Patient Portal: FAQ & Aftercare

Amalgam fillings are metallic silver, containing a mixture of metals including mercury. While durable, they are highly noticeable. Composite fillings are made from dental-grade resin, color-matched to your tooth shade for an invisible look. Composite fillings require minimal removal of natural tooth structure and bond directly to the tooth, strengthening it.

Composite bonding is a pain-free, non-invasive cosmetic treatment. Your dentist applies a tooth-coloured composite resin onto the surface of your teeth to fix chips, close gaps, reshape worn areas, and improve symmetry. It usually requires no drilling or injections, and you can achieve your dream smile in a single visit.

• Temporary Fillings: Used to protect a tooth between multi-stage treatments or during emergency care.
• Glass Ionomer Fillings: Gentle, fluoride-releasing fillings ideal for children and sensitive gum-line areas.
• Amalgam Fillings: Durable and robust fillings, best for back teeth under heavy bite pressure.
• Composite Fillings: Modern, tooth-coloured fillings that blend seamlessly with your smile.
• Ceramic Restorations: Highly aesthetic, stain-resistant premium restorations.
• Gold Restorations: Exceptionally durable and long-lasting choice for heavily worn teeth.

A crown is a custom-fitted cap that covers a chipped, worn, weak, or root-treated tooth to restore its strength and shape. At KDS, we offer a range of materials:

• Full Metal Crowns (Biocompatible, highly strong)
• Porcelain Bonded Crowns (Cosmetics with metal support)
• Zirconia Crowns (Ultra-strong and metal-free)
• Glazed Zirconia with MiYo® shading (Indistinguishable from natural front teeth)
• Pure Gold Crowns & E-Max Ceramics (Premium material choices)

A dental bridge replaces missing teeth by using adjacent teeth as support. It closes gaps, restores chewing ability, improves speech, and prevents surrounding teeth from shifting. We offer:

• Maryland Bridge: Minimally invasive, using metal or ceramic wings bonded behind neighbour teeth.
• Cantilever Bridge: Supported by a single crown on one side, suitable for lower-load teeth.
• Fixed-Fixed Bridge: High-strength option supported by crowns on both sides of the gap.

Clear aligners are custom-made, removable plastic trays that straighten teeth by applying gentle pressure over time. KDS uses state-of-the-art 3D printers to manufacture high-resolution aligners. They are nearly invisible, comfortable (no metal brackets), and removable for eating and cleaning. However, they must be worn consistently for 22+ hours a day to work effectively.

1. Consultation: Assessment and gag-free digital scanning or moulds of your teeth.
2. 3D Plan & Review: We design a digital 3D model showing the movements of your teeth. We discuss treatment timeline and options.
3. Fabrication: Lab technicians print and construct your custom aligners.
4. Delivery: Aligners are supplied in stages (sets of five) to monitor progress. You switch sets every 2 weeks.

We provide four clinical levels of whitening for patients aged 18 and over:

• Hygiene Stains Removal: A simple clean to lift surface plaque, tea, coffee, and smoking stains.
• 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Strips: Fast-acting strips applied in-chair during your dentist visit. Wear time is just 15 minutes.
• Pola Luminate Whitening Pen: High-strength brush-on gel for quick touch-ups on the go. Requires no trays.
• Pola Light LED System: An at-home kit combining Pola gel with an LED mouthpiece for rapid whitening in 5 days.
• Bespoke Tray & Gel Bleach System: Custom-made night trays paired with professional whitening gels worn for 1.5 hours daily over 14 days.

OSA happens when the airway collapses during sleep, blocking airflow for 10 seconds or more. To treat snoring and mild to moderate OSA, we offer the **Sleepwell Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS)**. It is a custom mouth guard worn during sleep that holds the lower jaw gently forward, keeping the airway open and preventing snoring and throat vibration. In clinical trials, 98% of patients found it highly comfortable.

Unconscious teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) leads to tooth wear, sensitivity, jaw pain, and headaches. KDS provides four treatment paths:

• Soft Bite Guard: Comfortable, flexible plastic guard worn at night to protect teeth from wear.
• Hybrid Bite Guard: Features a comfortable soft inner layer combined with a hard acrylic base for heavy grind protection.
• Jaw Botox Injections: Non-surgical treatment administered by our medically trained facial aesthetics specialist to reduce jaw muscle pressure. Lasts 6-9 months.
• Sleepwell Device: Postures the jaw forward, keeping arches apart to stop grinding and snoring simultaneously.

• Brushing: Brush twice daily (last thing at night and one other time) for a full 2 minutes. We recommend an electric toothbrush with soft brush heads.
• Toothpaste: Use a fluoride toothpaste (1,350–1,500 ppm). Spit out after brushing but do not rinse with water. This allows the active fluoride to coat your teeth for longer.
• Interdental Cleaning: Clean between teeth once a day using interdental brushes or a water flosser.
• Mouthwash: Optional. Use a fluoride mouthwash, but use it at a separate time to brushing (e.g. after lunch) so you do not wash away the toothpaste's concentration.
• Diet: Limit sugary snacks and fizzy drinks to mealtimes. Drink plenty of water (UK tap water contains enamel-strengthening fluoride).

Sensitive teeth are often caused by exposed dentine or root surface wear. To help ease this:

• Use a specialized desensitising toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne).
• Apply a small pea-sized blob of sensitive toothpaste directly onto the sensitive tooth using your finger, leaving it on overnight.
• Avoid brushing immediately after eating acidic foods or drinks.

Yes, we do. Our countersignatory service is available by advance appointment for registered patients of the practice. It covers passport verification, photograph verification, and necessary administrative declarations. To request this service, please contact reception. You will need to bring the physical passport forms, a recent photograph, and your official photographic ID.

• Salt Water Rinses: Rinse gently with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in warm water) 3–4 times daily, especially after eating.
• Soft Diet: Eat soft foods (soups, yogurts, mash) and avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy items.
• Brushing: Brush your teeth carefully, keeping the brush head clear of the healing socket.
• Bone Shards: It is normal to feel tiny, sharp bone fragments emerging from the socket. These usually wash away on their own.

Note: Just like any surgical wound, socket healing takes at least 2 weeks. A mild throbbing sensation initially is normal.

• Numbness: Wait until all local anaesthetic wears off before chewing or drinking hot fluids (prevents cheek/lip bites).
• Eating: Try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth for the first 24 hours. Stick to softer foods initially.
• Sensitivity: Some sensitivity to hot, cold, or bite pressure is common and settles within a few days.
• Bite Alignment: If the filling feels "high" or uneven when you bite down, contact us. It may need a quick, simple adjustment.

After root canal treatment, the nerve has been removed, but surrounding tissues will remain sensitive:

• Tenderness: Soreness for a few days is completely normal. Take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen as needed.
• Biting: Be gentle on the tooth. Avoid biting down on hard or crunchy foods until the sensitivity passes.
• Protecting the Tooth: A temporary or permanent filling will seal the root channels. For back chewing teeth, a crown is highly recommended after 3 months to prevent the tooth from cracking.

• First 48 Hours: Avoid chewing on the treated side. Avoid sticky, gummy foods (caramel, chewing gum) or very hard nuts that could dislodge the temporary or settling cement.
• Daily Hygiene: Clean around the margins meticulously. Brush normally and use a floss threader or interdental brushes to keep the bridge base free of plaque.
• Bite Checks: If your bite feels unbalanced or high, call us for a minor polishing adjustment.
• Teeth Grinding: If you clench or grind your teeth at night, wear a protective night guard to prevent ceramic chipping.

• Adapting: Wear your new denture for short periods first, gradually increasing duration. Initial speech changes and sore spots are common; contact KDS if they persist.
• Adhesive: Apply a denture adhesive to buffer the fit. Make sure to wipe all residue from your gums and the guard before reapplying.
• Cleaning: Rinse dentures after meals. Brush daily with a soft toothbrush and mild soap. Avoid regular toothpaste as it scratches denture resin, making it attract stains and plaque.
• Overnight Care: Soak dentures in cool water or a denture solution (Val-Clean/TCS cleaner for flexible dentures) overnight. Never use hot water, as this warps the shape permanently.

A soft reline adds a cushioned material to the denture base. To protect it:

• Avoid very hot drinks, which can damage the lining.
• Clean gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap (no toothpaste).
• Store in plain cold water when out of your mouth.
• Soft relines wear out naturally over time and will require periodic replacement.

• Usage: Wear whitening trays as directed (usually 90 minutes daily) consistently for 14 days.
• Gel Application: Place a tiny, rice-grain-sized dot of whitening gel inside the front compartments of the tray. Wipe away any excess gel that squeezes onto your gums.
• White Diet: Avoid strongly stained foods (curries, berries, red wine, tea, coffee) and smoking during the 2-week course. Stick to a white diet (chicken, rice, white fish, pasta).
• Sensitivity: Some sensitivity is normal. Switch to a sensitive toothpaste, or place some sensitive paste directly into your tray for 10 minutes before whitening. Skip a day if needed.
• Tray Care: Rinse with cold water after use. Clean daily with mild soap and lukewarm water (no hot water). Keep in the protective case.

• Compliance: Wear aligners for 22+ hours per day. Only take them out to eat, drink (except water), and brush.
• Changing Trays: Switch to the next set of aligners every 2 weeks. Change them at night before bed to sleep through initial tightness.
• Cleaning: Clean aligners with cool water and mild antibacterial handwash (no toothpaste). Keep them in their hard case when out of your mouth.
• Troubleshooting: If you find them hard to pop out, you can use a clear aligner removal hook tool. Keep your previous set of trays as a backup.