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Patient Resources

Tooth whitening information and consent form
Information for patients about jaw joint malfunction
Patient satisfaction survey

Post extraction treatment instruction

A clean and healthy mouth aids healing. The following steps will help prevent bleeding and relieve soreness:

Rest

Rest for a few hours following treatment and avoid strenuous exercise.

Rinsing

Do not rinse for 24 hours. For several days following treatment rinse your mouth gently after meals and before retiring using a mouthwash made by dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Hold the solution in your mouth for several minutes, discard and repeat 2-3 times.

Food

Avoid hot fluids, alcohol, and hard or chewy foods. Choose cool drinks and soft or minced foods. Avoid sucking at or interfering with the wound.

Bleeding

Should slight bleeding occur sit upright with head and shoulders raised. Apply pressure using a small pad of gauze or clean linen clamped firmly between the jaws for 10 minutes – repeat if necessary.

Pain

Paracetamol is the medicine of choice to reduce post-operative discomfort.

Avoid aspirin

If excessive bleeding, undue pain or other symptoms occur contact your Dental Surgeon for advice without delay. Please consult your registration card for out of hours emergency contact number. If the problem persists after 9.00pm please go to the closest Accident and Emergency department.

Root canal treatment

Root canal therapy or ‘root canal treatment’ is used to alleviate pain and remove infection in preference to extraction. Treatment will often be recommended following an abscess, acute pain or sensitivity and following extensive fracture or trauma.

Treatment aims at removing infection or potentially problematic nerve tissue from the root canal, which is then cleaned, shaped and sealed to prevent further infection.

Root canal therapy is a skilled and time consuming procedure usually performed over several visits. X-rays are required at each stage to allow for accurate diagnosis and treatment and a permanent filling or crown is placed once the tooth is sealed.

A very high percentage of root treatments are entirely successful but a small number do not respond to treatment and require extraction or further treatment. Dead or root treated teeth sometimes darken and do become more brittle but treatments are now available to return these teeth to full strength and life-like appearance.

Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury. Why is root canal treatment needed? If the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth.

This may eventually lead to an abscess. If root canal treatment (RCT) is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out. Does it hurt? No. A local anaesthetic is used and it should feel no different to having an ordinary filling done.

The aim of the treatment is to remove all infection from the root canal. The root is then cleaned and filled to prevent any further infection. Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure. Most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits to your dentist. At the first appointment, the infected pulp is removed. Any abscesses, which may be present, can also be drained at this time. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. A temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle. The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.

In the past, a root filled tooth would often darken after treatment. However, with modern techniques this does not usually happen. If there is any discolouration, there are several treatments available to restore the natural appearance.

Root canal treatment is usually very successful. However, if the infection comes back the treatment can be repeated.

The alternative is to have the tooth out. Once the pulp is destroyed, it can’t heal and it is not recommended to leave an infected tooth in the mouth. Although some people would prefer an extraction, it is usually best to keep as many natural teeth as possible.

Yes. However, it is better to restore the tooth with a crown to provide extra support and strength to the tooth.

Root canal treatment is a routine dental procedure, which your dentist will be happy to do for you.

Root-treated teeth should be treated just the same as any other tooth. Remember to clean your teeth at least once a day, preferably with a fluoride toothpaste. Cut down on sugary snacks, and keep them only to mealtimes if possible. See your dentist for regular check-ups.

Care of dentures

Antibiotics

You have been prescribed a course of antibiotics by your dentist. It is important to follow the instructions below carefully in order to obtain the maximum benefit.

Do's

Dont's

Oral Contraceptives (The Pill)

Some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Female patients taking oral contraceptives are advised to use an additional form of contraception whilst taking antibiotics, and for 7 days afterwards. If the packet runs out before these 7 days, seek your Doctor’s opinion as it may be advised to start a new packet early.

Immediate Dentures

You have been provided with ‘immediate’ dentures. You should follow carefully any instructions given relating to care of the extraction site and more long term general care of dentures in addition to the specific instructions below.

Do's

Dont's

Lichen Planus

The words lichen planus mean lacy white patches. Lichen planus can occur in the mouth, on the skin and in some cases on the nails, in the hair and on the scalp. Women may also get it in the vagina. This leaflet deals with lichen planus in the mouth. It may appear just as lacy white patches or as ulcers or even red and bleeding gums. It lasts for many years before gradually disappearing; in some cases it may last for life. From time to time it will feel sore and may be made worse by spicy, acidic or highly flavoured foods. Hard foods, such as toast, may scratch the affected parts. We do not know its precise cause. We do know that it is not an infection and so you cannot pass it on to anyone. If your mouth is sore you will be given some remedies by the hospital doctor and more of these can be obtained from your own doctor or dentist.
  1. Cream ‘Adcortyl in Orabase’ is a steroid that you apply to the sore area. It is important that you use a wet finger or a wet cotton-wool bud to put the cream to the sore area. If possible, dry the area with a piece of gauze. It is probably most effective to use this cream last thing at night. It can be used up to four times a day. It will leave a gritty feel in your mouth.
  2. Lozenges ‘Corlan Pellets’ are small, bitter tasting steroids which you suck very slowly. These can be used four times a day until the soreness eases and should be left near painful patches.
  3. Spray ‘Becotide Spray’ is occasionally used for those areas of the mouth where it is difficult to apply any of the other remedies. The spray is normally given to patients with asthma and therefore it is larger than necessary for the mouth. Use 2-3 puffs of the inhaler on the area that is sore. DO NOT breathe in at the time of puffing, hold your breath as you do not want the spray to go down into the lungs. It can be used up to four times a day.
  4. Mouthwashes You may be given a mouthwash (Bioral) to use four times a day. The packet is dissolved in a quarter of a cup of warm water. It should be kept in the mouth for 2-3 minutes and then spat out. It may leave a burning sensation after use.
Your mouth needs to be looked at regularly until all the patches have gone. This will be done either by your dentist or doctor at an Oral Medicine Clinic. It is important that you return for your review appointments or earlier if your mouth is causing you discomfort.

Tooth whitening information and Consent Form

General Description

The amount of whitening varies from patient to patient and cannot be predicted or guaranteed but in general:

  1. Yellow or brown teeth, extrinsic stains and darkened monochromatic teeth are easier to whiten.
  2. Grey or bluish teeth and striated or splotchy teeth are more difficult to whiten.
  3. The whitening system is a procedure designed to whiten teeth that are being maintained with proper oral hygiene.
  4. Tooth Whitening is a gradual process, which you are in control of  so if you want natural looking teeth but of a lighter colour rather then unnatural white teeth, you can stop the procedure when you think you have achieved the result you want.

Candidates for Treatment

Generally, just about anyone who wants their teeth whiter, however:

  1. People with significant periodontal disease are not candidates.
  2. People with fillings that may be breaking down, with cavities in their teeth, or with chipped or worn teeth may be better treated by restorative procedures first.
  3. Do not use whitening treatment if you are pregnant. There have been no adverse reactions, but long-term clinical effects are unknown.
  4. Heavy smokers should discontinue the use of tobacco before whitening.

Risks

  1. Peroxide solution has been available for many years as an antiseptic for the mouth and is widely used for its effect on teeth whitening. There is new research indicating the safety for use on the soft tissues of the mouth (i.e. gums, cheeks, tongue, throat); the long-term effects are as yet unknown. Although the extent of the risk is unknown, acceptance of treatment means acceptance of risk.
  2. Sensitivity of teeth is a common side effect. If you experience any sensitivity you should stop whitening for a few days, then resume the treatment. If the teeth become ultra sensitive you can place desensitising toothpaste or gel into the trays for an hour a day, which will usually stop the sensitivity; please contact your dentist if this is the case.
  3. Temporary inflammation and/or white spots on your gums can be caused by the whitening.
  4. If you have fillings that are breaking down, decay in your teeth, erosions of the teeth or exposed root surfaces due to periodontal disease, the peroxide may have direct access to the vital tissues of the teeth. Such access of the peroxide may cause tooth sensitivity. Such conditions need correction prior to the whitening procedure.
  5. The whitening procedure can be very effective at whitening teeth but will not change the colour of fillings or crowns already in your teeth/mouth. For aesthetic reasons such fillings may need changing after whitening procedures.

Responsibilities

  1. Avoid the use of tobacco, tea, coffee, red wine and teeth staining foods such as tomato paste and dark green vegetables during the whitening procedure.
  2. Never place household or commercial bleaches in your mouth.
  3. Keep your recall appointments with your dentist.
  4. when the treatment is completed, please keep the trays so that they can be used for a booster/maintenance treatment. It may be necessary to do a top-up treatment in 18-24 months depending on the amount of staining.

Guarantees

  1. There are no guarantees as to the degree of whitening your teeth.
  2. The amount of whitening varies with the individual.
  3. Pure white or snow white teeth are not shades consistent in natural teeth and can only be achieved by other restorative procedures.

Information for Patients About Jaw Joint Malfunction

What causes the problem?

The majority of jaw joint problems are mechanical in origin and result from excessive use, for example, chewing very hard foods (tough meats, toffees, chewing gum), opening the mouth too wide (yawning, singing, shouting), and various tension habits associated with stress, such as tooth clenching and grinding.

As a result, the ligaments holding the joint together become stretched and the disc of cartilage within it becomes displaced. This produces a click or grating feeling when the jaw is moved and if the damage becomes worse then the pain occurs in the joint (often interpreted as earache). Associated cramp or spasms of the jaw muscles may occur producing a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing pain on the side of the head, cheek and along the bottom of the jaw (and stiffness which prevents wide opening of the mouth). This is commonly worse at the end of the day when the muscles are tired or in the morning if there is a tooth grinding habit during the night.

How to help the problem

The majority of jaw joint malfunctions get better with sustained rest. With time the ligaments become stronger again and the cartilage repositions. The following guidelines will help:

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Any tooth clenching or grinding habit must be identified and eliminated. Many people clench and grind their teeth as a response to stress, and may not even be aware of it. This may be due to concentrating on a particular task, keeping to unrealistic timetables and generally trying to do too much. This is similar to what is described as tension headaches but affecting the muscles of the face rather than the neck and the back of the head. Exercises Use this simple exercise at least twice a day and it will help your jaw work in its most comfortable position. Choose a time when you are generally comfortable and relaxed.
  1. curl your tongue backwards so that the tip touches the roof of your mouth towards the back (this holds your jaw backwards)
  2. place your hand under your chin and press the bottom jaw onto it
    • keep your teeth JUST APART
    • keep your lips RESTING TOGETHER
    • keep this pressure up for ONE MINUTE
  3. Then: RELAX
    • Stop pressing
    • Relax your tongue by swallowing
    • Rest teeth together for ONE MINUTE
  4. Repeat 5-10times
Ten minutes at the beginning and end of each day is best. Your discomfort should start to feel better after 1-2 weeks.

Practice policies

Our vision is for Watercress House Dental to be a successful, caring and welcoming place for patients to receive dental care and advice. We want to create a supportive and inclusive environment where our staff can reach their full potential and care is provided in partnership with patients, without prejudice and discrimination. We are committed to a culture where respect and understanding is fostered and the diversity of people's backgrounds and circumstances will be positively valued.

This Policy will help us to achieve this vision.

Legal responsibilities

The rights of our patients and our staff with regards to discrimination are protected by anti-discrimination legislation including:

  • The Equality Act 2010
  • Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000
  • Employment Rights Act 1996

By adopting this Policy, we accept our responsibility to ensure that discrimination does not take place and that everyone is treated fairly and equally.

Aim

The aim of this Policy is to achieve equality of care experience by removing any potential discrimination in the way that people are cared for and treated by the Practice, including:

  • People with disabilities
  • People of different sexual orientations
  • Trans-gendered and transsexual people
  • People of different races
  • People on the grounds of their sex
  • People of faith and of no faith
  • People in relation to their age
  • People in relation to their social class or medical condition
  • People who work part-time
  • People who are married or in a civil partnership
  • Women who are pregnant, have recently given birth or are breastfeeding

Putting this policy into practice

We aim to develop and support equality and diversity measures by:

  • Providing patient information in a variety of languages, if required
  • Having translation services available for patients who need this
  • Providing services that are accessible to patients with disabilities
  • Ensuring that care of individuals is planned with their specific needs at the centre
  • Tackling oral health inequalities through positive promotion and care
  • Involving patient groups and individuals in the design of our service
  • Responding positively to the diverse needs and experiences of our patients and the community even when those needs are challenging to deal with
  • Ensuring that we join up with services involved with the care of patients with particular medical and social care needs.

Comments and concerns

If you believe you have been treated in any way contrary to this Policy or you have any comments on how we can ensure that it works better, please contact Marcello Tulone at the practice. We will investigate your concerns and take appropriate action. 

Introduction

This policy outlines the terms and conditions for the refundable deposit required for booking dental treatments at our practice. It aims to ensure clarity and fairness for all patients regarding the management and return of deposits, particularly if a patient wishes to terminate their contract with the practice or if the practice closes.

Deposit Requirement

  1. Purpose: The deposit is required to secure appointments and mitigate the impact of missed appointments on the practice's schedule and resources.
    Amount: The Deposit Scheme is set out below:
  • Dental treatment under value of £ 500 - £ 50.00 deposit required
  • Dental treatment exceeding £ 500 - 10% of total appointment value required
  • Hygiene appointments- £ 25.00 deposit required

If you have ongoing treatment that’s spread over more than one appointment the total balance must be settled at the end of the final appointment., unless you have an agreed finance plan for the treatment carried out.

  1. Deposit Management
    1. Security: The deposit will be securely held in our business bank account.
    2. Usage: The deposit will be applied to the cost of the patient's dental treatment at the time of the appointment.

Refund Conditions

  1. Appointment Cancellation:
  • Notice period: Patients must provide at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment to receive a full refund of their deposit.
  • Late cancellations: Deposits will not be refunded for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the appointment.
  • No-shows: Deposits will not be refunded for missed appointments without prior notice.
  1. Termination by patient:
  • Procedure: Patients wishing to terminate their contract with the practice must notify us in writing.
  • Refund: Upon receiving written notice, the practice will refund the full deposit amount within 14 business days, provided there are no outstanding balances on the patient's account.
  1. Practice permanent closure:
  • Notification: In the event of the practice closing, all patients will be notified in writing
    as soon as possible.
  • Refund Process: The practice will automatically refund all deposits within 30 business
    days of the closure notification. Refunds will be processed to the original payment
    method used by the patient.

Deposit Application and Refund Requests

  1. Application:
  • Deposits will be applied to the cost of treatment at the time of the appointment.
  • Any remaining balance after applying the deposit will be refunded to the patient or put forward for the next treatment (if desired).
  1. Requesting a refund:
  • Patients may request a refund of their deposit at any time, subject to the terms outlined in this policy.
  • Refund requests can be made by contacting the practice via email or in writing. The practice will process the refund within 14 business days of receiving the request.

Contact Information

For any questions or further assistance regarding this deposit policy, please contact us at: info@watercressdental.co.uk

Policy Updates
This policy is subject to change. Patients will be notified of any changes to this policy in writing and updates will be posted on our website.

Conclusion

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with our deposit policy. This policy is designed to ensure that we can continue to provide the highest level of care and service to all our patient.

If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the dentist or any of the staff working at this practice, please let us know. We operate a practice complaints procedure for dealing with complaints. Our complaints system meets national criteria.

How to complain

We hope that most problems can be resolved easily and quickly, often at the time they arise and with the person concerned. If your problem cannot be sorted out this way and you wish to make a complaint, we will respond to your complaint within three working days, enabling us to establish what happened more easily. If it is not possible to do that, please let us have details of your complaint within 12 months of the incident that caused the problem.

Complaints should be addressed to Katie Torr - Complaints Manager, or Iryna Mardle – Deputy Complaints Manager. You may ask for an appointment in order to discuss your concerns. We will explain the complaints procedure to you and will ensure that your concerns are dealt with promptly. It will be a great help if you are as specific as possible about your complaint.

What shall we do:

We shall acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days and aim to investigate your complaint within 10 working days of the date when you raised it with us. We shall then be in a position to offer you an explanation, or a meeting with the people involved. When we investigate your complaint, we shall aim to:

  • Find out what happened and what went wrong
  • Make it possible for you to discuss the problem with those concerned, if you would like this
  • Make sure you receive an apology where this is appropriate
  • Identify what we can do to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again

Should a patient make a complaint or claim, we may need to provide information about the patient, and treatment they have received, to insurers, indemnifiers or legal advisers.

Complaining on behalf of someone else

Please note that we keep strictly to the rules of clinical confidentiality. If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, we must know that you have their permission to do so. A note signed by the person concerned will be needed, unless they are incapable (because of physical and mental illness) of providing this.

Complaining to Dental Complaints Service

We hope that, if you have a problem, you will make use of our practice complaints procedure. We believe this will provide the best chance of putting right whatever has gone wrong and an opportunity to improve our practice. However, this does not affect your right to complain to an independent body, if you feel you cannot raise your complaint with us or you are dissatisfied with the result of our investigation.

For further advice, you should contact:

Dental Complaints Service

37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Telephone: 020 8253 0800
(Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)
Or
General Dental Council

37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Email: www.gdc-uk.org
Telephone: 0845 222 4141 or 020 7887 3800

Complaints and the CQC
The CQC don't get directly involved with complaints made to the practice. They do, however, encourage giving feedback for service providers.

To send feedback to the CQC about please go to:
https://www.cqc.org.uk/give-feedback-on-care
or Telephone: 03000 616161 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm Excluding bank holidays

Approved By: Marcello Tulone, Iryna Mardle, Saima Waqar
Date Published: 13/06/2023

Equality and diversity policy

Our vision is for Watercress House Dental to be a successful, caring and welcoming place for patients to receive dental care and advice. We want to create a supportive and inclusive environment where our staff can reach their full potential and care is provided in partnership with patients, without prejudice and discrimination. We are committed to a culture where respect and understanding is fostered and the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances will be positively valued.

This Policy will help us to achieve this vision.

Legal responsibilities

The rights of our patients and our staff with regards to discrimination are protected by anti-discrimination legislation including:

  • The Equality Act 2010
  • Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000
  • Employment Rights Act 1996

By adopting this Policy, we accept our responsibility to ensure that discrimination does not take place and that everyone is treated fairly and equally.

Aim

The aim of this Policy is to achieve equality of care experience by removing any potential discrimination in the way that people are cared for and treated by the Practice, including:

  • People with disabilities
  • People of different sexual orientations
  • Trans-gendered and transsexual people
  • People of different races
  • People on the grounds of their sex
  • People of faith and of no faith
  • People in relation to their age
  • People in relation to their social class or medical condition
  • People who work part-time
  • People who are married or in a civil partnership
  • Women who are pregnant, have recently given birth or are breastfeeding

Putting this policy into practice

We aim to develop and support equality and diversity measures by:

  • Providing patient information in a variety of languages, if required
  • Having translation services available for patients who need this
  • Providing services that are accessible to patients with disabilities
  • Ensuring that care of individuals is planned with their specific needs at the centre
  • Tackling oral health inequalities through positive promotion and care
  • Involving patient groups and individuals in the design of our service
  • Responding positively to the diverse needs and experiences of our patients and the community even when those needs are challenging to deal with
  • Ensuring that we join up with services involved with the care of patients with particular medical and social care needs.

Comments and concerns

If you believe you have been treated in any way contrary to this Policy or you have any comments on how we can ensure that it works better, please contact Marcello Tulone at the practice. We will investigate your concerns and take appropriate action. 

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