You can get by, but twice yearly is much better
Most people prefer a 15-minute session every six months to a long 'repair' session annually. Why? Because they can prevent small problems from becoming serious and expensive ones. The main areas to check are gum disease and tooth decay - both of which take time to develop. Being told that your teeth are fine is a great confidence booster - as well as an excellent insurance policy. See article.

With care, all your life
Today's innovative dental materials and techniques make it much more likely that you can keep your natural teeth. It all depends how often you have a check-up and how much you understand about what causes tooth loss. Gum disease and dental decay starts its work when we are young. However getting good dental advice and having preventative treatment can make a world of difference to whether we keep our teeth or not.

Quality is apparent in many small ways
Be sensitive to three main areas: the professionalism shown, the degree of personal service you get and to what extent your dentist is able to anticipate and act on potential problems. The more inputs that your dentist collects about you and the more information given to you - the better service he or she can provide. This will lead to fewer dental visits. See article.

There are many solutions.
Cosmetic or aesthetic dentistry has two main goals: to preserve your natural teeth and significantly improve their appearance. There are a number of techniques available today that place a new veneer (or coating) over your existing teeth. This is also the way to straighten various irregularities. Colours are carefully chosen so that your renewed teeth look like they belong naturally. We also have ways to lighten, or brighten teeth. 

That may have been true 50 years ago. Not today.
People in the public eye have their smile corrected because they know that this helps to transmit a message of success. None of us need perfect piano-key teeth, but they should look well-cared for and have a pleasing colour. Today, with much faster and more comfortable techniques, cosmetic dentistry is available for everyone. A few weeks is all it needs to give you a wonderful new smile.
 

Talk to a professional who knows.
Teeth can betray your age or make you look older than you really are. As we get older, our teeth lose their sparkle, becoming duller-looking and often showing the evidence of extensive treatment (such as deep fillings) and excessive wear. You can replace some of the dark fillings with a tooth-coloured material. Your teeth can be whitened or lightened, and you can re-cover the surface with a bonded material or veneer. In most cases, we can turn back the clock on your smile by many years. See article.
 

Use advanced simulation techniques.
During the Smile Consultation, we will cover all the options for giving you a new 'look'. Working from a digital photograph of your smile, we will show you intended changes to dental size, shape and position. The next step is to do a reversible mock-up on your teeth (a close approximation of the final result) that can be kept in place for a few weeks while you decide. All treatment aspects, including costs, will be reviewed so that you have the full facts upon which to decide. See example and article.
 

Use bonding or veneering repair techniques.
The issue is to use advanced repair materials that have the mechanical and visual qualities of natural tooth enamel. Techniques today are so advanced, and materials so strong, that after a while you will forget that you ever had a problem. Whether you need bonding or veneering will depend on the state of your tooth. Consult with your dentist to check out your options.
 

You'll be surprised how quickly you get used to the change.
If the repair fits right, works right and looks right, you'll be hard pressed to notice any difference to your natural teeth. Also the material is given a high surface finish so that it has the same feeling as tooth enamel. Advanced bonding methods mean that you can bite into any food with confidence (but don't use your teeth as pliers).
 

It comes down to a feeling of trust.
The more you can identify with the benefits and not the process of treatment, the calmer you'll be. Hopefully your dentist can identify with your fears, explain carefully what needs to be done and take you gently through the steps. Modern dentistry has many techniques, local anaesthetics and relaxation methods that do wonders to increase your "comfort" zone. The more involved you are, the less room there is for fear. See article.

There's a range of relaxation methods.
Apart from local anaesthetics, which blocks sensitivity in the treatment area, there are a variety of other ways to make you feel relaxed. Headphones with pleasant music is one way. Nitrous oxide and oxygen (called "happy gas" or "gas and air") is another. It puts you in a deep relaxation mode, and women in labour use it so it is very safe. Patients come back to normal within minutes of removing the mask. Some dentists also use hypnosis and acupuncture.

It's important to look at the broader picture.
You'll find considerable cost variations between dentists for what looks like the same treatment. But a more careful inspection can reveal that each dentist has a quite different approach. Dentistry is all about using the most advanced methods and materials and planning ahead. Doing a more thorough job may cost more initially, but will buy you peace of mind for far longer. Modern materials and equipment serve to deliver better results in a better way. But high-tech has its price tag. See article.

Having a Treatment Plan will often give you a range of choices.
Treatment can be tailored to your circumstances and requirements - without compromising on quality of materials or level of care. Be straightforward with the dentist and ask him or her to help you find the best solution. That's why simply comparing itemised fees between different practices can completely miss the essential point, as well as be misleading and inaccurate.

You can pay by cheque, credit/debit card or cash.
New patients are asked to pay a deposit of £95, which is set against the cost of the first appointment. Patients pay for each visit at the time of the visit. We will discuss the range of costs with you prior to any treatment and agree a convenient payment plan. This is particularly important for extensive restorative work. Please also see our Guarantee Policy.