Frequently asked questions

At our practice, we believe that a comprehensive oral health assessment, commonly known as a check-up, is the cornerstone of your dental care journey. Just as a surgeon wouldn’t proceed with an operation without a thorough consultation and diagnosis, we need a complete understanding of your teeth, gums and overall oral health before recommending any treatments.

During this initial check-up, we carefully evaluate everything from your dental history to your current oral health and aesthetic goals. This allows us to develop a personalised treatment plan that addresses your immediate concerns while proactively preventing future issues.

Our goal is to thoroughly evaluate your overall dental health and address any specific concerns you may have. It includes:

• A detailed examination of your teeth, gums, oral tissues and an oral cancer screening
• A review of your dental and medical history
• X-rays, if necessary. These are processed through our real-time dental AI platform, which automatically detects various conditions in dental X-rays, offering our dentists a second set of eyes
• A discussion of any findings and recommended next steps

Dental X-rays are one of the most common and extensively studied diagnostic tools in healthcare — and concerns around radiation, while understandable, are largely out of proportion to the actual risk. To put it in context:

A full set of dental X-rays delivers less radiation than a single day of simply going about your life in the UK.

Do I always need them? No — we only take X-rays when there is a clear clinical reason, in line with guidelines from the UK Health Security Agency and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R 2017). We will always explain why an X-ray is being recommended and what we’re looking for.

Why are X-rays important? The risks of not having X-rays taken are far greater than the minimal exposure involved. X-rays let us detect decay between teeth, bone loss, cysts and infections that are invisible to the naked eye — often years before they become painful or costly to treat.

Brushing and flossing at home are essential, but they aren’t always enough to remove all the plaque and tartar that accumulates over time, especially in hard-to-reach areas. A hygienist appointment gives you:

• Plaque and tartar removal. Hardened tartar can only be removed professionally. Left untreated it leads to gum inflammation, gum disease and tooth decay.
• Prevention of gum disease. One of the leading causes of tooth loss. Hygienists detect early signs and remove the bacteria causing inflammation before it becomes periodontitis.
• Better overall health. Research links oral health to heart disease, diabetes and respiratory conditions.
• Personalised advice on brushing technique, flossing and diet.
• Fresher breath and a brighter smile, with surface stains removed.
• Early detection of cavities, gum disease and oral cancer.

For most patients, we recommend hygienist visits every 3 months.

Think of your gums as the foundation of a house. Your dental work needs healthy gums to provide stable support for crowns, bridges and fillings, supply blood flow, create a seal that keeps bacteria away from tooth roots, and maintain the bone structure holding everything in place.

When that foundation is compromised, restorations can loosen or fail, bacteria can penetrate beneath dental work and cause decay, and bone loss can threaten both natural teeth and restorations.

Gum disease can develop silently without obvious symptoms, and professional cleaning reaches areas home brushing can’t. Regular hygiene visits cost a fraction of replacing failed dental work. As above, for most patients we recommend hygienist visits every 3 months — your hygienist will advise what’s right for you.

An NHS scale and polish is a basic cleaning procedure, typically available only where your dentist identifies a clear clinical need, such as significant plaque or tartar build-up. It is limited in scope and may not be available as a routine cleaning option.

A hygienist appointment here is more thorough and preventive. Our hygienist removes plaque and tartar and also tackles surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine and smoking, using specialised tools and polishing techniques to restore the natural brightness of your teeth. You also get personalised advice for caring for your teeth at home.

If you’re a regular visitor with a good at-home routine, our Maintenance Scale & Polish keeps your teeth fresh and clean.

If it’s been a while, or you’re noticing plaque build-up or gum sensitivity, we recommend a Deep Clean & Polish for a more comprehensive clean.

For more advanced gum concerns, our Periodontal Treatment targets deeper areas. For patients with gum disease, a course of treatment over several appointments may be needed.

We also offer an Airflow Polish add-on, which uses a jet of fine powder and water to lift stubborn stains — ideal if you enjoy tea, coffee or red wine.

If you’re unsure, our hygienists will assess your teeth and gums and recommend the best approach. See our fees.

While we are a private practice offering some NHS treatments, we are currently unable to offer additional NHS appointments. This applies to all but existing patients undergoing treatment and those already scheduled in our diary. We do not operate a waiting list.

This is due to limited resources, constraints within our NHS contract, and extremely high demand. Although we are a 9-surgery practice, our current NHS funding only supports 3 surgeries, and we are already projected to exceed our strictly capped annual NHS allocation.

The availability and accessibility of NHS care are determined by factors beyond our control. We’ve contacted NHS England multiple times to request additional funding without success. Their guidance suggests checking nhs.uk or calling 111 to find other practices in the area.

From time to time we release a very limited number of NHS appointments for new patients. These are available only via our online booking portal, on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be booked by phone or email.

If you’d rather not wait, we also offer a full range of private dental services.

There are many misconceptions about NHS dental care, the most common being that patients are “registered under the NHS”. In reality, there is no such thing as an “NHS patient”, an “NHS list”, or being “registered on the NHS” under the current NHS dental contract. When you join us, your registration is with the practice — and NHS care is provided on a course-of-treatment basis: you are accepted for a specific course and discharged once it’s complete.

Each practice operates under a contract limiting the number of NHS treatments it can fund each year. While NHS appointments can never be guaranteed, you can help by:

• Always pre-booking your next appointment before you leave, and adding it to your phone calendar.
• Responding to reminders quickly. Each reminder includes a personalised online booking link.
• Respecting our 48-hour cancellation policy.

The full picture is on our new patients and NHS dental care pages.

NHS dentistry focuses on addressing essential oral health needs by treating disease and restoring function — fillings, extractions and basic crowns — to maintain good oral health at an affordable cost. Treatments focused on aesthetics, such as teeth whitening, cosmetic veneers or dental implants, are not included, as the NHS remit is to treat disease and restore function rather than enhance appearance.

Private dentistry offers a broader spectrum of services, including advanced and cosmetic treatments, premium materials, greater flexibility in appointment times, and access to the latest dental technologies.

For many patients the two work together: essential treatment under the NHS, with additional aesthetic or advanced procedures undertaken privately.

No. A private check-up does not lead to NHS-funded treatment, and it does not improve your chances of getting an NHS appointment.

As explained on our new patient page, NHS dental care is provided on a course-of-treatment basis, and each course starts with its own NHS oral health assessment. When you book a private Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment, any treatment we recommend as a result is planned and provided privately. We cannot carry the findings from a private examination across into an NHS course of treatment - the two are separate from the first appointment onwards.

If you are new to the practice: only three of our nine surgeries are NHS-funded, and we are currently unable to offer NHS appointments except to patients already undergoing treatment or with appointments already scheduled. We do not operate a waiting list, and a private check-up will not reserve you a place. From time to time we release a very limited number of NHS appointments through our online booking portal, first come, first served - these cannot be booked by phone or email. In the meantime, a private assessment (£54, or £35 off-peak) means you can be seen promptly and start any treatment you need without delay.

If you have had NHS-funded care with us before: you are welcome to book a private check-up, for example to be seen sooner, but any treatment arising from it will be private. If you would like your care to be NHS-funded, please book an NHS oral health assessment instead if you are able. Because there is no permanent NHS registration, keeping your next NHS check-up pre-booked before you leave is the best way to maintain access.

Combining NHS and private care

NHS dentistry treats disease and restores function - fillings, extractions and basic crowns. Cosmetic and advanced treatments such as whitening, veneers and implants are private only - see What’s the difference between NHS and private dentistry? for the full picture. For many patients the two work together: essential treatment under the NHS, with aesthetic or advanced procedures undertaken privately. If you are having NHS-funded care, you can always choose private options for some or all of your treatment, and we will explain clearly what is NHS, what is private, and what each will cost before anything goes ahead.

Late cancellations and missed appointments cause:

• Delays in your treatment, potentially allowing problems to worsen
• Lost time for other patients who needed that slot
• Increased costs for the practice, which affects fees for everyone over time
• Disruption to your care plan

For NHS appointments, they also waste NHS-funded resources, lengthen waiting times, and strain an already limited budget.

By giving 48 hours’ notice, you help us offer your slot to another patient. See our practice policies for the full detail.

Our fee guide lists guide prices for most treatments, so you can get a good sense of costs before you contact us. As the guide itself says, the prices are a guide and may vary after an individual assessment.

Each patient is unique, and the exact cost of your treatment depends on your individual needs. After a thorough assessment by one of our dentists, we give you a clear breakdown of the costs involved before anything goes ahead.

We request payment in advance to ensure smooth scheduling and reduce the impact of no-shows and late cancellations, which cause:

• Wasted preparation time for our dentists, hygienists and support staff
• Unused equipment and supplies, some of which cannot be reused
• Unfillable gaps in the schedule, affecting other patients waiting for care
• Additional administrative work and overhead without any care being provided

We understand unexpected circumstances arise, and we’re committed to working with you. If you need to reschedule, we ask for at least 48 hours’ notice.

The mouth is a dynamic environment where things change quickly. Oral hygiene habits, lifestyle choices and natural wear all affect your dental health.

A treatment plan is valid for 3 months so it stays based on the most accurate, up-to-date assessment of your needs. Reviewing regularly means we can adapt the plan if anything has changed.

A fair question, and we understand the frustration. Here is the honest answer.

Why we sometimes run late

We plan our diaries carefully and allow the time we expect each procedure to need. But we are treating people, and things happen that no schedule can predict - here are a few examples:

• Some patients take longer to become numb.
• An X-ray is a two-dimensional image - what we find once we open a tooth can change the treatment on the spot, and sometimes extra X-rays are needed mid-appointment.
• Extractions can be unpredictable - a tooth may fracture or a root may not come out cleanly, and bleeding sometimes takes longer than usual to control.
• Nervous patients sometimes feel faint or unwell and need looking after before we carry on.
• A patient’s medical history has changed or they have started new medication, which has to be checked before treatment can safely go ahead.
• Some patients need a longer conversation about their options, costs or consent, and we won’t cut that short.
• Some patients need extra support, an interpreter or more time to communicate with us.
• A dentist may be called into a colleague’s surgery for a second opinion or to help with a difficult case.
• Patients in pain or with a broken tooth or injury come in without an appointment and have to be assessed, and often treated, the same day.

When any of this happens we are already mid-treatment with a patient in the chair, and we will not rush to catch up. You get exactly the same unhurried care when it is your turn.

Why we can’t always see you when you’re late

A late arrival is different. The next patient is already due, rooms and equipment have been set up for specific procedures in a specific order, and a shortened slot is often not enough to treat you safely.

Earlier in the day we will always try to accommodate you if possible, for example if there has been a cancellation. End-of-day appointments are much harder. Every day the practice goes through a set of shut-down procedures for patient safety - record keeping, infection control and equipment maintenance - with additional tasks on Fridays, when we close at 17:00. Once those procedures have started, the surgery can no longer be used. Our team also have families and commitments, and as an employer we cannot expect them to stay after hours.

Children’s appointments and NHS children’s clinics

A routine check-up for a child under 12 is usually a 10-minute appointment. If you arrive 6 minutes late, a full oral health assessment cannot be completed in the 4 minutes that remain.

Our NHS children’s clinics are especially busy. Appointments for young children who are new to the dentist can range from very straightforward to quite tricky, and the tricky ones take longer. We do our best not to run late in these clinics, but it sometimes happens.

How you can help

• Arrive 5-10 minutes early.
• Call us as soon as you know you might be late - we may be able to rearrange things.
• If you have an end-of-day appointment, please be especially punctual.
• Keep your contact details up to date so we can reach you.
• Tell us about any changes to your medical history before your appointment.

Repeated late arrivals

For private care, repeated late arrivals may result in a failed appointment charge. For NHS care, they may affect our ability to continue providing NHS treatment.