If you require further information or would like to book in any of our dental services, you can call us on +44 (0) 1534 875 587 or book online using our booking system.
Dental Treatments
- Hygiene
- CEREC
- Implants
- Sedation
- Whitening
- Orthodontics
- Smile Makeover
- Anti-Snoring
- Digital Impressions
- Laser and 3D
Dental Hygienists and Prevention Care
Dental Hygienists play a crucial role of the dental team. They are Registered Dental Professionals with the General Dental Council who are specially trained in preventive care and reducing oral diseases. Our hygienist work under the British Society of Periodontology guidelines.
Plaque is the leading cause of dental disease. This is a sticky white film of bacterial and food debris, it can be removed by regular brushing and flossing. However, if not removed the plaque will harden in to tartar. This is a hard deposit and cannot be removed by patients at home. The rough texture of the tartar attracts more plaque to these areas which release toxins on to the teeth and the gums. It’s important to see the hygienist as they will remove this hardened tartar build up.
What to expect when you see the hygienist
In your initial hygiene appointment, the hygienist will assess your oral health with a mixture of medical, social and dental risk factors. From there, baseline measurements of the gums will be taken and a treatment plan will be tailored to your needs and discussed before proceeding.
Your hygiene appointment will consist of scaling with an ultrasonic water instrument and hand instruments. This is to remove tartar (hardened plaque) that will leave the mouth feeling clean and refreshed, finished off with a polish to remove any staining. Often the hygienist will need to spend a number of appointments getting the gums restored to health. An oral hygiene maintenance routine will be tailored to you as an individual to ensure that you have all the tools at home to remove the plaque which causes dental diseases. Hygienists focus on prevention rather than cure so diet advice may given to help reduce the risk of dental decay and erosion.
Recall appointments will be assessed using all these factors, and can range from 3-6 months depending on the health of the mouth. Although it is important to have regular maintenance appointments to remove built up tartar, and modify oral hygiene routines, the oral health of the patient depends on what they are doing at home in terms of plaque removal. This is why hygienists educate patients on toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing and or using interdental brushes between the teeth.
In addition to regular hygiene appointments, Regular Dental Examinations are key to a successful preventive dental programme, so these are tailored to the individual. It is always our pleasure to report a clean bill of health with no treatment needed.
Healthy Mouth Plan
Our Healthy Mouth Plan has been designed to make all of the above affordable with regular monthly payments by standing order. The benefits of joining include discount on other dental treatment (excluding Orthodontics and Implants) and discounts on beauty treatments and facial aesthetic treatments. Click here to find our more.
CEREC – a procedure with a long tradition
The CEREC procedure was developed at Zurich University and has been successfully developed in dental practices since 1985. We have been using CEREC technology in our practice since 2008.
Worldwide more than 25,000 practices in over 50 countries work with the CEREC system. Since 1985 over 8 million patients have been treated using the CEREC procedure. More than 20 million Ceramic restorations have been created and placed. Long-term clinical studies demonstrate that in terms of durability – CEREC restorations are at least equivalent to gold restorations.
Depending on the individual case, CEREC fillings can achieve even better results than gold fillings. The CEREC treatment procedure means:
- NO conventional impressions – The CEREC 3D measuring camera scans the prepared tooth in just a few seconds. This eliminates the need for unpleasant silicone impressions.
- NO temporaries – CEREC restorations are milled out of a solid ceramic block in just a few minutes. They are then ready to be placed immediately. This eliminates the need for temporary fillings and crowns. It also means that you need only one appointment. And you don’t have to wait for days on end until the ceramic filling is finished.
- NO long waiting periods – Because CEREC restorations can be placed immediately, you need only one appointment. And you benefit from tooth restorations which have demonstrated their durability time and time again.
- Guarantee – We guarantee all CEREC restorations for a period of two years if regular check-ups and hygienist appointments are kept up to date.
Ceramic fillings with CEREC
- Do you want highly aesthetic, tooth- coloured fillings- created and placed during a single dental appointment?
- Would you prefer metal-free, biocompatible materials?
All this is now possible. Thanks to CEREC. And these ceramic restorations can be created and placed during a single appointment.
CEREC is a sophisticated CAD/CAM system for the production of all – ceramic inlays, onlays, partial crowns, veneers and crowns for anterior and posterior teeth.
Benefits at a Glance
- One visit
- No impressions
- No temporaries
- Metal-free
- Highly aesthetic
- Long lasting
Modern CAD/CAM technology makes it possible.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are fantastic options for replacing missing teeth. If you have one or multiple missing teeth then implants are an effective solution to replace these helping to not only restore your smile but also;
- Preserve your remaining bone – the presence of the implant will slow the change in the bone and gum that follows after a tooth is lost
- Independent of adjacent teeth – replacing a single tooth with an implant avoids having to cut into these healthy teeth to support a dental bridge
- Single implant looks and functions like your own tooth
- Maintaining good oral hygiene is easier with an individual implant crown or bridge than a tooth supported bridge. Reducing the risk of adjacent teeth being lost prematurely.
Replacing a single tooth with an implant is a highly conservative treatment option, as the implant is a replacement for the natural tooth root onto which a crown can be attached. This means it avoids drilling adjacent teeth and damaging these to replace one missing tooth with a bridge as it would have been traditionally done.
Replacing several teeth can be done with implant supported bridgework, for example three missing teeth can be replace with a three unit bridge supported on two implants.
For people who have loose dentures these can be anchored to implants making them stable and firmly attached increasing their retention and therefore function.
Alternatively people who wear dentures can replace these and have complete jaw reconstruction with implant retained full arch bridgework. This would usually be supported on six implants and a bar to connect them all.
Computer guided planning for Dental Implant Surgery
Using advanced digital dentistry techniques to diagnose and pre-plan your implant surgery.
The 3D radiographic imaging method (CBCT) uses high-definition digital scans of your jaws combined with optical scans of your teeth to be imported into our powerful computer guided planning software. This then generates a 3D digital model of your teeth and jaws.
With this method we can plan simple and complex implant surgery cases meticulously and establish limitations and problems in advance. Therefore being able to diagnose and treat patients far more effectively and accurately because of our modern 3-dimensional view under the skin of each patient’s individual anatomy.
Computer guided keyhole surgery in dental implants will become the mainstream workflow, however, not all implant surgery is carried out this way. Here at Confidence Dental & Wellbeing we have heavily invested in 3D systems and 3D printers to be able to fabricate customised surgical guides to increase the accuracy of implant positioning and reduce the treatment time of patients, but most importantly to make implant treatment almost completely painless.
Your implant procedure is calculated and considered in great detail, being rehearsed numerous times before your procedure takes place during the 3D planning phase. This makes the entire surgical process faster, less invasive and more accurate, which means you heal more rapidly and have a fantastic result with less visits to the dental surgery.
Dental Sedation
Dental sedation helps to make lengthy or complex dental treatment much more comfortable and easy for you to manage. It can help remove the anxiety, stress, discomfort, and awareness of the procedure. You will enjoy a relaxing sleep whilst you maintain your reflexes and are able to breathe for yourself, whilst being able to respond to us if required. It may also produce sensations of drowsiness, warmth and tingling in the injection area. In the dental setting, it will not induce unconsciousness. You will be able to swallow, talk and cough as needed.
Contradictions: Please let us know if you have any of the following medical conditions, because we may not be able to safely use sedation;
- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Chronic asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Pregnancy
- Tuberculosis
- Macrocytic anaemia
- Immune disease
- Respiratory diseases
- A history of substance abuse.
Preoperative guidelines: Dental sedation requires that we place a small cannula (access for the medication) in to your vein following which we will also give you a local anaesthetic once you are sedated. We will continuously titrate your required sedation dose so you will feel completely relaxed during the procedure. Throughout the treatment you will be relatively aware of your situation until the procedure comes to an end. At that time, no more titration dose will be administered and you will be slowly allowed to recover from the effects of the sedation medicine.
Before the procedure:
- You are advised not to eat at least 6 hours before undergoing sedation, or drink a minimum of 3 hours prior to sedation.
- You are advised to wear loose clothing & remove all jewellery for your comfort.
- We ask that you remove nail varnish and tie hair loosely.
- We will not be able to start the intra-venous sedation without an escort who can stay with you for 24hrs after your sedation is completed.
- We advise that you take your medications as prescribed by your GP and do not stop any medication without prior recommendation.
- Please do let your dental sedationist know if you have a change in medical circumstances or medication.
- We ask that you do not drink alcohol or take recreational drugs before attending to be sedated.
Following your procedure
You will be given appropriate recovery time in which you will be closely monitored with specialist monitoring equipment to ensure your safe recovery.
Our practice is specially equipped for IV sedation treatments; as well as our staff which have additional training. However, as we administer a sedative medication, certain precautions are necessary after the procedure to ensure a comfortable recovery:
- You will need supervision for up to 8 hours following the completion of your sedation treatment and it is recommended not to sign legal documents or make important decisions during that time.
- You may remain drowsy and lack time and space judgment after the procedure is completed. This could last up to 8 hours.
- You may experience nausea and vomiting following your sedation and our team will provide you advice to minimize this.
- Discolouration of the skin or bruising in areas of access to veins or attempted access may persist for some time.
- You may experience post-operative pain depending on the treatment carried out, areas of numbness, swelling, bleeding, and general post-operative discomfort.
- NO alcohol should be consuming for 24hrs after sedation
- You should not operate machinery or drive or sign legal documents for 24hrs after sedation is completed.
- DO NOT eat until the numbness has worn off, however, you can drink water as needed
- DO NOT travel home via public transport; preferably take a taxi or private car home.
Effective Tooth Whitening that will make you Smile
Everyone wants whiter teeth these days. A confident, dazzling smile makes you feel better about yourself while discoloured, unsightly teeth make you want to keep your lips tightly shut to hide the teeth behind them.
For some people, porcelain veneers may be the best way to correct irregular or discoloured teeth. But simple whitening, where possible, is much less invasive (and less expensive).
The procedure is simple and effective. It is also quite safe, as long as important factors are assessed first. Our experience has shown that home whitening using custom made “trays” and whitening gel supplied by your dentist is the most effective way to whiten your teeth.
Before treatment we check the teeth and gums for areas that may become over sensitive during the whitening. We will also be able to predict teeth that may not respond to the treatment because of existing fillings or crowns.
Whitening gels contain various forms and strengths of peroxide as the active ingredient. To ensure the gel stays in contact with the teeth without spilling onto your gums, we make perfectly fitting, vacuum-formed trays to fit closely over your teeth. These are then used at home for one or two hours a day for about two weeks or until your teeth reach the required degree of whiteness. The trays will often last a few years so can be used repeatedly to “top up” the whitening if needed.
The whitening trays are made on plaster models of your teeth, which in turn are cast from impressions of the teeth and gums. It only takes a few minutes to take the impressions so the treatment involves minimal time with the dentist and this keeps costs to a minimum.
FAQs
Can tooth whitening damage the teeth?
When properly planned and supervised, modern tooth whitening causes no lasting damage to the teeth. Although the whitening effect penetrates into the tooth structure, it does not weaken the tooth in anyway.
How long does tooth whitening last?
This varies according to how much strong coloured food and drink a person has in their diet. Many people find the effect of whitening lasts for months or years without fading. However, if you drink a lot of tea, coffee, red wine etc. you may find you need to top up your whitening every six months or so.
Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?
Tooth sensitivity can be a temporary side effect of some whitening procedures. But this is now less common with the gentler products available today. It is also possible to reduce the likelihood of sensitivity by pre-treating the teeth with fluoride gel.
Can all teeth be whitened?
It is nearly always possible to whiten natural teeth. However, most dental materials already in your teeth such as fillings, crowns, and veneers will not respond to whitening. This is not usually a problem with back teeth but a single crown on a front tooth for example may look yellow next to newly whitened teeth. Your dentist will be able to tell you if you have any existing fillings etc. which may affect the final result. One option is to have these replaced to match the newly whitened teeth.
Can whitening be done in the surgery?
There are single visit treatments available including “laser” whitening. We have tried these alternative systems but found the results disappointing. In our experience, home whitening achieves the best results. Whitening takes some time and cannot be rushed.
Do whitening toothpastes work?
Whitening toothpastes can be of some benefit, but their effectiveness is quite limited and will take much longer. This is because the active components necessary are much weaker. They are certainly not strong enough to compare to the home kits supplied by dentists.
Orthodontics (Tooth Straightening)
Our own UK Registered Specialist Orthodontist, Joseph McGill BDS, MSc (Rest Dent), FDS RCPS, MOrth RCS(Ed), MSc offers a full range of treatment options including fixed and removable braces.
The first step; Orthodontic Assessment. Usually two visits are needed; the initial appointment is with Dr Sam Le Sueur BDS who will ask a few questions relating to how we can help you and take any relevant photographs and X-rays. In addition, she will take scans of your teeth to capture their position and the shape of your jaws.
These records will allow Dr McGill to meet with you and give a detailed report on your treatment options. This second visit will be followed by a written report from Joe McGill for your perusal.
Fixes Wire Braces
This option is where metal or ceramic brackets are attached to the outside or inside of the teeth to straighten them with arch wires. The orthodontist will change the wires approximately every 6 weeks until the desired smile is reached.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a way of straightening teeth without using conventional brackets and wires.
The treatment consists of a series of nearly invisible aligners that you change every week. Each aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth. As you go through the series of aligners, your teeth will move until they reach the final prescribed position by the application of gentle pressure. In addition to the aligners your dentist will place tooth coloured ‘buttons’ on the teeth which help with movement.
You will be able to view the treatment plan on the invisalign ‘clin check’ software with your dentist before treatment starts. This 3D treatment plan will show the series of movement your teeth will make during the course of your treatment and how the teeth are expected to look at the end.
The benefits of invisalign include:
- Near invisible appearance,
- improvement comfort,
- easier to clean the appliance and teeth,
- Easier to eat
To find out more about invisalign visit: www.invisalign.co.uk
Smile Design Makeover by Dr Thomas Bray BDS
before
after
Many people only need minimal dental cosmetic work to improve their smile and appearance. For others, a complete makeover is a priority.
Feeling unhappy with your teeth and smile can affect so many aspects of life such as relationships and confidence.
Improving your smile so that you are happy with the way you look can produce dramatic results.
We offer a FREE Initial Cosmetic Assessment which is an opportunity to discuss your concerns and begin to identify possible remedies.
We will consider all options including dental implants, orthodontics (braces), tooth whitening as well as (or instead of) porcelain veneers or resin/ceramic composites
It may be necessary to combine various different treatments to get the best result.
In some cases we will suggest a complete “Smile Design” service from quality photos and scans of your teeth. The proposed results are presented on screen for review with the dentist so that you can see in advance how the alterations will affect your appearance. We will then produce a tailor made treatment plan to give the desired result.
Porcelain Veneers
Dentists have been making thin Veneers in tooth coloured porcelain for many years to repair worn, damaged or discoloured teeth. Veneers are often made less than 1mm thick and usually require the removal of a thin layer of tooth enamel. The porcelain is bonded to the tooth structure with resin materials resulting in natural looking and remarkably strong teeth. With regular dental care, Veneers can last for 20 years or more.
Cerec or lab-made Veneers?
The traditional way to make porcelain Veneers involves taking impressions of the prepared teeth and sending these to a dental laboratory where they are made on plaster models. These are then returned to the dentist for fitting – typically 2-3 weeks later. With our CEREC digital technology we short-cut this process by manufacturing the Veneers at the dental practice, usually on the same day that the teeth are prepared. Depending on the experience of the dentist, the resulting restorations are of the same quality as those made by a dental technician. There is the added advantage that we work directly with the patient in matching the tooth colour and characteristics and there is no need for plastic temporaries. In some cases, we might advise sending the work to a specialist laboratory in order to get the best result. This may involve additional costs.
We have been making porcelain Veneers using the CEREC technology for a number of years. Over the years, the range of available materials and tooth shades has grown along with our experience in selecting the best of these for each case. As a result, we have been delighted to see increasingly successful results as many happy patients will testify.
What is involved?
Before undertaking treatment with Veneers, we undertake a full dental examination to make sure we know as much as possible about the patient’s teeth and oral tissues. Long-lasting restorations depend on careful and thorough planning including assessment of the patient’s previous tooth wear, diet, oral hygiene, gum health, and occlusion (bite). We also want to plan the ideal end result so with some cases, we undertake a full “Smile Design” process with the help of state-of-the-art computer software.
In many cases, the first stage of treatment is tooth whitening to achieve a desirable tooth colour for the teeth that we are not planning to Veneer. The Veneers are then carefully matched to the same tooth colour. We have found the most effective method for this is guided home whitening which takes about two weeks. In some cases, there may also be a need for periodontal (gum) treatment to eliminate gingivitis or correct irregularities that would otherwise affect the final result.
On the day of the treatment we allow enough time to complete the procedure as quickly as possible and with the minimum discomfort. Up to ten teeth can be completed in a single day.
The teeth and gums are anaesthetised with very small injections which are then topped up painlessly as needed. Preparing the teeth by shaping the enamel, removing previous fillings etc takes about 10 to 15 minutes per tooth. When this has been done the prepared teeth are digitally scanned onto the CEREC computer so that the manufacturing process can begin. At this point, the patient is free to relax outside the surgery leaving the dental team to make the Veneers. Each tooth is separately designed on screen using 3D imaging and then carved from a solid block of porcelain on the CEREC milling machine.
The milled Veneers are then adjusted by hand before being fired in a computerised furnace which hardens and glazes the material to match the patient’s own teeth.
The CEREC process takes about one hour per tooth so we usually allow a whole day to complete up to six teeth. If the Veneers are to be made in a dental laboratory, a silicone impression is taken and temporary plastic Veneers fitted to the teeth.
When ready, the finished Veneers are placed onto the teeth and further adjustments made as necessary before being bonded and finished to ensure everything is just right.
Guarantee
We guarantee all CEREC restorations for a period of two years if regular check-ups and hygienist appointments are kept up to date.
Possible complications
As with all medical procedures, occasional problems can arise during or after treatment and need to be considered at the outset. The initial assessment and diagnosis phase is intended to foresee such eventualities and eliminate them in advance. However, a small number of unexpected complications do occur for example the need for root canal treatment. This may be necessary where there has been significant previous damage to a tooth or where heavy tooth reduction is needed. De-bonding of veneers is rare these days especially where teeth have been minimally reduced. But the unexpected loss or fracture of a Veneer can occur as a result of unforeseen factors such as night time tooth grinding (bruxism) or unusual bite problems. For this reason, we usually recommend the use of a mouthguard at night to protect expensive restorations such as Veneers and to increase their longevity. The good news is that if a Veneer does suffer loss or damage, a new one can usually be made in advance at the practice and fitted at a short appointment.
After care
We will expect to review the finished work at three months and thereafter at regular dental check-ups. We also strongly advise regular hygienist visits for all our Veneer patients. In this way the work can be monitored, and possible problems avoided.
What to do next
For a FREE Initial Consultation to discuss Dental Veneers please contact us.
What causes snoring?
What causes snoring?
Snoring is the noise caused by the vibration of the soft tissue in your airway, but it is more than just a loud noise which leads to broken sleep for snorers and their partners. This can have a profound impact on quality of life as it can be embarrassing and create marriage problems.
What are the effects of snoring?
Studies have shown that the lack of sleep caused by snoring has wide reaching effects such as:
- daytime sleepiness
- lack of energy
- poor motivation
- accidents related to driving whilst tired
- higher stress levels due to fatigue
- less effectiveness at work effecting remuneration and career progression
- reduced sex drive
Who is most affected by snoring?
If you snore or are affected by snoring you are not alone, it is estimated that around 40% of the adult population are snorers. Until recently options for snorers was very limited, most would visit their GP who would probably suggest various behavior modifications such as to avoid sleeping on your back, lose weight, stop smoking and stop drinking.
What are the treatments for snoring?
The good news is that we can offer a much more practical solution to the problem. Dr Thomas Bray BDS is trained to provide Sleepwell, the most clinically effective dental type device for snoring. Sleepwell is a cost effective and long term snoring remedy. The device which is worn just for sleep, holds the lower jaw in its normal position (or advanced if necessary) thereby preventing the narrowing of your airways and reducing snoring.
Sleepwell is custom made using dental impressions taken by our specially trained dentist. Sleepwell has some unique features including a soft inner lining, it allows side to side movement of the lower jaw and most importantly allows the wearer to adjust it to maximize effectiveness. High levels of patient comfort meant that during clinical trials over 97% of patients found Sleepwell an acceptable snoring remedy.
As you may be aware, Snoring can be linked to other sleep related issues most commonly Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), up to 4% of middle aged men and 2% of middle aged women are affected. This is a condition where during sleep, the airway narrows to such a degree that breathing stops completely, this can happen for several seconds and several times during sleep. This disturbance to sleep can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and other symptoms.
We provide comprehensive care, prior to being provided with a Sleepwell device, you will be asked to complete a pre-screening questionnaire in order to rule out other issues such as OSA, if there is an indication that you could be at risk, Dr Bray will refer you for further investigation or arrange a private home sleep study.
Commonly Asked Questions about Antisnoring devices
Is this antisnoring appliance comfortable to wear at night?
Yes. Sleepwell is laboratory-manufactured, custom made to your mouth and made with a soft inner lining specifically adapted to your teeth. It allows full adjustability and side to side movement during sleep. High levels of patient comfort meant that during clinical trials over 98% of patients found the device acceptable.
Will my teeth accept Sleepwell?
It is important to visit a trained healthcare professional for a full examination of your teeth. Most people are highly suitable however confirmation can only be obtained from a healthcare professional.
Can an antisnoring device be given to all people who snore?
For most people with simple snoring Sleepwell will be ideal. S4S has trained clinicians to assess patients who snore. During the consultation a snoring clinic will assess the risk of Sleep Apnea for which further investigations and alternative therapy may be suggested.
How do you know the healthcare professional is properly trained to fit Sleepwell?
The S4S website should be your first point of call as S4S has a national database of its trained clinicians who understand sleep related breathing disorders and know when to prescribe Sleepwell.
Is Sleepwell suitable for patients who wear dentures?
Most people are suitable for Sleepwell due to its customized design, provided there are sufficient teeth in each jaw. A snoring clinic would assess and advise accordingly. S4S has successfully treated patients with implant-retained Sleepwell for denture wearers with no natural teeth.
If I lose my Sleepwell can I get another?
The unique nature of this appliance necessitates precise recordings of the teeth and therefore requires a complete replacement. However if only one of the two pieces are lost, each can be independently made at an appropriate cost but minimal patient inconvenience.
Is Sleepwell a permanent cure?
There is currently no permanent cure for snoring, only ongoing treatment. The particular benefit of Sleepwell is that it is adjustable, which in turn offers greater longevity of treatment.
Will Sleepwell affect my sex life?
We believe it will improve your sex life! You and your partner should sleep better giving you higher energy levels and increased sex drive.
Can I close my mouth?
Yes. However the majority of people sleep with their mouths slightly apart even without using Sleepwell.
What about my dental restorations?
We can normally accommodate extra space around sensitive dental restorations and the healthcare professional should discuss this with you.
How long will it take to get used to Sleepwell and are there any side effects?
It may take 30 minutes longer to get to sleep on the first few nights as it does when one changes from sleeping with one rather than two pillows. For the first couple of nights some patients have higher salivation or drier mouths. It should take no longer than 2 days to get used to wearing Sleepwell.
Digital Impressions
Our digital CEREC machines use a state of the art impression system that eliminates the need for messy putty/silicone materials. This is a more efficient, comfortable, cleaner way of taking accurate impressions which can be stored for many years.
During the impression process, you can breathe or swallow as you normally would and take a break if required. The scanner gives us a 3D model of your mouth that can be used for your dental services including the Invisalign Outcome Simulator, study models, retainers, bite guards and many other services.
BioLase Dentistry
- Faster healing time and less trauma to teeth and gums.
- Less anesthetic for most procedures.
- Treating dental needs in more than one part of the mouth in one visit.
- Making dental care a more relaxing experience for you.
FIX A “TONGUE TIE” OR PREVENT GUM RECESSION
Connections that restrict the movement of your tongue or cause your gums to recede can be “released” with less post-operative pain.
TREAT PERIODONTAL DISEASE
We Print Teeth – Introducing the latest 3D printing – Same Day Teeth
Get in touch via our contact page for more info.