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We hope that you are finding the car park is easier to use now that the garages have been demolished.
We still find that spaces are not always easy to find at busy times, so we do ask that you only park with us during your appointment, and don't feel tempted to leave your car whilst you nip to the shops before or after visiting us.
We are also working with the offices next door to us to stop their clients parking in our car park, so if you notice anyone parking and not coming into our building, do feel free to tell tales on them! |
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Most of you are very good about keeping your appointments. However, we are sometimes let down by short notice cancellations or non attendance.
This is frustrating when we know that some people are having to wait to see their dentist. To help you to ensure that you remember your appointment, we are now endeavouring to telephone you 48 hours in advance of your visit to us.
Regretfully, we have decided to reserve the right to charge a fee for cancellations within a 24 hour period in order to minimise missed appointments. |
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As you know, we have not used amalgam (metal) fillings for some time now and believe that the results are very much better with a tooth coloured repair. You may now be given two choices for your tooth coloured repair.
The first is a tooth coloured composite filling material which is placed in the tooth cavity in layers and hardened up by shining a blue light on to it. This gives a good result which can then be polished. If you have a problem with this within a year, we will replace it for you.
The second option is to use porcelain which is accurately shaped to fit your tooth and is cemented into place and polished. This is called a Cerec restoration and is tooth coloured, but stronger, longer lasting and keeps its looks for longer. Consequently, this has a five year guarantee.
We are always happy to discuss the options with you and the suitability of either technique. Back to questions. |
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You may be aware that a new NHS dental contract is starting in April 2006. This has caused all NHS dentists to review their situation and decide whether or not to stay in the NHS.
Having worked in the NHS for 27 years, I believe that we need an NHS service and I will be very sad if it is adversely affected. My view is that it should fund a good standard of dentistry to ensure that people are not in pain, but I don't feel that it should provide aesthetic options. We urgently need to allow more students into the 5 year training period and require them to then work in the NHS for about 5 years following graduation. However, I felt that I had done my time and wanted to provide a superior service for those who want it and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of the higher demands of the work patients now expect. Back to questions. |
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Please Help Us to Help You |
| When you make a routine check up appointment, please tell the Reception staff if you have a dental problem. They can then ensure that there is enough time to accurately assess the cause. Sometimes it may be dealt with at the initial appointment. At other times it will be necessary for you to come back, but a little extra time allows your dentist to make you comfortable. Back to questions. |
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Accredited Trainer |
Bruce is an accredited trainer in the use of the Cerec machine and regularly trains other visiting dentists to utilise this advanced equipment.If you would like more information about this technology look at our dental menu. Essentially it allows crowns and veneers to be completed in one visit - which means no more temporary solutions with several visits to the practice! Back to questions. |
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Dental Insurance And Loans
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We are frequently asked for advice regarding insurance and loans and the best way of allowing for dental bills.
Most dental schemes are pre-payment, which allow a fixed maximum for dental bills per year. These schemes usually require you to pay your own laboratory fees on top of your premium. Although these are popular with some people, you may want to consider calculating the amount of monthly premium you might pay into one of these - and then invest that sum in a building society or high interest account solely for the purpose of dental bills. At the end of the year, if you have not had any unexpected treatment, that money is still yours.
Occasionally your dentistry may involve some extensive treatment, in which case you may feel that a loan is more appropriate. We now have an arrangement with a company called 3dee who specialise in dental loans. Depending on the amount borrowed, we may be able to arrange an interest free loan for you. Your loan agreement is then with 3dee, who, under certain circumstances, will agree to top it up if necessary. The minimum figure for a loan is £250 so it covers crowns, veneers, bridges, tooth whitening, botox, dermal fillers and anti snoring devices.
For more details about this facility, either pick up a leaflet or ask at Reception who can tell you more about it and calculate your repayments for you. Back to questions. |
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I have joined the International Association of Advanced Facial Aesthetics which is an international group of doctors and dentists who are interested in facial aesthetics.
Whilst it is extremely satisfying both for the patient and the dentist to achieve a major improvement in the look of someone's teeth, the most effective change comes about when the whole facial structure is taken into account. As a natural consequence of looking at the whole face, it makes sense to be able to affect the mouth, lips and cheeks so that the total appearance can be improved.
Dentists are in an excellent position to effect soft tissue changes with Botox and dermal fillers because we have a detailed knowledge of the anatomy and musculature of the face and we are skilled at giving injections.
My objective is to lift and soften to give a slightly younger look. |
To this aim I only use materials which do not cause permanent change, and are safe and free from unpleasant side effects. Botox wears off after 3-6 months. It is very widely used and, used correctly, is safe.
Dermal fillers are a gel of Hyaluronase, which is a substance produced naturally by the body, normally in wound healing. It is not collagen which is sometimes used.
Collagen is made from animal protein and is more prone to causing acute reactions and creates permanent changes. The high profile cases of celebrities with irreversible problems have been caused by collagen.
We only use products which wear off and don't cause permanent changes.
Please talk to any member of staff for more information. Back to questions.
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