FAQ

At an early stage, we focus on remineralisation — adjusting daily habits and applying fluoride. Once decay has reached the enamel or dentine, we remove only the affected tissue and restore shape and bite with a filling or crown. Once it reaches the nerve, we carefully assess whether the nerve can be saved, and reinforce the tooth with root canal treatment and a crown where needed. We explain the options for your particular case and your wishes, and propose a plan that suits you.

Because pain tolerance varies, we ask about your concerns, medical history and medication before starting. For the injection, we numb the mucosa with topical anaesthetic first, and control the injection speed, temperature and needle gauge to reduce discomfort. We keep drilling to the minimum needed, and agree a signal so you can tell us at any time if it hurts or vibrates too much, so we can pause or adjust. Some temporary discomfort can follow treatment, but it usually settles over time. If the pain is severe or lasts a long time, please contact us as soon as possible.

A small cavity repaired directly with resin can sometimes be examined and treated in a single visit. A filling or crown that needs an impression usually takes several visits — preparing the tooth, taking the impression, then fitting it. If decay has reached the nerve, cleaning and disinfecting it in stages can mean several more visits. At your first appointment we’ll factor in the level of pain, where the tooth is and your schedule, and give you a rough idea of the number of visits and time involved, with a plan that suits you.

Resin is covered by public health insurance and can be placed quickly, making it a good choice for a small cavity. A metal filling or crown is very strong, but appearance and how easy it is to keep clean need thought. Ceramic looks natural, resists staining and blends well with the surrounding teeth, though some options are not covered by insurance. We weigh up the location of the tooth, bite force, the size of the cavity, how easy it is to clean, and your budget and preferences, then explain the advantages and things to watch for each option.

Whether the nerve can be saved depends on the nature of the pain, how the tooth reacts to hot and cold, the X-ray findings, and the degree of bleeding and infection. If there’s a good chance of saving it, we may cover it with a protective material and monitor how it settles, but saving a nerve that shouldn’t be saved can lead to pain or a recurrence, so we assess this carefully. If it can’t be saved, we clean and seal the inside of the tooth with root canal treatment, then reinforce it with a post and a crown. The earlier you come in, the more options are usually available — please contact us promptly if the discomfort continues.

Root canal treatment cleans and disinfects the inside of a tooth affected by decay or bacteria, then seals it to prevent reinfection. We keep saliva out of the area, shape the inside with dedicated instruments, irrigate with a disinfecting solution, dry it and fill it. A post is usually then placed and the tooth reinforced with a crown. The number of visits varies with root shape and how far the infection has spread. Some temporary pain or discomfort can occur during and shortly after treatment, but it usually settles with time. Please tell us if you’re at all concerned.

The nerve can become temporarily sensitive after treatment, causing symptoms such as sensitivity to cold or a jarring feeling when you bite. This usually settles within a few days to a couple of weeks, but please contact us promptly if the pain is severe and persistent, wakes you at night, or is sharp when you bite. We’ll assess whether the bite needs adjusting, or whether medication or further treatment is needed. At home, avoid strongly flavoured food, hard food, and clean the area gently. If you’re worried about how it’s healing, contact us at any time — you don’t need to wait for your next appointment.

In an emergency, such as severe pain or swelling, we treat you straight away regardless of how far along you are. For planned treatment, we take your condition into account and keep X-rays, anaesthetic and medication to the minimum needed. Please tell us in advance about any medical history or instructions from your doctor. Most procedures can still be carried out while breastfeeding, though we take care over which medications we use and when. We also take care with your position and any strong smells, and may split treatment into stages, keeping to a pace that suits you. Please feel free to talk to us if you have any concerns.

Please clean and keep a filling that has come out, and come in as soon as you can. Using an over-the-counter adhesive on your own judgement can leave it fitting poorly or irritate the gum. Before your visit, avoid chewing hard or sticky food on the affected side, clean gently, and avoid cold — this can sometimes ease the symptoms. If the pain is severe, take an over-the-counter painkiller as directed on the packaging. If things get worse — swelling, or sharp pain when you bite — contact us straight away rather than waiting for your appointment.

Most cavity treatment is covered by public health insurance, though what you pay depends on where the tooth is, the size of the cavity, the material used and the number of visits. Materials chosen mainly for appearance and ease of cleaning are sometimes not covered. After an examination and diagnosis at your first visit, we’ll set out the options in plain terms, along with the advantages, things to watch for and roughly how many visits each involves, and give you a rough cost for each. We can also check your payment method and whether you qualify for the medical expense deduction. We’ll propose a plan that fits your budget and preferences.

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is an infection in which bacteria in plaque inflame the gums and gradually destroy the tissue and bone that support the teeth. Unlike tooth decay, it often progresses quietly with almost no pain, so by the time you notice it you may already have bleeding, swelling, bad breath, loose teeth or difficulty chewing. Finding and treating it early matters — if anything seems off, we recommend coming in soon.

To get a full picture of your mouth, we take X-rays, measure the depth of the gum pockets, assess how loose the teeth are, and check for plaque and bleeding. Based on the results, we explain your current risk and how far the disease has progressed, and set out a treatment plan with priorities. Because these same checks are also used to judge how well treatment is working, we repeat them at your follow-up visits.

The basic process is examination, then basic periodontal treatment, a follow-up check, surgery if needed, then maintenance. Basic treatment includes guidance on plaque control, scaling and root planing, adjusting the bite, and correcting restorations that no longer fit well, with the follow-up check confirming how much has improved. If improvement isn’t enough, we consider surgery; once things have stabilised, you move on to regular maintenance to prevent it coming back.

The core of basic periodontal treatment is to thoroughly remove the plaque and tartar on the tooth surface and under the gum. Scaling removes the tartar, and root planing then smooths the root surface, making it harder for bacteria to attach. We also review how you care for your teeth at home, to help calm the inflammation and support healing, and adjust the bite or any poorly fitting crown where needed.

We consider surgery if deep gum pockets, bleeding or swelling remain after basic treatment, or if the shape of the bone loss makes the area hard to clean and heal. Surgery lets us remove the source of infection from within the pocket under direct vision, combined with regenerative treatment where needed. Whether surgery is suitable depends on the examination findings and your general health, and we explain the benefits, things to watch for and aftercare in detail beforehand.

Regenerative treatment aims to restore periodontal tissue that has already been lost. Emdogain uses a protein gel to encourage the bone and periodontal ligament to regenerate; GBR (guided bone regeneration) uses a bone graft material and a barrier membrane to rebuild bone volume. CTG (connective tissue graft) is a grafting procedure used to build up gum thickness. Suitability depends on the shape of the defect and other factors, and some of these treatments are not covered by insurance. See the price and eligibility list at the clinic for details.

Most procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic, so pain during treatment is kept under control. Afterwards you may have some temporary discomfort, mild swelling or a dull ache, but this usually eases as healing progresses. For patients anxious about surgery, we also offer intravenous sedation so you can be treated in a more relaxed state. Everyone responds differently, so please talk to us at any time if you’re worried or in pain.

The two pillars are regular professional cleaning and better care at home. Using interdental brushes and floss alongside a toothbrush cuts down on the spots a brush alone tends to miss. Changing habits — rethinking snacking and smoking, and chewing thoroughly — also helps prevent a relapse. Once treatment has the inflammation under control, you move to the maintenance stage, with regular visits at an interval suited to your condition to keep things stable.

Smoking, an irregular lifestyle, stress, a poorly fitting crown or denture, teeth grinding or clenching, and systemic conditions such as diabetes or osteoporosis can all make inflammation worse and get in the way of healing. Smoking in particular is linked to lower healing rates with regenerative treatment, so we recommend stopping around the time of surgery. Addressing these factors as far as possible helps keep the results stable and prevents a relapse.

Most basic periodontal treatment is covered by public health insurance, but regenerative treatment and some surgery are not. The page sets out the cost, eligibility and features of each procedure, along with the aftercare period (including our follow-up system) and payment methods. Before treatment, we explain the cost of each option along with its advantages and things to watch for — please ask us in advance if you have any questions.

We offer labial metal braces (bonded to the front of the teeth), less noticeable aesthetic brackets, lingual braces bonded to the back of the teeth, and Invisalign clear aligners. Labial braces suit the widest range of cases and give excellent control; aesthetic brackets are less visible than metal. Lingual braces are hard for others to notice but can affect speech or feel intrusive at first. Invisalign is discreet and moves the teeth in planned stages. We’ll recommend the option that suits you best after an examination.

This varies from person to person, but full orthodontic treatment for an adult typically takes about 1.5 to 3 years. Partial orthodontic treatment, focused on the appearance of the front teeth, can be completed in as little as 6 months to 1 year. Treatment time depends on the type of appliance, the state of your teeth, whether extractions are needed, how easily the teeth move, and how often you can attend. We assess your current state through examination and diagnosis, and explain the expected timeline and stages beforehand. We review progress during treatment and adjust the plan as needed.

How often you come in depends on the appliance. With metal braces, it’s roughly once a month, to check how the teeth are moving, note any discomfort, and adjust the wire and elastics. With Invisalign, you come in every 1.5 to 3 months under your aligner schedule, to check progress and fit, and to attach or adjust attachments or carry out IPR (interproximal reduction) where needed. The frequency can change during the early, mid and final stages of either treatment, and we’ll tell you the current schedule at each visit.

As the teeth move, you may feel tightness or a dull ache, most often just after an adjustment or a new aligner. This is usually temporary and settles within a few days. With metal braces, we use thinner wires and increase the force in stages to ease the strain, and can prescribe painkillers if needed. Clear aligners can also feel intrusive at first, but this typically eases with continued wear. Please talk to us if the pain is severe or lasts a long time.

If appearance matters to you, options include lingual braces bonded to the back of the teeth, aesthetic brackets that don’t show a metal colour from the front, or Invisalign clear aligners. Lingual braces are hard to see but can affect speech or feel intrusive at first, and treatment can take a little longer than with labial braces. Aesthetic brackets carry less risk of a metal allergy and balance appearance with function. Which suits you depends on the state of your teeth and your lifestyle.

As a rough guide: the consultation is free, the examination fee is 44,000 yen, and each adjustment is 5,500 yen. For the appliance itself, standard brackets are 770,000 yen and aesthetic brackets are 825,000 yen. Partial orthodontic treatment starts from 275,000 yen per arch. This is not covered by insurance, so the total varies with the case, the appliance and the length of treatment. After the first examination and diagnosis, we explain the treatment plan and quote, and tell you in advance how adjustment fees and retainer costs are handled, along with payment methods. See the price list at the clinic for details.

Invisalign assumes you wear the clear aligner for at least 20 hours a day. Under the plan, you change to a new aligner every 7 to 14 days, moving the teeth in gradual steps. You can take it out to eat and brush your teeth, which makes it easy to keep clean and appeals to patients who prefer a discreet appliance. On the other hand, keeping to the wear time yourself is essential. At regular visits we check the fit and how the plan is progressing, and make further adjustments if needed.

Yes. As this FAQ also covers, you can ask about cavity treatment or teeth whitening while you’re being treated with braces. If you’re wearing metal braces, we time and order the treatment around how easy the area is to clean and how much access we have around the lips and cheeks. With clear aligners, you have the advantage of being able to take them out. We first check what needs priority — whether there’s pain, whether something is progressing — and coordinate between departments so it doesn’t disrupt your orthodontic plan. Please raise it with us in advance if you have questions.

With metal braces, sticky or hard food can loosen the brackets or make cleaning difficult, so take extra care. Dirt tends to collect around the brackets, so use interdental brushes and floss alongside your toothbrush. With Invisalign, you can take the aligner out to eat, so there are fewer restrictions, but you do need to keep to the wear time and keep both your teeth and the aligner clean afterwards. Speech difficulty or a sense of the appliance being there usually eases as you get used to it — let us know soon if it’s bothering you.

Orthodontic treatment suits a wide range of ages, from children to adults and older patients. Alongside treatment to improve the overall bite, we also offer partial orthodontic treatment, focused on the appearance and position of the front teeth, for needs such as wanting straighter front teeth before an event, or wanting to reposition a tooth before a restoration or implant. Partial orthodontic treatment has a limited range of application, and we assess suitability through examination. As a guide, it’s listed from 6 months and from 275,000 yen per arch.

Invisalign moves the teeth gradually through a series of clear aligners that you change in stages. Because you can take it out yourself, eating and brushing your teeth are easy, and the aligner itself is hard to notice — that’s one of its main features. Before treatment starts, we examine and assess your teeth and bite, then use dedicated software to plan the tooth movements before you begin wearing the aligners. Suitability varies by case, and we explain whether it’s feasible, or what the alternatives are, based on the diagnosis.

Keeping to the wear time is the key to treatment working. As a rule, you wear it for long hours throughout the day, taking it out only to eat and brush your teeth. You move on to each new aligner in the planned sequence, moving the teeth step by step. Your dentist tells you when to change, based on how the teeth are moving and how well the aligner fits. If you don’t wear it enough, or repeatedly forget to change it, the plan starts to drift off course, so we check your progress at each visit and adjust as needed.

Invisalign on its own can struggle with cases involving a lot of tooth rotation, large movements, a marked skeletal discrepancy, or periodontal disease that isn’t yet under control. In these cases, we suggest other options — metal braces, auxiliary appliances for part of the mouth, or surgical approaches. Suitability is judged through examination and diagnosis, and we work through the options together with you, based on the current state of your mouth and what you’d like.

At your first consultation we start by hearing your concerns and what you’d like, then carry out a detailed examination — photos, an impression, an assessment of your bite — and explain the diagnosis and treatment plan. If you agree to the plan, the aligners are made, and once you’ve practised putting them in and looking after them, treatment properly begins. After that, you keep to the wear time as instructed, with regular visits to check fit and progress. Extra aligners (refinements) are added where needed, and once the teeth have reached their target position, a retainer is used to prevent them moving back.

Just after changing to a new aligner, the teeth start to move, so you may feel tightness or mild pain. This is usually temporary and eases as you keep wearing it. If the pain is severe, or something is rubbing, we check the edge of the aligner and how it fits, and adjust or treat it to ease the discomfort. We also help by pacing the wear schedule to suit you, checking the bite, and using painkillers where needed. Let us know soon if it’s bothering you.

Take the aligner out when you eat or drink anything hot. Drinking dark-coloured drinks while wearing it can stain it. Before putting it back in, it’s important that both your teeth and the aligner are clean — brushing your teeth and rinsing first is more hygienic. Clean the aligner with a soft brush that won’t scratch it, using plain water, and avoid heat, which can warp it. Not cleaning it enough raises the risk of tooth decay and gum inflammation, so please keep up with daily care.

To make tooth movement more precise, small resin bumps (attachments) are sometimes bonded to the tooth surface, or elastics used to guide the bite. Whether these are needed depends on your treatment plan and case, and the decision is based on the diagnosis. The materials used are hard to notice, but they can look grubby if not kept clean, so we check on them at regular visits alongside your daily care.

Visits are set at each stage of the plan, to check how you’re wearing the aligner, how the teeth are moving, and how well it fits. How often this is needed varies with progress and what treatment is required. The overall time varies a good deal depending on how misaligned the teeth were to start with, how much movement is needed, whether extra aligners are required, and whether the wear time has been kept to. At the first assessment we give you an estimated timeline based on your current state, and adjust it as treatment goes on. We keep the plan at a pace that suits you, so treatment moves ahead steadily.

Clear aligner treatment is largely not covered by public health insurance, and the total cost depends on what’s included — examination and diagnosis, making the aligners, managing your visits, and retention. Before treatment starts, we give you a written plan and quote, setting out the cost breakdown and payment methods. We also explain in advance whether instalments or other payment methods are available, and how adjustment and retainer fees are handled. Public health insurance does not apply in principle; we’ll explain the details for your case, so please ask us anything at any time.

If an aligner is lost or damaged, please don’t try to fix it yourself — keep whichever aligner you currently have or the previous one, and contact us as soon as you can. We’ll assess whether you can move straight on to the next stage, or whether one needs remaking, or the plan needs changing. After treatment ends, wearing a retainer is important to stop the teeth moving back. The retention period and wear time vary from person to person, so please follow the instructions we give you. If a retainer feels wrong or gets damaged, don’t leave it — let us know as soon as possible.

Cosmetic dentistry improves the colour, shape and alignment of the teeth and the appearance of the gums as a whole, while keeping function such as chewing and speech in mind. We consider teeth whitening, ceramic fillings and crowns, veneers, and direct resin bonding (reshaping with resin), weighing up your current state, what you’d like, your bite, how easy the result is to keep clean, durability and cost, to find the most suitable approach. We examine and diagnose beforehand, explain everything fully, and set out a plan that suits you.

The main types are in-office whitening, using a whitening agent at the clinic; home whitening, using a custom tray to whiten gradually at home; and combination whitening, which uses both. In-office whitening tends to show a change quickly, but adding home whitening can help the result last longer. Suitability depends on the state of the enamel and whether you have fillings or crowns, so we examine your teeth first, then suggest an approach based on how bright you’d like your teeth and your schedule.

Ceramic looks the most natural and resists staining, and is easy to keep clean. Resin needs less tooth removed and can be placed quickly, but is more prone to staining and wear. Metal is very strong, but appearance and the possibility of a metal allergy need thought. We weigh up the location of the tooth, bite force, the size of the cavity, ease of cleaning, how easy it will be to maintain, and cost, comparing the options to help you choose a material you’ll be comfortable with in the long term.

Veneers are sometimes used to improve the colour, shape or gaps of the front teeth while removing relatively little tooth structure. A thin porcelain shell is bonded on after minimal preparation of the tooth surface. They can improve appearance quickly, but if the teeth are noticeably misaligned or the bite is strong, we need to think carefully about whether they’re suitable. We also explain beforehand the risk of a veneer coming off or chipping, and that removing tooth structure cannot be undone, and compare the option against alternatives such as orthodontic treatment or direct resin bonding before choosing the best approach.

This builds up dental resin directly on the tooth surface in layers, then polishes it to adjust the shape and colour. It usually needs only minimal tooth removal and can sometimes be finished in a single visit, but it can stain, wear or chip over time, so regular polishing and touch-ups should be expected. It suits small defects, gaps or minor changes in shape; for a bigger change in colour or shape, a material such as ceramic may be a better choice. We’ll suggest the right approach based on your situation and what you’d like.

We start with a consultation and examination — photos, an impression, a colour assessment, checking the bite — then compare treatment options and quotes with you. Where useful, we share a rough idea of the finished result with a temporary restoration or a simple mock-up before treatment starts, once you’ve agreed to it. Ceramic treatment generally follows tooth preparation, a temporary restoration, then fitting; teeth whitening generally follows a check of suitability, a pre-treatment clean, then the whitening itself. After treatment, we carry out maintenance and check the colour and bite, aiming to keep the result stable over the long term.

We take shade (brightness, hue and translucency) from the surrounding teeth, your skin tone, how it looks when you smile, and the lighting. If you’re also whitening your teeth, we sometimes wait until the brightness has settled before deciding the final colour. Because fillings and crowns let light through differently depending on the material, we share photos and a shade guide with the dental technician, and fine-tune at the try-in. Colour preference varies a lot from person to person, so we confirm your target shade and what range is acceptable to you in advance.

How long it lasts varies a good deal with the material, your bite, how well it’s cleaned and your habits. Ceramic can last a long time if looked after well, though if you clench or grind your teeth, a night guard can help. Resin is easier to keep looking good with regular polishing and touch-ups. Whatever material you choose, regular check-ups, professional cleaning and reviewing your home care are all essential. Let us know soon if anything feels wrong — chipping, sensitivity, or discomfort when biting.

As a rule, we keep treatment to the minimum necessary, and explain beforehand whenever anaesthetic is needed. Teeth whitening can sometimes cause temporary sensitivity, similar to sensitive-teeth symptoms, but this usually passes and can be managed by adjusting the concentration or number of sessions, or using a desensitising agent. For ceramic restorations and veneers, we weigh how much tooth needs removing against strength and appearance, comparing the risks and alternatives before planning treatment. Please tell us at any time if you’re worried or in pain.

Treatment mainly aimed at improving appearance is largely not covered by insurance. Where the main aim is restoring function, insurance can apply in some cases, but the total varies with the material, the procedure and the number of visits. After examination and diagnosis, we explain the quote, advantages, things to watch for and expected timeline for each option in plain terms. We also share how payment, aftercare and maintenance costs are handled in advance, and go ahead only once you understand and agree. We propose a plan that fits your budget and schedule.

Teeth whitening applies a special agent to the tooth surface that breaks down the staining compounds that have soaked into the tooth, making it brighter. It improves the colour without removing any tooth structure, and suits the yellowing that builds up from age, diet and smoking. Methods include in-office whitening at the clinic, home whitening with a tray, and combination whitening using both. If you have tooth decay or periodontal disease, this sometimes needs treating first; we’ll explain suitability and what level of whitening you can expect for your case after an examination.

In-office whitening uses a whitening agent at the clinic and tends to show a change quickly; home whitening uses a custom tray and agent to whiten gradually at home. Combination whitening brings the two together, aiming for both speed and a lasting result. Which suits you depends on your timeline and how much whiter you’d like your teeth, whether you have a history of sensitivity, your daily routine, and how easily you can manage it yourself. We start by checking the gap between your current shade and your goal, then suggest an approach that suits you, weighing up the result, the effort involved and upkeep.

The result varies from person to person: how bright your teeth can get depends on enamel thickness, the type and duration of staining, age and lifestyle. Most people see a gradual improvement in brightness, but this isn’t treatment that guarantees reaching a specific target shade. How long the result lasts is also affected by diet and care, and it fades gradually over time. To maintain it, regular professional cleaning or further home whitening can help keep the colour. We’ll tell you a suitable frequency after an examination.

Some temporary sensitivity, similar to sensitive-teeth symptoms, can occur. This usually settles within a few days, though it’s more likely if you have a relevant history or are already sensitive to hot and cold. We manage it by adjusting the concentration and application time, spacing sessions further apart, and using a desensitising toothpaste alongside. If the symptoms are strong, we pause until they’ve settled and then adjust the plan. Please don’t push through it — let us know soon if something feels off. We weigh up the risks carefully and keep treatment at a pace you can sustain.

Teeth whitening acts on the colour of natural tooth, so it has essentially no whitening effect on resin, ceramic or metal. If you have a filling or crown on a front tooth, a noticeable colour difference can appear once the surrounding natural teeth become brighter. In that case, we take the shade once the whitened teeth have settled at their new brightness, and consider remaking the filling or crown if needed. Before treatment, we check its location and extent, and explain the process and roughly what it will cost in plain terms.

Carried out properly under a dentist’s supervision, whitening is generally considered to have safety well in hand, but not everyone suits the same method. If you have untreated tooth decay, advanced gum disease, marked sensitivity, cracked teeth or significant tetracycline staining, the method or timing needs adjusting. As a rule, whitening is usually put off during pregnancy and breastfeeding. We assess the risk through examination first, and explain who it suits, who it doesn’t, and what to watch for. Planning at a pace that suits you and keeping up thorough care both help with safety and satisfaction with the result.

At the first visit we take a consultation and examine your mouth, record the current shade with a shade guide, and clean your teeth if needed. For in-office whitening, we protect the gums and then apply the agent; whether a light is used depends on the method. For home whitening, we take an impression to make a tray, then have you practise how to use it — the amount, application time and how to store it — before you start. At follow-up visits we check the colour change and any sensitivity, and adjust the concentration and frequency as needed. Once finished, we’ll suggest a care routine to help keep the colour.

Removing surface staining with a clean before you start helps prevent uneven whitening. Avoiding dark-coloured food and drink — coffee, tea, red wine, curry, strong sauces — and smoking for 24 to 48 hours after treatment helps prevent new staining. If hot or cold causes sensitivity, choose food and drink at room temperature and use a desensitising toothpaste alongside. With home whitening, follow the amount and time we give you, and wipe away any excess gel. Keep the tray away from heat, which can warp it, and store it clean.

Yes, though the order needs planning. Where a cosmetic restoration (a filling or crown) needs matching, we generally decide on the target brightness through whitening first, then choose the colour of the restoration, which makes it easier to keep everything looking consistent. Whether you can whiten during orthodontic treatment depends on the appliance: it’s easier alongside removable aligners because they come out, whereas with a fixed appliance we generally wait until treatment finishes. We coordinate between departments as needed to suggest the order that suits you best.

As teeth whitening is mainly aimed at appearance, it’s generally not covered by public health insurance. The total cost varies with the method, number of sessions, concentration and any maintenance. For visits, in-office whitening is scheduled by session, while home whitening starts with an impression and instruction on how to use it, followed by review visits. After the first examination, we explain suitability, the expected steps and the cost breakdown in plain terms, and propose a plan that fits your budget and schedule.

Oral surgery covers the full range of oral surgical care: wisdom tooth removal, swelling or pain in the gum or jaw, mouth ulcers and mucosal conditions, temporomandibular joint discomfort, injury to the teeth and jaw, detailed examination of cysts and benign tumours, and surgical procedures before and after dental implants. We first identify the cause and extent through your history, an examination and imaging, then build a treatment plan around managing pain and swelling, whether there’s infection, your general health and your medication history. We coordinate with other departments where needed, weigh up the risks carefully, and move treatment forward step by step.

Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. We consider removal if it repeatedly causes pain or swelling, if it’s hard to clean and is causing decay or gum disease, if it’s affecting the tooth in front, if there are signs of a cyst or bone change, or if it’s getting in the way of orthodontic treatment or a restoration. On the other hand, where there are no symptoms, it can be kept clean, and it’s clear of important structures — a low-risk situation — we sometimes choose to monitor it instead. We check its position, shape and distance from the nerve with X-rays or a CT scan, and decide on an approach after explaining the pros and cons in detail.

How much pain and swelling you get depends on how the tooth was positioned, how hard the bone is, how much cutting and bone removal was needed, how long the procedure took, and your own constitution. As a rule, swelling tends to peak 1 to 2 days after surgery, then gradually eases. Apply a cold compress briefly on the day and the day after, but avoid prolonged strong cooling or heat. Take any prescribed medication as directed, and resting quietly with your head slightly raised tends to be more comfortable. Please contact us promptly if you get severe pain, worsening swelling, difficulty opening your mouth, a fever or discharge of pus.

On the day of surgery, to help prevent bleeding, bite down on the gauze, and avoid rinsing or spitting forcefully, using a straw, smoking, drinking alcohol, strenuous exercise and a long, hot bath. Wait until the anaesthetic has worn off before eating, avoid strongly flavoured or very hot food, and eat small amounts of soft food on the other side of your mouth. Don’t touch the wound, and keep it clean by following the instructions for the prescribed rinse and brushing. Bruising under the skin usually fades within a few days. Please contact us if you have unusual bleeding or ongoing severe pain.

If the blood clot that forms in the socket comes away, the bone underneath can be left exposed, causing severe pain. The key to prevention is avoiding forceful rinsing, sucking motions, smoking and excessive touching of the wound on the day of surgery, and following the cleaning method and rinsing frequency we give you. Take any prescribed medication as directed, and also avoid lack of sleep and excessive alcohol. Please don’t put up with worsening pain, sharp pain with hot or cold, or worsening bad breath — come back and see us promptly. We can treat this appropriately to help the symptoms settle.

Antithrombotic medication (which makes blood clot less easily), osteoporosis medication, and systemic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease can all affect how we plan surgery. Please don’t stop any medication on your own judgement — tell us about it in advance wherever possible. We weigh up the risk of bleeding, infection and how well the wound will heal, and consider steps such as blood tests, consulting your doctor, choosing a method to control bleeding, and adjusting the timing and extent of surgery. Where needed, we work with a hospital to carry out treatment at a pace that suits you, or reconsider the timing.

Imaging is important for understanding the tooth’s position relative to the nerve (the inferior alveolar nerve canal) and the maxillary sinus, its root shape, the thickness of the bone, and whether a cyst is present. This lets us plan the incision line, how much bone to remove, whether the tooth needs sectioning, and how long the procedure will take, which helps lower the risk of complications. Dental X-rays and CT scans keep the radiation dose to the minimum necessary, with care taken over shielding and imaging settings. We explain why the scan is needed and what it will tell us, and take it only once you understand and agree.

An ordinary mouth ulcer usually heals on its own within 1 to 2 weeks, but we recommend coming in soon if it doesn’t heal, keeps coming back, if a hard lump that bleeds easily appears, if a white or red patch is spreading, or if something with little pain just won’t heal. Besides removing any source of irritation and prescribing medication, we also carry out a biopsy where needed to assess the tissue. Systemic conditions, nutrition and lifestyle can sometimes be a factor too, so we assess the whole picture and work with a specialist centre where needed.

Symptoms in the jaw joint are often caused by strain on the joint and muscles, teeth grinding or clenching, an uneven bite, stress or injury. We first assess where it hurts, how the joint moves, whether there’s clicking, how wide you can open your mouth, and your chewing habits, then discuss self-care (resting the jaw, avoiding hard food, jaw-opening exercises), review your bite and posture, and consider making a bite splint if needed. If the inflammation is significant, we use cold compresses or medication, and arrange imaging or specialist treatment if it doesn’t improve enough.

Most extractions, infection treatment and basic care for cysts are covered by public health insurance, though what you pay depends on the examination and treatment involved, the materials used, how complex it is, and the number of visits. If we judge that general anaesthetic is needed, the case is extensive, or the jaw and nerve need especially careful handling, we work with a local hospital to arrange treatment in a more suitable setting. Before treatment, we explain the options, a rough quote, the visit schedule and our follow-up arrangements in plain terms.

This is for anyone who needs extra care beyond a standard visit — including patients with developmental disabilities, intellectual or physical disabilities, mental health conditions, rare or complex conditions, patients requiring medical care, and older patients with declining cognitive function. At your first visit we ask in detail about your daily life, medical history and medication, allergies, how you communicate, and what works well or doesn’t for you, and use this to plan a visit at a pace that suits you. If possible, please bring information from your regular doctor and your medication notebook.

It helps to bring notes on your usual daily routine, things that tend to be upsetting (sound, smell, light, touch), any signal or object that helps you feel settled, any history of seizures or changes in condition, and contact details for a support school or facility. We arrange a quieter time slot for your visit. Please bring your health insurance card, any assistance certificates and your medication notebook, and if possible your toothbrush and any aids you use. Sharing what matters most and what you’re hoping for in advance can ease the load on the day.

We start by focusing on letting you get used to things gradually, building confidence step by step through small successes — sitting in the chair, opening your mouth, letting instruments come close. From there we work through checking the mouth, cleaning and any necessary treatment in stages. We break the process into short steps, agree a signal for taking a break, and adjust sound, light and smell wherever we can. We also use photos, picture cards and timers, and give positive feedback for what’s been achieved, carrying that forward to the next visit.

We ease the load with topical anaesthetic, local anaesthetic given at a careful injection speed, explaining each step beforehand, adjusting sensory input with headphones, a towel or a blanket, changing position, and taking frequent breaks. We never push things through, and we’re happy to end a session early depending on how the day is going. Everyone experiences pain and anxiety differently, so please tell us at any time what’s hard for you or what helps you feel settled. Our approach is to build up gradually, planning each visit as a step toward the next.

Where fear is severe, the gag reflex is strong, safety can’t be assured in an outpatient setting, or a systemic condition needs managing, sedation may be an option, or we may refer you to a partner hospital for general anaesthetic. Whether this is suitable is judged individually, based on your medical history, medication and general health, and only goes ahead after a pre-treatment check-up, an explanation of the risks and alternatives, and your consent. The exact method and where it’s carried out vary by case; we first assess whether we can manage it here, then suggest the option that suits you best.

The way you usually call to and reassure the patient, and simply creating a familiar, reassuring environment, can help a great deal. Safety comes first during treatment, and we may ask for help holding a position for a moment, in which case we explain the purpose and method beforehand and go ahead only with consent. We do not take an approach based on forcible restraint. Where support with decision-making or interpretation is needed, we work with you on this wherever we can. Positive encouragement (a reward) afterwards is also effective.

We discuss beforehand a suitable position for treatment while you remain in the wheelchair, and how to help with transfers. Where medical care such as suctioning, managing seizures, a feeding tube or a tracheostomy is involved, we work with your regular doctor and care team, taking extra care over timing, positioning and monitoring vital signs. We agree how any equipment should be brought, who will accompany you, and how to reach us in an emergency, and plan at a pace that suits you. The first visit is mainly for assessment, moving into treatment in stages after that.

We set aside a longer slot at a quieter time, working on the basis of short visits spread across several appointments. Early on, we schedule visits closer together to build up successful experiences, then space them out as you get used to things. We’re also flexible around changes in condition and school or class schedules. If a sudden change in the day is likely, it helps to agree in advance how we’ll get in touch, to ease any worry. If something urgent comes up, such as pain or swelling, we deal with that first.

Cavity and gum disease treatment, extractions and most routine procedures are generally covered by public health insurance. If a material or procedure that isn’t covered is chosen, we explain this and give you a quote in advance. Public schemes such as medical expense support for people with disabilities or independence support medical care vary by local authority, and we’ll explain whether you qualify and what the process involves for your case. Where you need a companion for your visit, we also take transport and timing into account, working out a plan with you that suits your situation.

Keeping a stable position and grip, and breaking care into short steps, helps build up what you can manage on your own. Try combining tools such as a brush with a thicker handle or a smaller head, an electric toothbrush, a single-tuft brush, interdental brushes and floss, and keep using a fluoride toothpaste. Given swallowing ability, rinsing once with a small amount of water can also work well. Turning the steps into photos or a checklist, and praising what’s been done, helps build the habit. We adjust this at regular check-ups.

Preventive dentistry aims to stop tooth decay and periodontal disease before they start, combining regular check-ups, professional cleaning and better habits and self-care. This includes removing tartar and staining, breaking down biofilm, applying fluoride, checking the bite and the spots your brushing tends to miss, and guiding you on brushing, flossing and interdental brushes. We aim to catch small changes before symptoms appear, keeping your mouth stable with the least burden on you.

The right interval varies with the state of your mouth and your level of risk, taking into account your history of decay and periodontal disease, where your brushing tends to miss, saliva flow and eating habits, whether you smoke or grind your teeth, and the condition of any braces, implants or crowns. After the first visit and after treatment, we usually check more often to help things settle, then space visits out as things improve. At each check-up we take photos, measure pocket depth, and assess bleeding and looseness, adjusting the interval and the care plan based on the results. What matters most is finding a routine you can keep up in the long run.

Scaling uses dedicated instruments to remove hardened tartar, and root planing smooths the root surface, making it harder for the deposits that cause periodontal disease to build up again. PMTC (professional mechanical tooth cleaning) is carried out by a dental hygienist using instruments and polishing paste to remove biofilm and staining, thoroughly cleaning areas that are hard to reach with home care alone. Combining the two makes it easier to calm inflammation, helping with bad breath and bleeding, and lowering the risk of decay. Keeping the effect going needs both regular visits and daily care at home.

Fluoride applied in the dental clinic is generally considered safe when the right concentration and procedure are followed. It helps enamel remineralise into a form that’s more resistant to acid, which helps prevent decay. It’s especially useful for newly erupted teeth and for patients at higher risk of root decay. The application itself takes only a short time, and at home we recommend continuing to use a fluoride toothpaste. To avoid swallowing too much, follow the correct amount and rinsing method — we’ll suggest the right approach for your age and level of risk.

A fissure sealant is a preventive treatment that seals the grooves on the chewing surface of the back teeth with resin, so dirt is less likely to build up. It suits children with deep grooves that are hard to brush clean, and teeth that have just come through and haven’t fully matured. It needs little to no tooth removal, but can wear or come off over time, so we check it at regular check-ups and repair it as needed. Combined with regular brushing and fluoride, it becomes easier to keep decay at bay.

The most important thing is to fully clear away plaque every time. Set a consistent angle, pressure and order for brushing, working carefully over each tooth with small movements. Using floss or interdental brushes alongside cleans between the teeth and around bridges and braces more effectively. Using a fluoride toothpaste and rinsing just once with a small amount of water afterwards also helps. Using a plaque disclosing agent or an electric toothbrush, and getting individual guidance to reduce the spots you’re missing, can sharpen your technique further.

How often you snack, how you take sugar, eating close to bedtime, and how often you drink acidic beverages all extend the time your mouth stays acidic, raising the risk of decay. Chewing thoroughly to encourage saliva, choosing water before bed, and avoiding grazing over long periods all help. Smoking, stress, mouth breathing, and grinding or clenching your teeth can make periodontal disease and sensitivity worse. At a check-up, we look at the link between habits and symptoms and work out changes with you that are easy to keep up. Sticking with something manageable, rather than pushing too hard, is what gets results.

During pregnancy, hormonal changes and morning sickness can make the gums prone to swelling, and brushing can become harder. It helps to brush in several short sessions at times when you feel more settled, and a soft-bristled brush with fluoride toothpaste can help too. For children, a parent helping with brushing, managing snacks, appropriate fluoride use and fissure sealants all improve prevention. In both cases, we give guidance suited to the stage of life and general health at regular check-ups, choosing an approach that suits you. Please let us know soon if anything is on your mind.

Most bad breath comes from inside the mouth — a coated tongue, periodontal disease, spots your brushing misses, tooth decay, or poor cleaning around a denture or brace. Preventive dentistry starts by checking the cause, then removing tartar and biofilm, guiding you on cleaning the tongue, reviewing habits that support saliva flow, and helping you choose the right cleaning tools. Sometimes periodontal disease needs treating, or a poorly fitting restoration needs correcting. If we suspect a link to a systemic condition or medication, we assess the whole picture, including working with your doctor and advice on lifestyle, and suggest a care plan you can keep up.

Cleaning and scaling can be covered by insurance or not, depending on the diagnosis, symptoms and purpose. Treatment aimed mainly at removing staining for appearance is sometimes not covered. At your first visit, we examine your mouth and explain the cost breakdown in plain terms, along with the examination and treatment needed and roughly how many visits it will take. Since sticking with prevention over time is what matters most, we suggest a plan that fits your lifestyle and budget. Please feel free to ask us anything.

Periodontal regenerative treatment is a general term for treatment that aims to restore the tissue supporting the teeth — the bone, periodontal ligament and cementum — lost to gum disease. After thorough basic periodontal treatment (plaque control, scaling and root planing), sites where the inflammation has settled but a deep pocket or bone defect remains can sometimes become candidates. Suitability depends on the shape of the defect, your general health, whether you smoke and how well the area is cleaned, and we explain whether it’s suitable, and any alternatives, in plain terms based on the examination.

Depending on the site and the shape of the defect, we choose from methods using a regenerative protein, guided bone regeneration combining a bone graft material with a barrier membrane, or a connective tissue graft to adjust gum thickness and shape. These are never used in isolation — they’re combined with thorough infection control, adjusting the bite, and improving how easy the area is to clean, such as correcting a poorly fitting crown. Because the expected results and limits, surgery time, aftercare and cost differ between methods, we compare the options with you beforehand and go ahead only once you understand and agree.

We first assess the condition through examination (X-rays and a CT scan where needed, measuring pocket depth, assessing bleeding and looseness), then bring the inflammation and its causes under control with basic periodontal treatment. For a site judged suitable for treatment at the follow-up, we make a small incision under local anaesthetic and remove the source of infection under direct vision. We then place the regenerative material to suit the shape of the defect and close the wound carefully. Afterwards, we disinfect the area, monitor healing, remove the stitches and guide you on cleaning in stages, moving on to maintenance once things have stabilised.

Most of the procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, so pain during treatment is kept under control. Afterwards you may have temporary swelling, a dull ache, discomfort chewing and some bleeding, but this generally eases as you heal, with prescribed medication, rest, and cleaning and rinsing as instructed. This varies a good deal between individuals, so we check beforehand how surgery timing fits around your work or school schedule, and how to reach us if the pain is severe. Please contact us promptly if you have unusual bleeding, severe pain, worsening swelling or a fever.

How much it improves is affected by many factors — the shape of the defect (vertical or horizontal, and the number of bone walls), how well the infection is controlled, cleaning, bite force, smoking and general health — and the expected result varies with the method used. Regenerative treatment aims to restore tissue that’s already been lost, but not every site achieves the same result. We explain the range you can realistically expect and its limits, the visits and home care involved, and whether other treatment is needed alongside it, and plan on the basis of long-term maintenance.

Possible complications include swelling, pain and bleeding after surgery, sensitivity-like symptoms, the wound opening or the regenerative material becoming exposed, infection, and changes in how the gum looks. Smoking, poor cleaning, poorly controlled diabetes, or ongoing strong bite force can all get in the way of healing. To keep these risks as low as possible, a pre-surgery risk assessment and addressing contributing factors, choosing the right method, careful wound care and following aftercare instructions closely all matter. Please don’t decide for yourself if something seems wrong — let us know as soon as you can.

Smoking is known to impair wound healing through its effects on blood flow and immunity, and has an adverse effect on the outlook for regenerative treatment. Diabetes, medication that affects bone metabolism, and autoimmune conditions can also affect healing, so we check your medical history, medication and test results beforehand, working with your doctor where needed. Stopping smoking, controlling blood sugar, sharpening your brushing technique, and managing bite force — adjusting these as far as possible — helps keep the results of treatment stable.

For a while after surgery, avoid scrubbing the wound, forceful rinsing, sucking motions, smoking, alcohol, strenuous exercise and very hot food. Start by chewing soft food on the other side of your mouth, and keep the area clean by following the rinsing and cleaning method we give you. Don’t touch the wound, including with your tongue or fingers. Take any prescribed medication as directed, and please keep to your follow-up and stitch-removal appointments. If anything seems wrong, you can contact us at any time — you don’t need to wait for your next appointment.

Basic periodontal treatment and some surgery can be covered by public health insurance, but depending on the regenerative material and method used, part of the treatment may not be covered. The total varies with the number of sites treated, the shape of the defect, the treatment needed and the number of visits. After examination, we set out whether treatment is suitable and quote several options, explaining the cost breakdown, expected timeline, advantages, things to watch for and how maintenance costs are handled. We propose a plan that fits your budget and schedule.

If regenerative treatment is not a good fit, because of the shape of the defect, your general health or how easy the area is to keep clean, we prioritise controlling inflammation and improving cleaning, combined with other surgical approaches to reduce the pocket, reshaping, correcting a poorly fitting restoration, and adjusting the bite. Where a tooth is noticeably loose, a splint can help stabilise it. Whichever approach is used, long-term maintenance remains the key. We compare the options with you and settle together on a realistic plan that balances the effort involved against the result.