FAQ

• Do you offer NHS Patient care? Unfortunately not, we did look into the proceeding down the NHS route but very quickly discovered that due to the way in which we wanted to practice dentistry, the materials and equipment we wished to use and the length of time we think should be allocated to each procedure that NHS could never be a financially viable option for us. Many of our patients who have come to us from NHS practices have commented particularly on the significant difference in the amount of time spent with them.

• How can I register? All you need to do is call us  on 01407 764599  and make yourself appointment for a new patient examination with one of our dentists.
   
• How can I pay for my  treatment?  Payments can be made by one of the following methods:  Debit, Credit card, personal cheque, or cash.  Written estimate can be provided for work to be carried out, and at no times will work be completed without the patients full knowledge, understanding and consent.

• What is considered to be an emergency appointment? In case of an emergency based on - severe pain not responding to painkillers, bleeding, swelling, sharp edge cutting tongue/cheek or a missing front tooth during practice hours, please contact the practice immediately on 01407 764599. We will always endeavor to see a patient in pain on the same day although you may be asked to come and sit in the waiting room if no specific appointment time can be allocated at short notice. If you require emergency treatment outside surgery hours, please telephone to get the on call dentist’s mobile phone number for advice. The out of hours emergency service is only open to registered patients of the practice, their family or a visiting relative or close friend. On weekdays the service runs from 5.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. and on weekends and bank holidays from 9.00 a.m. -9.00 p.m. Anyone phoning the service would be vetted on the phone before the dentist agrees to come out to the practice to treat them depending on the urgency based on the criteria as above. In other circumstances the dentist reserves the right to request treatment is provided during normal working hours.

Failure to attend or cancellation what is our policy?
 

• If you have to cancel an appointment please give us 48 hours notice so that we can offer the time to someone waiting for treatment. We may make a charge for short notice cancellations or missed appointments. To keep our prices to a reasonable level it is necessary for the fixed running cost of the practice to be met. This requires the surgeries to run at maximum efficiency. The cancellation and missed appointment policy applies to both dentist and hygienist appointments. We view hygienist work as very important in the prevention of dental disease and we encourage our patients to visit regularly for cleaning so they will be able to keep their teeth and gums looking good and in healthy condition.

I am a very nervous patient? What can be done for me?
 

• In addition to a careful and gentle approach we offer an intravenous or RA sedation for very apprehensive patients and/or extremely uncomfortable treatment eg. surgical extraction of wisdom teeth. Please ask the dentist to explain to you in details how it works.

Where can I find the Practice?
 

• We are situated near the cenotaph war memorial in Holyhead. There are numerous car parks in the vincinity, we are opposite the train station, and on the bus route.

I am interested in a full makeover of my smile. Can you help me?
Yes. We try to provide our patients with the least intrusive dental treatment and keep the appearance of your smile looking very good and also as natural as possible. We have a specialist implant dentist  in our team to advise you in individual cases of advanced and complex treatment. A number of options will be explained and offered to you so your decision to accept a treatment plan is made with all the necessary information and with your full consent.

Is it possible to have a brilliant, white “Hollywood” smile?
Usually yes. Please consult your dentist for the best advice of how to get your dream smile.

I would like to bleach my teeth but I am confused as there are various whitening systems on the market of varying quality and price. What you will recommend?
As professionals we believe that the best treatment is the safest one which gives the desired results. Therefore bleaching(tooth whitening) should be only done on the recommendation of your dentist and carried out under his or her care and close monitoring of the whole process. We offer two kinds of tooth whitening. Zoom Whitening (this is carried by the dentist in the surgery for approximately two hours with immediate results using a high concentration of peroxide) and home bleaching (impressions are taken by the dentist of the upper and the lower teeth, sent to a dental laboratory to make the close fitting trays and a follow up appointment is made to allow the dentist to provide instruction on the use of the trays, administering the bleaching gel and a written instruction sheet will be given to take home.

In approximately two weeks time a short review appointment is made so the patient and the dentist can discuss the results achieved. Some patients may suffer a variable amount of sensitivity during and immediately after treatment which is to be expected but if needed a dentist will take a closer look to confirm that everything is normal and there is nothing to worry about. A special tooth paste is provided for the most sensitive moments. The sensitivity goes away when the bleaching is stopped. As the home gel is less concentrated and is more gentle to the teeth and gums home bleaching is recommended as the preferred option in most cases. In some cases combined teeth whitening can be recommended.

The colour of the teeth usually never returns to the original shade but a top up is recommended after 6,12 or18 months to keep the teeth looking good. Re-bleaching for couple of days may be necessary if a lot of coffee, tea, red wine, curry, etc is consumed.

I am interested in having an implant. Can you explain me briefly what exactly implant is and how it works?
A dental implant is a precision made titanium metal post which is placed into the jawbone to replace a gap where a tooth has been lost. It is used to support one or more crown units or a denture. Modern implants often last for at least 15 years – possibly for life. The advantages of an implant is that it is fixed, it stops the shrinkage of gum and bone and there is no damage to adjacent teeth. An implant is the most cost-effective long-term solution for a missing tooth or a number of teeth if there is enough healthy bone in the jaw. In other case it may still be possible to place an implant by grafting bone into the area first.
Placing the implants requires a small operation. This can be carried out under local anaesthetic alone (dental injection) or with sedation. You will not feel any pain at the time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week following the surgery. This is usually due to having stitches in place, and the normal healing process. Usually the implants need to bond (integrate) with the bone after they have been placed. This takes from 3 – 6 months. If you are having one, two or three teeth replaced, you will have a temporary restoration in the meantime.

If you have complete dentures, you can wear them throughout the healing period once they have been adjusted after the surgery. It takes about 9 months from the initial assessment to the time when the artificial teeth or dentures are finally attached to the implants but a lot depends on how complicated your treatment is. Our specialists will be able to give you a timetable.
Please make sure you understand exactly what treatment is proposed, the total cost of the treatment and what the alternatives are. If you are unhappy with any of the answers then do ask for a second opinion. You will be spending a lot of time, effort and money so you must be sure that you know what you are getting at the end of treatment.

What are the other alternatives of replacing missing teeth?
The other main options are dentures and bridges.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned options?
The advantage of a denture is that it is cheap. The disadvantages are that they can move when eating, speaking, laughing or smiling. There is the possibility of damage to the gums. The gums and bone often continue to shrink, and the life expectancy of high-quality dentures is 5 – 12 years.

The advantage of a bridge is that it is fixed. The disadvantages include an average life expectancy of high quality conventional bridgework of 7 – 15 years. For conventional bridgework the adjacent teeth usually have to be drilled and cut down, this is not so for adhesive bridgework, but this type can de-bond and fall out. Gum and bone levels usually continue to shrink, and the bridge margins can become unsightly due to recession after a few years.
The only known disadvantage of an implant so far is the higher initial investment, and the possibility of a longer treatment timeframe.

Can I change my mind for a treatment assessed beforehand?
Yes. You will only need to provide us with enough time to re - schedule your treatment and any costs done towards the abandoned treatment will be on your expense and the Practice will not be liable to refund you for those.