Regular Check-ups

Regular dental check-ups are important as they keep your teeth and gums healthy and help to prevent the need for fillings or any other invasive treatment. You should visit the dentist every 3 - 6 months unless told otherwise.

During the check up your dentist asses your oral healthcare, screen for oral cancer, check for cavities/carries, for which may have to take x-rays to detect any carries in between the teeth which may not be visible from the outside.

Your teeth will be checked for plaque and tartar build up.

Emergency Dental Appointment

Severe swelling, bleeding or pain is considered to be a dental emergency. If you have any of the 3 symptoms, please contact the practice immediately.

A urgent appointment under the NHS is £25.80 or £45 for same day private urgent appointment. Appointments are given on a first come first serve basis and are subjected to availability.

If you have a dental emergency out of hours, please contact 111.

Hygiene Clean

Regular hygiene appointments are essential for maintaining optimal oral health. These deep cleans remove plaque, tartar, and stains, enhancing hygiene. The Airflow technique efficiently eliminates bacteria below the gum line, especially beneficial for smokers or those with gum disease. While not covered under NHS, dental plans often include hygiene appointments, reducing the risk of costly treatments.

If plaque and tartar build up is not removed, this is when early stages of gum disease will start to occur. If gum disease starts to develop and is left untreated this can result in bleeding gums, gum recession, loose teeth eventually resulting in premature tooth lost.

Veneers

Veneers are used to improve the appearance of teeth and are good for people with teeth that are stained, chipped or have gaps. A veneer is made from porcelain and re creates the look of natural teeth while providing strength and protection to the natural tooth surface.

Preparing your tooth for a veneer involves the surface of the tooth being shaved down to make room for the veneer once it is fixed to the tooth surface. An impression is taken to make the veneer, and your dentist will place a temporary veneer over the tooth whilst the permanent one is made in the lab, this usually takes a week to your next appointment.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is vital for saving severely decayed or infected teeth by removing the nerve and pulp. This procedure, performed under local anesthesia, ensures a pain-free experience. After cleaning the canals with hypochlorite or antiseptic solutions, they are widened using small files before filling.

Due to the gradual nature of the process, root canal treatment may span multiple appointments. Once completed, the tooth is filled to restore its function. However, to reinforce its strength, a crown may be recommended by the dentist. Over time, the tooth may darken in color due to its lack of nerve vitality.

Dentures

Dentures are removable false teeth made of acrylic or acrylic with a metal frame. They fit comfortably over the gum replacing any missing teeth eliminating potential problems caused by missing teeth. Under the NHS any appliance comes under a Band 3 course of treatment. You may chose to go for a private denture which start from £650

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment which involves bleaching your teeth to make them whiter. It is always best to look after your teeth but it is no unusual to use whitening to help achieve that sparkling smile.

Teeth straightening – Invisalign

Invisalign treatment uses clear removable aligners which straighten your smile. With no wires or brackets, it’s a discrete alternative to conventional fixed braces. If straight teeth is something you would like, contact us to book a non-obligatory consultation

Bringing your Kids for a Dental Check up

Parents are recommended to bring their children for regular dental check-ups every 3 months, unless advised otherwise by the dentist. Following the pandemic , children have been identified as an area of concern with exceptionally high carries. This could be due to a number of factors with the two predominant factors being diet and not maintaining regular dental check-ups. Under national guidelines parents who fail to bring their children for dental check-ups are required to be reported to the Child Protection Service.

Haslam Park Dental Practice is working closely with the local NHS team in support of children in need of dental treatment. We advise parents and mothers to be, to register new born baby as soon as they are born. You should book the baby’s first appointment as soon as the first tooth is visible. From there on wards maintain regular check-ups which allows the child to become familiar with dental visits, hopefully setting the trend for life. If you would like further information please do not hesitate to ask.

If your child has not had a dental check-up for 3 months or more, please book an immediate appointment.

Fluoride Application

Dental check-ups for children are recommended every 3 – 6 months, so that a fluoride varnish can be applied to their teeth. Fluoride strengthens the teeth which helps to prevent cavities from developing and the need for fillings at a young age. Measurements of the gums are not taken on children.

Your adult teeth come out only once in a life time. If you do not look after them, you will lose them. Loss of teeth may affect individual’s confidence along with resulting in poor oral health care which may affect one’s quality of life.