OUR SERVICES

Appointments: Patients are normally seen by appointment only. These are made on a 'first come first served basis' but our staff are trained to offer cancellation spaces to those in need to offer treatment sooner. Please inform our staff if you would like your treatment as soon as possible and they will be pleased to help. At your check up you will normally be given a treatment plan and estimate.

Emergencies: In cases of emergency, please contact the practice immediately. You should not have to wait until the next available appointment. We have special set times marked down for unplanned treatment and patients are normally seen either the same day or the next working day. Please be prepared to wait if the session is busy and these sessions are for short appointments only; lengthy discussion or permanent treatments need a longer, planned appointment so we can look after you properly. 'Out of hours' service is catered for by Dentaline on 781818.
Please do not pressurise staff to give you someone else’s appointment.

Timekeeping: Please come in to good time and allow for traffic, car parking etc. You are best advised to allow at least 1/2 hour for us to treat you beyond your appointment time so we will not have to curtail your treatment should complications arise. We also make a serious effort to start with you on time but please appreciate occasionally something genuine may keep us back. Our priority is to ensure that you are given first rate care in calm and pleasant surroundings.

Payment: Payment is due at or before the time the treatment is carried out. We accept a variety of credit cards as well as cash and cheques. If you think you are exempt from NHS charges please let our receptionist know before you book your appointment An itemised, clear estimate is given normally at the time an examination is carried out.

We believe that giving patients a clear estimate of charges is a great help in enabling them to control and accept costs, and make the best of what we have to offer. Our computer supplier's Software of Excellence, have given us the most advanced detail computer system in Britain to handle this. Enquiries regarding this are welcome from dentists as well as patients.

Services

We offer all routine and advanced dental care. The following specialist areas are referred to as follows:

Dental Hygiene:  We place great emphasis on dental hygiene.  Why see a Dental Hygienist? -  Frequently Asked Questions

Implants: Catered for within the practice but jointly with the Implant team at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Consultant oral surgeons Messrs T.J. Storrs, N.Bradley and C. Hendy (new maxillofacial unit Technical adviser Mr L.S. Browne, Dentist Mr L.R.D. Green

Oral Surgery: Kent and Canterbury or Chaucer Hospitals, oral surgeons as implants

Oral Medicine: As oral surgery.

Orthodontics: Kent and Canterbury Hospital maxillo-facial unit. Consultant: Mr W.G. Webb OR Mr R.Hutchinson in Canterbury

Out of Area: For patients at a distance, a special consultation may be arranged for which there will be a normal consultation fee charged. Ours staff will book you an appointment for the dentist to ring you back at an arranged time, and talk to you as though you were in the practice.

Out of Hours: Occasionally patients genuinely need treatment faster than the first normal appointment can be found. While we can offer no guarantee, we may be able to arrange staffing etc. specially for you so the dentist can extend normal hours. Please remember this cannot be done all the time but we are very pleased if we can help. We can also negotiate with technicians to provide work faster but they will normally charge extra.

Insurance Schemes

There are a bewildering variety of private insurance schemes on the market and we warmly welcome patients whether or not they are members of these. A leaflet will be available explaining these, and will be updated as the situation changes. We run, within the practice, both Denplan and BUPA dental care and free assessment is available on request

Key to Estimates

  • AA = Amalgam filling
  • C = Composite (white) filling
  • CB = Composite buccal filling (along the edge of the gum
  • GI = Glass ionomer filling key to estimates cont'd
  • W = Watch this tooth
  • SENS-C = Sensitive cementum (to help prevent sensitivity
  • FUT CR = Future crown work
  • FIS = Fissure sealent
  • FISG = Fissure sealent with glass ionomer filling
  • RCT = Root filling
  • EXT = Extraction
  • CRN3 = 3/4 gold crown
  • CRNF = Full gold crown
  • GINL = Gold inlay
  • BNDP = Bonded precious metal crown
  • PPM = Precious metal alloy post
  • NPM = Non precious metal post
  • TMPCR = Temporary acrylic crown (normally lab made
  • RETBP = Retainer for bridge (bonded to precious metal
  • PONT-PP = Pontic for bridge (bonded to precious metal)