Answers to the questions we hear most.

For most healthy adults, a professional cleaning and check-up every six months keeps plaque and tartar from building up and lets us catch small problems while they're still small.

Some people need to come in more often — every three to four months — if they're prone to gum disease, have had recent gum treatment, smoke, or wear braces. Others with very stable dental health may be fine on a slightly longer interval.

At your visit we'll suggest a schedule that fits your mouth rather than a one-size rule, and we'll tell you plainly if we think you can stretch it out.

A first visit is mostly about getting to know your mouth and your history. We'll ask about any concerns, past treatment, and general health, then do a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and bite.

Where it's helpful, we may take X-rays to see what's happening between and below the teeth. If a cleaning is due and appropriate, we'll often do it the same day.

You'll leave with a clear picture of where things stand and, if anything needs attention, a plan and rough costs — so you can decide what to do next without pressure.

The general guidance is to bring a child for their first dental visit by their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming through — whichever comes first.

Early visits are short and gentle. They're less about treatment and more about helping your child get comfortable, checking that teeth are coming in as they should, and giving you practical advice on brushing, feeding, and habits like thumb-sucking.

Starting early builds a calm, positive relationship with the dentist that pays off for the rest of their life.

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss are most often showing early inflammation (gingivitis), caused by plaque building up along the gumline. It's common and, caught early, usually reversible.

The fix is often straightforward: gentle but consistent brushing twice a day, daily cleaning between the teeth, and a professional cleaning to remove hardened tartar you can't reach at home.

If bleeding is heavy, persistent, or comes with loose teeth or bad breath, have it looked at — it can be a sign of more advanced gum disease that's better treated sooner than later.

Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. If it's healthy, fully grown in, in the right position, and you can keep it clean, it can often stay.

Removal is usually recommended when a wisdom tooth is impacted (stuck), coming in at an angle, causing pain or repeated infection, crowding other teeth, or too far back to clean properly.

The right call depends on your specific mouth, usually with an X-ray. We'll explain what we see and why, so any decision to remove one is made with you, not for you.

For immediate relief, rinse gently with warm salt water, floss carefully to remove anything trapped between the teeth, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever you'd normally use. Avoid putting aspirin directly on the gum.

A toothache is a signal, not the problem itself — it rarely fixes itself for good. Persistent pain, swelling, a bad taste, or fever all mean you should be seen promptly.

Call ahead and we'll make room as soon as we can. If it's a knocked-out or broken tooth, keep any pieces, avoid touching the root, and come in quickly — time matters.

Professionally supervised whitening is safe for most people. The most common side effect is temporary tooth sensitivity, which usually settles within a day or two.

Whitening works best on natural teeth and won't change the colour of crowns, veneers, or fillings — so if you have restorations at the front, we'll talk through what to expect first.

We check that your teeth and gums are healthy before whitening, because treating decay or gum problems first protects both your results and your comfort.

The three common ways to replace a missing tooth are a dental implant, a bridge, or a denture. The best choice depends on your bone, your neighbouring teeth, your health, and your budget.

An implant replaces the root as well as the crown and stands on its own without altering nearby teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth for support. A denture is removable and often the most accessible option for replacing several teeth.

Replacing a missing tooth isn't only cosmetic — it helps keep your bite stable and stops neighbouring teeth from drifting. We'll walk you through the options that actually apply to your situation.

There's no single price for braces — the cost depends on the type you choose (metal, ceramic, or clear aligners), how much correction your bite needs, and how long treatment takes. Straightforward cases finish faster and cost less; complex ones involve more visits and adjustments.

Most clinics, ours included, spread the cost over the length of treatment rather than charging it all upfront, which makes braces far more manageable than the total figure suggests. Metal braces are generally the most affordable, with ceramic and clear aligners costing more for their discretion.

The only way to get an accurate figure is an assessment — we look at your teeth, take any X-rays needed, and give you a clear plan and price before anything starts, with no obligation. Book a consultation and we'll talk through the options that fit your goals and budget.

An implant's cost reflects what's involved: a minor procedure to place the titanium post, the months it takes to heal and fuse with the bone, and the custom crown fitted on top. Cases that need bone grafting or several implants cost more than a single straightforward one.

Implants are more expensive than a bridge or denture at the outset, but they last longer, don't rely on neighbouring teeth, and help preserve the jawbone — so many patients find them better value over time. We'll always lay out the alternatives and their costs so you can decide what's right.

Because every mouth is different, we quote implants only after an examination and X-ray. Book a consultation and we'll give you an honest assessment of whether an implant is the best option in your case, and exactly what it would involve.

Traditional braces use brackets and wires fixed to your teeth, and they can correct almost any alignment or bite problem, including complex ones. Clear aligners are removable, nearly invisible trays that suit mild to moderate cases and appeal to people who'd rather treatment didn't show.

Aligners are easier to keep clean and let you eat without restrictions, but they only work if you wear them 20–22 hours a day — they rely on your discipline. Braces work continuously with no effort on your part, which can make them the more reliable choice for teenagers or complex cases.

There's no universally 'better' option — it depends on what needs correcting and how you live. At a consultation we assess your bite and talk through the trade-offs so you can choose with a clear picture, not a sales pitch.

There's no single right age, but orthodontists generally recommend a first check-up by around age 7. By then enough adult teeth have come in for us to spot problems early — even if treatment itself doesn't start until later.

Most children begin braces between about 10 and 14, once most baby teeth have been replaced but the jaw is still growing. Treating during this growth window often means faster, gentler results, because we can guide teeth and jaw development rather than working against a fully-set adult mouth.

Early assessment doesn't mean early braces — sometimes the best advice is simply to monitor and wait. Dr. Mae Michelle checks growing smiles and will tell you honestly whether to start now, later, or just keep an eye on things.

For a knocked-out adult tooth, time is critical — the best chance of saving it is within about an hour. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root, and gently rinse off any dirt with water or milk without scrubbing.

If you can, place the tooth back into its socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it there. If that's not possible, keep it moist in a cup of milk (not water) or tucked inside your cheek, and get to a dentist immediately — bring the tooth with you.

For a baby tooth that's knocked out, don't try to reinsert it, as that can damage the developing adult tooth underneath — but do call us. Either way, phone ahead so we can keep a slot open and guide you on the way.

That sharp, brief pain from hot, cold, or sweet things usually means the softer layer beneath your enamel (dentine) is exposed, letting temperature reach the nerve. Common causes include worn enamel, gum recession, a cracked tooth, a cavity, or brushing too hard.

Simple sensitivity often improves with a desensitising toothpaste, a softer brush, and easing off acidic foods and drinks. But because it can also signal decay, a cracked tooth, or gum problems, sensitivity that persists or worsens is worth having checked rather than living with.

At a visit we work out why it's happening — sometimes it's a quick fix like a filling or treating exposed roots, and sometimes it just needs a change in routine. Either way, you don't have to put up with it.

The vast majority of bad breath (halitosis) comes from the mouth itself — bacteria on the tongue and along the gumline, trapped food, gum disease, or simply a dry mouth. Less often it's linked to sinus, throat, or digestive issues.

The basics fix most cases: brushing twice a day, cleaning between your teeth daily, gently brushing your tongue, staying hydrated, and keeping up regular cleanings to remove the hardened plaque you can't reach at home. Persistent morning breath is normal; persistent all-day breath is worth investigating.

If good habits don't clear it, it's worth a check — ongoing bad breath can point to gum disease or a tooth problem that's easier to treat early. We can find the source and sort it, rather than just masking it.

Dental X-rays use a very small amount of radiation — far less than you're exposed to naturally over a normal day. Modern digital X-rays lower that dose even further, and a lead apron shields the rest of your body, so for routine dental use they're considered very safe.

We still take X-rays only when they'll genuinely help — to see decay between teeth, check roots and bone, or plan treatment — rather than routinely at every visit.

If you're pregnant, always tell us. Necessary dental X-rays with proper shielding are regarded as safe during pregnancy, but we'll usually postpone anything non-urgent until after, and take extra care either way. When in doubt, ask — we're happy to explain before anything is done.