Frequently Asked Dental Questions
How much will my treatment cost?
As soon as your full dental examination has been completed and all diagnostic information gathered, a custom-made treatment plan will be discussed and costs given.
How much does a cleaning cost?
This question cannot be answered until we see you and your current dental health condition. We do not just do a “cleaning”, but diagnose patients individually and do what is needed for their dental health. This is to bring the mouth to a healthy condition and then prevent new dental disease through regular continuing care visits. We hope you share in our belief that regular preventative dental health care is a sound investment and a prime concern for the retention of your natural teeth.
What does the Hygienist do?
And why do I need to visit them? Hygienist’s are trained in the prevention of gum disease. They educate and help to maintain good oral health by removing Plaque/Calculus from both the crowns and the roots of the teeth. Hygienist’s carry out other procedures including taking X-ray’s and Impressions giving local anaesthetic and placing Fissure sealants. Regular visits to the Hygienists play an important part in maintaining good oral health. Periodontal (gum) disease is progressive and irreversible – and left untreated may result in tooth loss.
Why do my gums bleed when I floss?
It is always a good idea to get this checked out by a dentist – if you bled from any other part of you body you would not ignore it. The most common cause for this is not flossing regularly or using an incorrect technique, resulting in the continued accumulation of plaque on your teeth. The gums the react to the toxins in this build-up and become inflamed and will bleed more easily. Routine dental visits could minimize this problem.
Can all of my treatment be completed in one visit?
Appointments are planned according to treatment required, sometimes it is possible to arrange an appointment of a suitable length to complete your work in one visit, but if there is any laboratory work involved then more than one visit will be required. We will endeavour to arrange your appointment schedule to suit your requirements.
Can I have teeth whitening?
Here at 19 Bell Street we are able to offer both in house tooth whitening (using the Zoom System as seen on extreme makeover) and custom made take home kits. We will talk through which system is right for you
Why do I need to have X-rays
How often X-rays (radiographs) should be taken depends on the patient’s individual health a need. It is important to recognize that just as each patient is different from the next, so should the scheduling of X-ray exams be tailored for each patient. Your dentist will review your history, examine your mouth and then decide whether you need radiographs and what type. If you are a new patient, the dentist may recommend radiographs to determine the present status of any hidden areas in your mouth and to help analyse changes that may occur later.
Will it Hurt?
We endeavour to make treatments as pain free as possible, offering the latest anaesthetic delivery systems (The Wand) and always using a topical anaesthetic.
Do I need to have an injection, and how long will the numbness last?
Injectable local anaesthetics prevent pain in a specific area of your mouth during treatment by blocking the nerves that sense or transmit pain and numbing mouth tissues. They cause the temporary numbness which lasts from 2-4 hours but the duration of this may vary from patient to patient Injectable anaesthetics may be used in such procedures as filling cavities, preparing teeth for crowns or treating periodontal (gum) disease and extractions.
Will I have white or silver fillings?
We have made a decision to be an amalgam free Practice and as such only place tooth coloured fillings (or gold where indicated). The disadvantages of amalgam (silver fillings) are that they include Mercury, may cause short-term sensitivity to hot or cold after the filling is placed. The filling is not as natural looking as one that is tooth-coloured, especially when the restoration may show when the patient laughs or speaks, and in the preparation more of the tooth structure may need to be removed than for other types of fillings.
I’ve just had Root Canal treatment on my tooth, does it now need a crown?
It is widely accepted that any back tooth that has had a root treatment will require some form of protection other than what a filling can provide. Teeth that have had root canals are more brittle and therefore more likely to break. Molars especially are prone to fracture. Worse yet, molars tend to fracture in such a way (vertically towards the bone and between the roots) that then usually cannot be saved and must be extracted. So it is usual for a Dentist to advise either a Crown or Onlay to protect a root treated tooth.
Exceptions to this are front teeth. Some front teeth that are root treated do not need crowns but this must be carefully diagnosed and depends on your bite, the number of and size of previous fillings in the tooth and the aesthetic appearance of the tooth.
If I have a Crown, will I need a Root Canal treatment ?
Possibly. If you think about it, most crowns are placed because of the extent of the damage to tooth. Of course they may have been placed for purely cosmetics reasons. Approximately 20% of teeth that have crowns end up needing Root Canal (Endodontic Therapy). Some teeth are in such a bad condition that we might suggest that you get the endodontic treatment first, but in most cases it is not recommended unless the tooth is in very bad condition.
When is my next check up / Hygiene visit due?
Recall examinations with the Dentist and Hygienist are decided according to the individual patients needs and this could range between 3 month and 1 yearly recalls. Postal reminders will be sent, however should you have problems or concerns before your next appointment is due please feel free to contact the practice.
Do you have a payment plan for dental Treatment?
We accept cash, cheques, most major credit and debit cards. Payment is made at the time of service. Patients with insurance pay at the time of service and claim back from their insurance companies themselves. We do offer a 12 month interest free finance option for larger treatment plans.
