At The Briars Dental Centre, we understand that navigating dental care can sometimes be challenging. Whether you’re a new patient or have been with us for years, you might have questions about various aspects of your dental health and treatment options, or even about the practice itself! To make your journey with us smoother and more informed, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions that cover a wide range of topics.
We will update our FAQ blog every week, based on the questions we have heard throughout that week! The concept of ‘your burning dental questions answered’ is to make you feel more involved with your dental care. Please do get in touch if there is anything you would like to know more about! We’re always here to assist you and ensure you receive the best possible care.
Within this blog, our goal is to provide you with clear, concise answers to help you feel more confident and knowledgeable about your oral health. From understanding the benefits of specific treatments to tips for maintaining optimal dental hygiene, our FAQ section is designed to give you the insights you need.
The duration of your dental appointment can vary based on several factors. These include the type of treatment you are receiving, your specific dental needs, and whether it’s a routine check-up or a more complex procedure. The appointment duration doesn’t always relate to how long you will be sitting in the dental chair. We often allow time for the set-up and clean-down of the dental surgery, as well as time for notes to be written and treatment plans to be drafted.
Routine Check-Ups and Hygienist Appointments:
These appointments typically last between 20 minutes to an hour. A new patient assessment is generally a longer appointment, as more clinical information may need to be taken and recorded.
Fillings:
There is no ‘typical’ time duration for filling placement, as it varies so much from patient to patient. Filling appointments generally start from 30 minutes, but will be booked for as long as is appropriate. Some patients prefer to address several fillings in one ‘session’, others would prefer to split the appointments.
Specialist Treatments:
Appointments for specialist treatments, such as implant placement, root canal treatment, or treatment for gum conditions, can take anywhere from one to several hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure. The appointment duration will be discussed with you prior to booking so you are fully aware of how long you will be with us.
Follow-Up Visits:
Follow-up appointments for on-going treatments such as Invisalign may vary in length based on the procedure and your individual progress.
We can promise you, none of us like to run late. We’ve all had experiences of sitting in waiting rooms, watching the clock, and waiting to hear our name. We like to keep this time as minimal as possible for our patients, no matter how comfortable and welcoming our patient lounges are.
However, sometimes running late can’t be helped. We have an obligation to you, our patients, to look after you in the best way possible. If you have a dental emergency, and it is clinically necessary for us to drop everything and help you, we will.
Filling deeper than predicted, and taking us a little longer to carry out? We will carry on and finish the treatment to the best of our ability. We won’t compromise your care by rushing.
Anxious and taking longer to settle into your appointment? There’s no eye rolling here – there’s time to catch your breath, time to have a rest, to talk it through.
We always treat our patients how we would like to be treated ourselves. We hope that on the rare occasion we do run behind, you can understand why this may be the case.
In most cases, as far as the integrity of the filling is concerned, the answer is yes. For the vast majority of fillings, we use a composite material, which is cured after each increment is placed. This means that when you leave us, it is as ‘set’ as it is ever going to be. Other filling materials, particularly temporary filling or crown materials, may take longer to set. If this is the case, you may be advised differently if these are placed.
One of the biggest concerns with eating after a filling is placed is numbness. How affected by this you are will be dependent on which part of your mouth we have numbed. We advise a high level of caution when eating whilst numb, as you may unknowingly cause trauma to your cheeks or tongue when chewing or consuming hot food or drinks. For this reason, we will advise you to wait until the numbness wears off before eating, or drinking hot drinks. We always provide post-operative instructions following treatment, as it can vary from patient to patient.
So, did you find your burning dental questions answered? If the answer is no, get in touch today with your thoughts!
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