digital scanners for precision where they help, and we make time to explain why we recommend a filling, an onlay or a crown, so you are not left guessing.
We also think comfort changes outcomes. People who dread the chair put off checkups, and delay is what turns a small repair into a bigger treatment. That is why our office has ceiling-mounted TVs and personalized comfort items, and why we offer same-day appointments when we can. If you have a filling you are unsure about, come in and let us look at it before it becomes a problem.
— Alex
Get your fillings checked in Kennebunk
If you have a filling that is more than a few years old, or a tooth that has started to feel different, we can examine it and take X-rays to see what is going on under the surface. Our general dentistry team handles exams and cleanings, and our restorative dentistry services cover fillings, crowns, bridges and implants. If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard. We do not publish prices online, so call the office to discuss your case and your insurance.
FAQ
How long do white fillings last on average?
Most studies put the median survival of composite fillings at about 10 to 11 years. Many last longer, especially small fillings in people with good home care, and some fail earlier when they are large or exposed to heavy grinding. A dentist can tell you more about a specific filling after an exam and X-rays.
Do composite fillings last as long as amalgam?
On average, not quite. A 2025 review found amalgam's median survival above 16 years against roughly 11 for composite. Composite, however, looks natural, usually preserves more tooth and can often be repaired, so many patients choose it anyway.
Can a composite filling last 20 years or more?
Yes, it can happen. The ADA reports a 71.4% cumulative survival rate for posterior composite restorations at 29 years in long-term data. It is not guaranteed, and it depends heavily on filling size, placement quality and your habits.
What shortens the life of a composite filling?
New decay around the edges, grinding or clenching, a large filling in a high-stress spot and problems during placement such as moisture contamination or incomplete curing. Chewing ice or using your teeth as tools can also chip them.
Should I replace a filling just because it is 10 years old?
No. Age alone is not a reason. Your dentist checks the edges, looks for decay beneath it on X-rays, and decides whether to monitor, polish, repair or replace the filling.
Sources
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Success of Resin Composite Restorations
- Materials for Direct Restorations, American Dental Association
- How to Get Your Composite Restorations to Last Longer, Dental Products Report
- Multifactorial Contributors to the Longevity of Dental Restorations
- Resin Composites in Posterior Teeth: Clinical Performance
- Longevity of Amalgam Versus Composite Resin Restorations
- Amalgam or composite fillings: which material lasts longer?
- Direct Composite Restorations on Permanent Teeth