FAQS
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I signed up to 8to8 Dental online does this mean I am automatically registered as an NHS patient?
To complete your NHS registration, you MUST attend your first appointment at 8to8 Dental. Signing up online guarantees you a place at the practice but your NHS registration is not finalised until you have attended your appointment. What happens at my examination appointment? At every regularly-scheduled dental appointment at 8to8 Dental, our dentists will carefully check your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat. A check-up usually includes 5 main elements: 1. Oral cancer screening. 2. Examination of the teeth, fillings and other restorations such as crowns and bridges. 3. Detailed monitoring of the gum health. 4. Assessment of the jaw joints and associated muscles. 5. Palpation of the saliva glands and nodes under the jaw. I am already registered with a dental practice; do I need to let them know I am transferring? Yes. Once you have had your first appointment at 8to8 Dental, it would be good practice to contact your former dental practice to inform them of the changes. All my children are under school age – should I register them? Yes. Children's teeth usually appear around 6 months of age. Children should be examined when these teeth appear. We participate in "Childsmile" and give advice to children and parents on brushing techniques and applying fluoride treatments to children's teeth. This is designed to give their teeth the best start in life. I wear dentures, should I still go to the dentist? Yes, your appointment will be used to check your existing dentures to ensure they fit properly and are comfortable. We will also assess the health of your mouth and check for oral cancer. If you would like new dentures, we would be happy to discuss this with you too. If I want private treatment (e.g. white fillings/white crowns on back teeth, teeth whitening) do I have to become a private patient? No. Being an NHS patient does not prevent you from having some private dental work. For example, you can be an NHS patient and decide to have white crowns on your back teeth. You would pay for your white crowns privately, but you would still have access to the full range of NHS services available. Our dentists are always happy to talk through all the treatment options and associated costs to ensure you get exactly what you want, within a budget that suits. How can I pay for my treatment? We prefer payment (cash, credit/debit card) at each appointment for the treatment done. How often should I have my teeth checked? Most people attend for a routine check-up about twice a year. It has been clinically proven that oral health has a direct link to general health, which is why, regular visits to your dentist are extremely important. We encourage people to come regularly as it allows us to identify problems before they become too serious. This allows us to sort out problems quickly and often means we can avoid more complicated and expensive treatment. It is also necessary to be screened for cancer regularly. We strongly believe in testing our patients for early signs of cancer before they develop any symptoms. It is estimated that in the UK in the next 10 years around 60,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer. If undiagnosed, it is estimated that for around 30,000 will die. Oral Cancer Screening is a quick and easy test done in the dental chair. Getting tested is strongly recommended by the British Dental Health Foundation. Will it hurt? Dentistry has come a long way in the last fifty years. Modern dentistry should be pain free and carried out in a relaxed and friendly environment. We use all the latest local anaesthetic techniques and solutions to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible. We spend time with all our patients, particularly children, using the 'show, tell, do' technique to desensitise patients who are anxious about needles. What should I do in an emergency? If you ring the practice before 10am on weekdays we can usually arrange an emergency appointment the same day. At weekends, you can contact the NHS 24 emergency line on 0845 4565990. My gums are red and bleed when I brush them. What does this mean? Bleeding gums are one of the earliest signs of gum disease (gingivitis). The gums bleed because of a layer of plaque and bacteria which is left next to the gum. Our dentists can advise you how to brush and care for your gums more carefully, so that you can solve the problem for yourself. |
My crowns have a dark line near the gum. What does this mean?
Generally, crowns in the past were made with a metal insert and tooth coloured porcelain on the outside. This often leads to a dull appearance and a grey area where the crown meets the tooth. We can now place metal-free crowns on front teeth. These are more translucent and natural looking, producing an attractive smile. What is a veneer? A veneer is a thin porcelain cover custom made to fit over the surface of your teeth, to improve their colour and shape. It is something like a false nail that is bonded to the front of the tooth. My front teeth have spaces between them. What can I do? There are a number of ways to close gaps between front teeth, from the simple re-contouring with white filling material, veneers, or by moving the tooth positions with orthodontic treatment. Your dentist can discuss the best way to achieve the result you would like. What causes sensitive teeth? Sensitive teeth can be caused by a range of factors. The porous part of the tooth, called dentine is the region that registers pain, and dentine can become exposed due to: ▪ Fractured or chipped teeth. ▪ Teeth injured by clenching or grinding. ▪ Receding gums caused by gum disease or improper brushing. ▪ Decay. How can I care for my sensitive teeth? Pain from sensitive teeth often comes and goes, but if you experience constant pain, you may have a more serious problem. There are many effective treatments for sensitive teeth, including: ▪ A soft-bristle toothbrush to prevent gum irritation ▪ Toothpaste designed to insulate the nerve that registers pain ▪ A fluoride rinse or gel How does professional teeth whitening work? Dentist supervised whitening systems are widely considered to provide the safest cosmetic dentistry treatments. Teeth whitening is a conservative method for completely making over your smile. Chairside teeth whitening procedures are performed with a specially formulated peroxide gel that allows oxygen to permeate your tooth enamel, lifting stains. The structure of your tooth enamel is not affected. The most common side effect is temporary tooth sensitivity. The procedure is carried out in surgery and takes around an hour. We also offer at home whitening, where the whitening treatment is carried out by filling custom made moulds or trays with the bleaching agent and wearing in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Both treatments are available and many patients who have the chairside whitening take advantage of our at home system offer to provide top-ups. Do you offer tooth coloured fillings to replace my metal fillings? The placement of tooth coloured or composite fillings is one of the most commonly performed general dentistry procedures. In addition to filling new cavities, these beautiful restorations can replace old metal fillings that have blackened, fractured, popped out, or that simply take away from the beauty of your smile. Again, it depends on the dentist's discretion and how deep the fillings are. If I am missing one or more teeth, what are my options? Patients today have an array of options for replacing missing teeth. Dentures, bridges and implants all have their advantages and disadvantages. If you have lost a tooth or several teeth, we urge you to seek treatment. Adjacent teeth can shift into the gap left by a lost tooth. In addition, a missing tooth can lead to bone loss, hygiene problems, difficulties with speaking and eating, and much more. Today's dental restorations are better than ever, and they can give you a strong bite and a beautiful smile. Where can I keep up to date with 8to8 news? We are constantly updating our website and Facebook pages with the most recent information about 8to8 Dental. To find out more click below: https://www.facebook.com/8to8dentalbuckie https://www.facebook.com/8to8dentalkeith |
Your Local NHS Dentist
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