FAQ Page

You are free to cancel your appointment any time, but you will need to call us at least 24 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation charge. A fee will be charged for any missed appointments or cancellations without 24 hours’ notice.

Though you might not notice a problem right now, your dentist will be able to point out and resolve any issues that may be developing without your knowledge, before they do become painful. Your dentist can also provide preventative advice on how to maintain a good oral hygiene routine and therefore avoid dental problems in the future.

Regular check ups at the dentist are also important for monitoring your overall health, as your mouth can give early indications of long term illness.

We maintain high standards of infection control and hygiene in line with the most up to date Apolline guidelines.

We accept cash, cheques, debit and credit cards.

We do. If you have an urgent issue during surgery hours, don’t hesitate to telephone the practice immediately. Please make it clear that the matter is not routine, so that we can do our best to attend to your issue at the earliest opportunity. Once the issue has been raised, we will ensure that you are offered an appointment on a priority basis. 

Should you have an issue outside of practice hours, please follow our guidance for emergency arrangements by calling our practice on 01344 842953 and following our answerphone instructions.

A dental emergency can take various forms; everything from physical trauma such as a broken tooth to painful inflammation due to infection. An issue can be classed as a dental emergency if it is something that may get worse and become harder to treat if you don’t seek immediate assistance. Especially if you’re in pain, it’s important to get in touch sooner rather than later to avoid further complications.

Yes. Flossing is a very important part of a good oral hygiene routine. Food trapped in between your teeth cannot be broken down by your saliva and is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This can then lead to cavities, infection, and inflammation of the gums, which can in turn lead to tooth loss.

Overall, you may find using an electric toothbrush a little easier - but generally speaking, your brush is as effective as your technique. If you brush your teeth correctly, you can achieve the same results whether you use an electric toothbrush or a manual one.

We have stress balls and signals during any treatment to give the patient breaks and to stop if they feel overwhelmed. We can also offer sedation with treatments if the patient is interested in this. We work in a relaxed, polite manner and do not rush to begin or complete any treatment, meaning the patient care is our priority.

• Improve your oral hygiene routine - make sure to brush using the correct techniques twice daily, floss at least once a day and rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash. Speak to one of our hygienists for professional advice, and perhaps consider having your teeth professionally cleaned.
• Make a habit of gently brushing your tongue when brushing your teeth, as your tongue can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks, which encourage the production of bacteria.
• Drink water regularly. Your saliva plays a key part in the breakdown of bacteria. Keep your mouth moist to avoid a buildup.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can affect your mouth in a number of negative ways - see below.

Unfortunately, smoking can affect your oral health in a number of negative ways. 

• Smoking can slow down the flow of saliva which allows for bacteria to thrive more easily, which then leads to a buildup of plaque. Bacteria laden plaque can then cause gum disease or ‘periodontitis’; when your gums become inflamed due to infection.
• Gum disease progresses much faster in smokers than in non-smokers, leading to more rapid tooth loss. Periodontal treatments are also less successful in smokers due to them taking longer to heal.
• Smokers are 6 times more likely to develop mouth cancer. Around 90% of people diagnosed with mouth cancer were smokers.
• Smoking can lead to bad breath and staining of the teeth.

Signs and symptoms of mouth cancer may include:

• A lip or mouth sore that doesn't heal.
• A white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth.
• Loose teeth.
• A growth or lump inside your mouth.
• Mouth pain.
• Ear pain.
• Difficult or painful swallowing.

If you’re worried about your oral health, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Those with diabetes are more vulnerable to dental issues such as gum disease, infection and cavities. Staying in control of your blood sugar will help your body to fight off any bacterial or fungal infections in your mouth, while also helping to relieve the dry mouth caused by diabetes, which will allow the replenished saliva to reduce the development of cavities. 

It’s very important to avoid smoking as you’re already susceptible to infection and smoking will only accelerate the development of any underlying issues. If you wear any kind of denture, clean it daily. Make sure to brush twice daily, preferably with a soft brush, and floss at least once a day. Get your teeth professionally cleaned periodically to reduce the chance of infection.

It’s important that you're seen as quickly as possible after the fact. See Do you take dental emergencies? For more information on our procedures. It is sometimes possible to save a tooth but you must take the utmost care to ensure that it is not damaged any further. 

• Try not to touch the root of the tooth (the part usually buried within the gum) as this can be damaged easily. 
• If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the crown and rinse it with milk, or water if you don’t have any milk. Don’t attempt to wipe it with any fabric as this could cause damage to the tooth.
• Don’t try to force the tooth back into its socket. Sometimes it may just slip back in, but you can cause much more damage to your tooth and gums if you try to force it.
• Keep the tooth moist. You can drop it into a glass of milk, or if you can’t do that, place the tooth in your mouth between the cheek and gum. Young children may not be able to hold the tooth in their mouth without swallowing - if this is the case, just have them spit the tooth into a glass of milk. See your dentist as soon as possible.

No. Though your dental x-ray will involve radiation, the exposed levels are so low that they’re considered safe for both children and adults. Should you have a digital X-ray, the radiation levels will be even lower.

Contact your us and book an appointment to check if you have any cavities. We can also provide topical application of desensitising varnish or toothpaste.

If you’re unhappy with any part of your treatment, please speak to a member of staff and we’ll do our best to resolve your issue. Please take a look at our Langleys Code of Practice for more information on our process.