We encourage our patients to attend regular examinations, so any potential problems can be identified and treated as soon as possible or even prevented altogether. Your dentist will advise you how regularly you need to attend.

Both new and regular patients undergo a thorough dental examination at each check-up appointment. This includes

• examination for dental decay
• examination for periodontal disease (gum disease)
• oral cancer screening
• assessment of tooth wear
• evaluation of any prospective risk factors for developing any of the above.
• X-rays may be taken to further check what the eyes cannot see.

At the end of your examination, all treatment options will be discussed and a written plan including costs will be supplied.

We have 2 fantastic Dental hygienists at Guilden Sutton Dental Practice; Gill and Jackie. We are very proud of our preventive approach to dental care that successfully maintains healthy smiles for all ages.

Both hygienists are ‘direct access’ this means you can book a hygiene appointment without seeing a dentist on the same day.

Hygiene treatment is on a private basis, appointments range from £21- £69 depending on treatment provided

Both hygienists can only be seen on a private only basis. If your dentist says a scale and polish is not clinically necessary but you want one anyway, you will have to pay for it privately.

Hygiene Therapy helps:

• Prevent gum disease and tooth decay
• Keep your breath fresh and your teeth and gums healthy
• Reduce stains, receding gums, bleeding gums and sensitive teeth
• Reduce your risk of serious medical condition that gum disease has been linked to arthritis, heart disease, strokes, diabetes and pregnancy complications

If scaling is clinically required, this is available on the NHS. This can be provided by a dentist , hygienist or dental therapist . A simple scaling is included in a Band 1 course of treatment, but more complex treatment for gum problems may be charged within a Band 2 course of treatment.

Fillings are used to repair a cavity in your tooth caused by decay.

The most common type of filling is dental amalgam, made from a mixture of mercury and different metals. Dental amalgam fillings are often used on your back teeth as they are hard-wearing.

Here at Guilden Sutton Dental Practice we will offer you the type of filling most appropriate for your clinical needs.

Fillings on the NHS can be made of:

• amalgam (silver-coloured) – a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin, and copper
• composite (tooth-coloured) – powdered glass and ceramic added to a resin base; they are not as hard-wearing as amalgam fillings
• glass ionomer (tooth-coloured) – powdered glass, which reacts chemically with your tooth and bonds to it. These fillings are used on baby (first) teeth or around the sides of teeth

A crown is used to entirely cover or ‘cap’ a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment.

A crown could be recommended to:

• Replace a large filling when there is insufficient tooth remaining for a new filling.
• Protect a weak tooth from further fracture
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a discoloured or misshapen tooth
• Cover a tooth after root canal treatment

Crowns can be made from a variety of materials for example metal, porcelain fused to metal and porcelain only.

Crowns are available on the NHS (Band3) however, the material is dependant on the position of the crown in the mouth. For example a metal crown on a back tooth to help restore the tooth from a functional perspective. Speak to your dentist regarding this.

You can discuss with your dentist alternative cosmetic options on a private basis which includes reinforced all ceramic (strong tooth-coloured) crowns or full gold crowns.

If a tooth is broken or a cavity or hole becomes so large that it reaches into the root canal, then bacteria may enter and destroy the nerves. This may be extremely painful and can lead to abscess formation and infection in the gum or jawbone.

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure to treat infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal system)

Root canal fillings can avoid the need for extraction of the affected tooth.

Once the root filling is completed, the tooth is restored using a filling, an inlay or a crown. Your dentist will be able to advise you accordingly.

This treatment is available on the NHS (Band 2). If the dentist feels the procedure is particularly difficult then a referral to a private specialist will be discussed.

Private appointments are available within the practice with Dr Heather Ryves who has a special interest in Endodontics and has extended skills in this area.

Extractions are a last resort but sometimes unavoidable. In this event we will try to make the procedure as easy as possible for you and endeavour to give you multiple options to replace the lost tooth.

Missing teeth can cause a number of problems both aesthetic and functional- affecting speech and eating.

Advances in technology means dentures can offer a real solution for many people with missing teeth.

Full or partial dentures are custom made using impressions from your gums and can be used to replace one or more missing teeth.

Partial dentures are fitted to an acrylic or metal plate and may be attached to existing teeth with hooks. These can easily be adapted if the patient loses further teeth over time.

Several appointments are necessary to ensure your dentures are fitting correctly and feel comfortable. We offer a variety of denture designs and materials at Guilden Sutton Dental Practice, some of which are available on he NHS.

A bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. It’s made by taking an impression of the surrounding teeth, which will eventually support the bridge.

A bridge is usually created from precious metal and porcelain and will be fixed in your mouth (unlike dentures, which can be removed).

Mouthguards can help our patients in many different situations. The two main types are used for sports or night time use.

If you play contact sports, we can make your sports guard in different colours and patterns to protect your teeth.

If you grind or clench your teeth at night, a soft acrylic night bite appliance could help relieve this problem and some of the symptoms associated with the habit.

These fillings are made from a composite resin.

Where clinically appropriate, white fillings are available on the NHS and are generally charged as Band 2. For example, if you need a filling in one of your front teeth (incisors and canines), the filling material of choice may be a white filling.

If the filling is in on one of your back teeth (such as molars and premolars), for a large filling the more clinically effective option may be an amalgam filling (a silver-coloured material) for strength and durability.

Your dentist will explain the options to you in advance. If you prefer to have the white filling or any other cosmetic filling options, your dentist will be able to advise you on the private costs for such treatments, and the risks and benefits associated with it.

Teeth can become stained as a result of aging, smoking and drinking liquids such as red wine, tea and coffee.

What is teeth whitening
Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. Teeth whitening can’t make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades. It is not suitable for everyone and your dentist will advise you.

Who can perform whitening?

Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and should only be performed by a dentist or another regulated dental professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist.

Here at Guilden Sutton Dental Practice we offer a home whitening treatments with a tray system.

Whitening is only available to those patients with healthy teeth and gums. You will need the dentist to check your teeth first. Crowns, veneers and white fillings will not lighten and may need to be replaced after treatment at an extra cost.

Treatment is not permanent but can usually be topped up using the same moulds.

C Fast is a simple, gentle, cosmetic treatment that corrects alignment issues with the top and bottom front teeth.

We use fixed clear orthodontic brackets and tooth-coloured nickel titanium wire.

Please call the practice for further information and book in for a free consultation with Dr McKinnon or Dr Ryves.

A dental veneer is a thin plate of tooth-coloured material that is custom-made and permanently attached to cover the front of a tooth to correct damage, discolouration or a bad shape.

They can be the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth as require little drilling and alteration of the tooth. Speak to your dentist for further information.

Implants are a fixed alternative to removable dentures.

You can use implants to replace just a single tooth or several teeth.

To fit an implant, titanium screws are drilled into the jaw bone to support a crown, bridge or denture.

Implants are only available privately. Please get in touch for further information.

If you think you need urgent treatment, please contact us as soon as possible. We aim to see acute emergencies within 24 hours but we do have only a limited number of emergency treatment appointments for NHS patients. Should you wish to be seen at a time that is more convenient for you then we will be happy to see you on a private basis.

You may need urgent treatment if you have:

• swelling that suggests an infection of a tooth or gum
• severe toothache or facial pain which is not controlled by taking over-the-counter medication
• trauma to the face, mouth or teeth after a recent accident or injury
• uncontrolled bleeding after tooth extraction that you cannot control
• serious swelling of the mouth or face which is getting worse

Should you require urgent treatment or advice outside of normal working hours then please contact the practice and our automated telephone system will be able to provide you with details of out of hours care.