Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we have a small free car park at the rear of the practice available on a first-come-first-served basis. There is also ample street parking available on the Parade for a small cash fee. We are also close to Knox Road multi-storey car park and the Capitol Shopping Centre car park.

Contact us by phone or WhatsApp on 02920 216 200 and our friendly reception staff would be happy to rebook for a more convenient time. Please give 24 hours notice to keep our waiting times down.

Each patient will receive a written quotation after the appropriate treatment has been advised. Our treatment fees can be viewed here.

We accept payment by debit or credit card in person or by phone (excluding American Express) or in cash. We can also send secure payment links. We offer finance through an affiliated licensed company, details of which can be found here.

Yes, we are a Denplan registered practice. We are happy to provide you with more details on Denplan membership and notify you of your personal category relative to your dental needs along with the pricing. It is not a requirement to pay into a plan to be a patient of our practice.

Andrew completes a thorough clinical and x-ray examination of your mouth including teeth, gums, any restorations you have and the soft tissues of your mouth. Andrew will also scan your teeth with our iTero digital scanner. We will find out a little more about your dental history and if you wish to change the appearance of your teeth. If any clinical treatment is needed or cosmetic treatment discussed, we will advise you accordingly and provide a written estimate.

Usually within a couple of weeks, but it also depends on your availability, too.

This depends on your risk of developing dental disease. Andrew will develop an individual care plan for each of his patients determining the interval based on the NICE guidelines for dental check-up frequency and Cancer Research UK’s guidelines on frequency of oral cancer screening. It can vary from every 3 months to once a year.

The choice is yours but we strongly recommend that every patient across all generations visit our hygienists regularly. For more information, click here.

Yes. We advise the use of interdental brushes which is supported by the latest research. Where the spaces are too small, floss or dental tape is an important alternative. For more information on our hygienist services, click here.

Yes, always. Mouth cancer is more common in people of 50 years old who smoke and drink alcohol. Early detection and treatment vastly improves survival rates.

Almost certainly but you should first have your teeth assessed to make sure they are suitable for tooth whitening. Enlighten is the only tooth whitening system that guarantees lightening to at least shade B1 (the lightest natural shade), but no-one can predict the exact end shade.

After assessing your teeth to check tooth whitening is suitable for you, we take impressions of your teeth and the Enlighten lab make precise fitting whitening trays that fit your teeth exactly. After checking the fit of the trays, we then provide you with Enlighten whitening gel, which you put into the trays each night for up to 14 nights to gently and safely whiten your teeth whilst you sleep. Finally we’ll review your result and advise you on maintenance and on any other actions you might need to enhance your result.

No, crowns, veneers, bridgework and fillings will not whiten with any tooth whitening system, but they can be replaced afterwards to match the whitened teeth if desired.

In most cases the Enlighten system works fully within two weeks of at home whitening, but some discolouration can be more stubborn to remove so occasionally it can take longer.

Enlighten uses a state-of-the-art version of carbamide peroxide gel which is proven to be safe for use in the mouth and, unlike many other whitening gels, Enlighten gel is pH neutral so it will not damage the surface of the teeth or harm the gums.

All tooth whitening gels can produce some short-lasting tooth sensitivity, which can last until a few days after the whitening has finished. Also, you might experience overnight dry mouth during whitening and some mild tingling of the gums until treatment is finished.

No, the Enlighten whitening tray and gel system is so good there is no need to have to force it to work using high energy lights, and as a result there is significantly less surface dehydration of the teeth, much reduced sensitivity, and a longer-lasting result.

Usually a long time, but teeth will always slowly darken over time, and this can happen more quickly if you drink a lot of tea, coffee or red wine, eat foods with lots of colour and if you smoke. We advise maintaining your new white smile by ‘topping-up’ by using your whitening trays with Enlighten gel for 1 or 2 nights every 2 to 4 months.

In the United Kingdom, to provide tooth whitening a professional must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). It is illegal for anyone not registered with the GDC to provide tooth whitening and the GDC request that any unregistered person providing this service in the UK should be reported to them.

The law states that in the United Kingdom only dentists can provide and sell tooth whitening gel that is of sufficient strength and quality to whiten teeth. Tooth whitening products and kits bought over the counter on the internet can legally only contain up to 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. This concentration is too low to have any noticeable effect on the colour of the teeth. Any gels sold this way that contain greater that 0.1% hydrogen peroxide are illegal and could be dangerous.

No, in the UK it is illegal to provide tooth whitening to anyone under the age of 18 and we reserve the right to request photo ID from patients to prove they are over 18 years old if we have any concerns regarding their age at the time of tooth whitening.

No, direct access hygiene services are just that – you can just see just our hygienist if that’s what you want.

No, dental hygienists cannot provide a full dental check-up or any other treatment outside their scope of training. If you have another dental problem, or if they suspect you do, they will advise you to make an appointment with a dentist who will be able to make a diagnosis and advise on treatment.

Most patients seek direct access dental hygienist appointments to freshen up their teeth, have staining removed and for prevention to aid their own oral hygiene measures and keep plaque and calculus (tartar) to a minimum. Hygienists also provide treatment for active gum (periodontal) disease but at our practice they only do this under prescription from a dentist, so if they identify any gum disease at your visit they will inform you and advise you see a dentist.

Yes, if your dentist does not have their own hygienist service, we would be delighted to see you, and we are also happy to receive referrals (with or without a prescribed treatment plan) from your dentist.