your consultation
A considered approach from the very beginning.
Your first consultation is your opportunity to discuss what is concerning you about your teeth, and share your vision for what better could look and feel like. I want to understand your dental journey so far, and explore with you what you hope to achieve.
Whether you are concerned about worn or damaged teeth, multiple existing restorations, missing teeth, the position of your teeth, or the appearance of your smile, my aim is to assess your teeth holistically, before developing a comprehensive plan tailored to your goals.
Understanding what matters to you
Before considering treatment, I want to understand what has brought you to see me and what you hope to achieve. We will discuss your concerns, previous dental experiences, what you would like to change and, just as importantly, what you would like to preserve.
Sometimes the most appropriate treatment is not the treatment you expect. Understanding your priorities allows me to consider the options in the context of your oral health and long-term goals.
A Comprehensive Assessment
To plan your care appropriately, I first need to develop a comprehensive understanding of your teeth and oral health.
At your consultation, I will assess your face, jaw joints, teeth, your gums, and your soft tissues. This first part may feel like a routine examination. I will also look at your smile, the appearance and position of your teeth, how your teeth come together, any spaces or crowding, and any asymmetry that may be relevant to your treatment.
Depending on your needs, this may be followed further investigations, which may include photographs, intra-oral scans, impressions, or radiographs. These help me to understand the foundations we are working with, before considering which combination of treatments may be appropriate.
A treatment plan, not a treatment list
Once I understand your concerns and have assessed your teeth and oral health, we can discuss the different ways your goals might be approached. Depending on your circumstances, this might involve no treatment, preventive care, tooth alignment, whitening, composite restorations, porcelain restorations, dentures, implants or a combination of different approaches.
Where treatment is more complex, we can consider the sequence of treatment and how each stage affects what comes next.
My aim is to recommend an approach that is appropriate for your teeth, your goals and the long-term health and function of your smile.
When treatment is more complex
Some patients need more detailed assessment before a definitive treatment plan can be agreed. This may involve additional records, further investigations or time to develop and discuss the proposed treatment. For more complex restorative cases, treatment planning may also involve working closely with a dental laboratory or other dental professionals.
I believe this additional planning is important when several stages of treatment need to work together. It allows us to consider not only the immediate result, but how the different parts of your treatment will function together over time. .
Virtual consultations
A face-to-face consultation is usually the most appropriate way to assess your dental needs, particularly when treatment is complex or involves detailed restorative planning. Virtual consultations are therefore not offered as a standard alternative to an in-person consultation.
In exceptional circumstances, a virtual consultation may be considered where an initial discussion would be appropriate and helpful. This is assessed on an individual basis and does not replace the need for an appropriate clinical examination where this is required.
Before your consultation
There is no need to prepare anything elaborate for your consultation, but a few things may be helpful.
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Copies of any radiographs from a previous dentist that you have had taken in the last 12 months. You may need to formally request these from the practice
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If helpful, photographs of your smile from a time when you were happy with it, or examples of a smile you like
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Write down any burning questions or worries you have so we can make time to discuss them
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A list of your current medications, medical conditions and allergies
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Information about any dental treatment you are currently receiving or are about to receive elsewhere
What happens next?
At the end of your consultation, we will discuss the findings and the options available. For straightforward treatment, we may be able to discuss the proposed treatment and associated fees at the appointment. For more complex treatment, additional records or planning may be required before a definitive treatment plan can be prepared. You will always have the opportunity to consider the options and ask questions before deciding whether to proceed.
Following your consultation, I will send you a treatment letter where appropriate. This will detail the plan we have decided on, the costs involved, any alternative treatments (and an explanation as to why they haven't been selected, where appropriate). It will also detail any foreseeable fees, approximate time-lines of care and any maintenance requirements your plan may have. I also include a selection of the photos from your consultation for your own personal records.
Consultation fees
Initial consultation — £100
The consultation fee includes the discussion of your concerns, clinical assessment, initial discussion of appropriate treatment options and your personal treatment letter.
The consultation fee includes any routine clinical records required as part of the initial assessment. OPG radiographs and diagnostic models from the dental laboratory are not included and, where required, will be discussed with you beforehand.
Ready to explore your options?