Frequently asked questions

No. Teeth can be moved at any age provided the gums and supporting bone are healthy.

20-22 hours a day. Keeping them in except for eating and brushing is what keeps treatment on schedule.

They can, without retention. A fixed or removable retainer is provided at the end of treatment, and used regularly it holds the result.

Because it is done under local anaesthetic, you usually feel no pain during the procedure. Tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal and is managed with painkillers.

The surgery itself usually takes under an hour. Integration with the bone then takes between two and six months depending on the person and the jaw, and is usually shorter in the lower jaw.

If bone volume is insufficient, grafting may be needed first. Uncontrolled diabetes and heavy smoking affect healing; both are assessed at the consultation.

Typically one to three years, depending on diet and smoking. A home maintenance protocol extends it.

Temporary sensitivity is possible and usually settles within 24-48 hours. If you have a history of sensitivity we apply a protective treatment beforehand.

No. Restorations keep their colour. If you have crowns or fillings at the front, replacing them after whitening can be planned.

Not every wisdom tooth needs to go. Removal is advised when there is pain, recurring infection, pressure on the neighbouring tooth, or it cannot be cleaned.

Swelling and discomfort usually ease within three days. Most people return to normal activity the next day, and any sutures come out after a week.

Your medical history and current medication are reviewed beforehand, and vital signs are monitored throughout. For suitable patients, given with an anaesthetist present, it is a safe option.

If enamel has been reduced, the procedure is not reversible, which is why planning is given time. Veneers placed without any reduction can usually be removed.

Porcelain stains far less than natural enamel. The bonding line can discolour over time, which regular cleaning prevents.

Bonding is done in one visit and, in most cases, without reducing the tooth; a veneer lasts longer and resists staining better.

Yes. A damaged area can usually be added to and repaired in the same visit.

With no metal substructure it looks more natural than a metal-backed crown.

With no metal substructure there is no grey margin. If the gum recedes, however, the root of the tooth beneath the crown can become visible.

For removable prosthetics, yes. Letting the gum rest is necessary for tissue health.

Yes. Implant-supported prosthetics are markedly more stable and slow bone loss.

Because it is done under local anaesthetic, you usually feel no pain during the procedure. Mild tenderness for a few days afterwards is possible.

It can change colour over time; internal bleaching or a crown resolves it.

Not on its own. Progression can be stopped, and selected cases can be covered with a graft.

It is done under local anaesthetic; some sensitivity for a few days afterwards is normal.

When it is planned to preserve the natural distance between gum and bone, the result is lasting; if necessary, the bone is reshaped during the same procedure. Any gum inflammation is treated first.

They are often planned together: the gumline is corrected first and the veneers made to the new proportions.

After the first tooth appears, by age one at the latest. Starting check-ups early builds good habits before problems arise.

Yes. Untreated decay causes pain, infection and can damage the permanent tooth beneath.

In some cases yes. Where there is infection we wait for healing; the scan decides.

Discomfort usually lasts two to three days and is controlled with simple painkillers.

It depends on the size of the defect. Small ones need only prepared graft; larger volumes may use your own bone.

If the remaining bone can give the implant enough initial stability, yes. Otherwise we wait for the graft to mature.

With correct technique the risk is low. Any existing sinus infection is treated beforehand.

Swelling for a few days is expected. For most patients the pain is similar to implant surgery and is managed with painkillers.

In most cases yes. If primary stability is sufficient, a fixed temporary goes in the same day.

Angled placement avoids grafting in most cases; the scan decides.

In most cases yes. If primary stability is sufficient, a fixed temporary goes in the same day.

Six implants need enough bone volume. If bone is insufficient, grafting or the All-on-4 option is considered; the scan decides.