Dentistry FAQs

Tell us — our team is used to helping anxious patients. We'll go at your pace and can use anaesthesia and relaxation techniques to keep you comfortable.

Either works well if you brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Replace your brush every 3–4 months, or sooner if the bristles fray.

Yes. Floss reaches plaque between teeth that a brush misses, helping prevent tartar, gum disease and decay.

Your brushing technique may need a tweak, and diet matters — sports drinks, diet sodas and snack bars often contain acids and sugars. Some people also have more acidic saliva.

The radiation dose is very small, and we reduce it further with modern equipment and protective aprons.

A restorative material — tooth-coloured composite, glass ionomer, porcelain or metal — used to repair a tooth damaged by decay or a fracture.

Many cavities don't hurt at first. X-rays can show early decay; sensitivity, lasting toothache or colour changes are also warning signs.

It depends on size, position, material and biting forces. Large fillings under heavy load tend to wear sooner. We check them at every visit.

Often yes, if it or the tooth around it has chipped — as long as there's no decay underneath.

Thin protective coatings on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Recommended for children's new molars and premolars, and helpful for some adults. They last for years but should be checked regularly.

The infected nerve and pulp are removed from inside the tooth, which is then cleaned and sealed. The tooth keeps working normally — it just no longer senses hot and cold.

The four third molars at the very back of the mouth, usually appearing between ages 17 and 21.

An impacted wisdom tooth can't come through properly because it's blocked by gum, bone or the neighbouring tooth. These are more likely to cause problems.

Possible effects include pain, swelling, bruising, infection, stiffness in opening the mouth and bleeding. Lower teeth carry a small risk of nerve-related numbness. We'll discuss your individual risks first.

A custom-made cap that covers a tooth to rebuild, strengthen or improve its appearance. It's made in a dental lab from impressions of your teeth.

A fixed replacement for missing teeth, supported by crowns on the neighbouring teeth or bonded to them with a resin-bonded framework.

Removable appliances that replace some or all of your teeth, taken out for cleaning.

Dentures are removable; crowns and bridges are permanently cemented in place.

After a full check-up (with X-rays for partial dentures), we take impressions and bite records, try in a wax model, then fit the final denture and show you how to care for it.

Bone shrinks after extractions, so new dentures usually need relining 3–6 months after fitting. Fit also changes over time, so yearly checks are recommended. Relining costs less than a new denture.

An artificial tooth root placed in the jawbone. Bone grows onto it (osseointegration), and it then supports a crown, bridge or denture.

From a few months to over nine, depending on bone quality and position — roughly 4 months in the lower front jaw, around 6 elsewhere and up to 9 in the upper back. Bone grafting can add time.

They can last many years. Longevity depends on your general health, oral hygiene, smoking, bite and the design of the restoration.

Neighbouring teeth don't need to be cut down, implants help prevent bone loss, and they can stabilise loose dentures or support fixed bridges.

Some medical conditions rule implants out, and not having enough jawbone is the main limit — though X-rays assess this and bone can often be built up.

A range of conditions affecting the tissues that support your teeth. Most cases can be prevented by controlling plaque.

No. It usually means gum inflammation (gingivitis) from plaque bacteria, but can signal periodontitis or occasionally a medical issue — so get it checked.

Hardened plaque that only a dental professional can remove. It makes cleaning harder and irritates the gums. Six-monthly check-ups help keep it under control.

Mainly bacterial plaque at the gum line. Smoking is a major risk factor; diabetes, stress, pregnancy and some medicines can contribute.

Regular check-ups, good brushing and flossing, and — when needed — deep cleaning under local anaesthetic by our periodontist.

White flecks or patches (sometimes brown) on enamel from too much fluoride while teeth are forming — e.g. swallowing toothpaste. Severe cases can be improved cosmetically.

Treatments that change the shape, length or spacing of teeth or repair chips and cracks — such as bonding, crowns, veneers and recontouring.

They remove surface stains with mild polishing agents but contain no bleach, typically lightening by about one shade. Professional whitening can lighten teeth by several shades.

You wear clear custom trays containing a whitening gel (usually carbamide peroxide) for around ten days.

Used as directed, yes. Overuse can harm enamel, and some people get mild gum irritation or cold sensitivity. Check with us first — some stains, such as antibiotic staining, don't respond well.

Teeth gradually re-stain, so most people top up about once a year. Your trays can usually be reused for years.