Most patients have a question or two about visiting the dentist so we’ve put together a list of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Cotteswold House Dental Care which we hope will help to make you feel comfortable before coming to see us.
How to register and make an appointment
Please call the practice on 01452 345812 to register or make an appointment or email
appointments@cotteswoldhouse.co.uk. Our opening hours are: Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.
Do you take NHS patients?
We are a fully private practice and do not take NHS patients, however we work hard to provide excellent value for money and offer very competitive rates compared to other private practices. Our costs can be found here.
Will I see the same dentist each visit?
When you join the practice we will register you with one of our dentists and for your continuity of treatment we will try to make your appointments with them each visit. However we recognise there may be times when you wish to come but your assigned dentist isn’t available or is off sick, and that is fine too.
What happens in a routine appointment?
During a routine appointment, the dentist will check over your mouth, teeth and gums. They start by carrying out an oral cancer screening; your dentist will feel your neck, and check your tongue and cheeks to identify any potential areas of concern. They may take x-rays to look at what is happening in the areas they can’t see. They will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have, or voice any concerns. If all is healthy, your dentist will suggest seeing you again in either 6 or 12 months. If further treatment is required, they will discuss your options, the costs and appointments needed.
What happens in a hygienist appointment?
During a hygiene appointment, the hygienist will assess the health of your gums. They will start with a gum score, which involves gently measuring the gum either side of the teeth. From this, the hygienist will know how to treat your teeth. They often use a water scaler to remove any stubborn build up on the teeth, or hand instruments to gently clean. You will also have the teeth polished with a sensitive paste. The hygienist will suggest when to return for your next visit – this could be 3, 6, 9 or 12 months later.
Appointments for children; times and charges
For your child’s first visit we recommend you bring them along to your own appointment. As they get older we can make family appointments to allow enough time for your dentist to treat you and your child/ren. We are open late most of the week and on Saturday mornings so you can fit their visits in around school. We have a ‘charge their age’ system for routine check-ups until they are 18.
Payment options
As a private practice, there is a charge for seeing our dentists, which varies depending on the service provided. You can find a full list of our prices here.
We have membership plans which allow patients to spread the cost of routine dental care and treatments across the year. For a set monthly fee it provides a more cost-effective way to manage your dental care than paying as you go. It includes check-ups and hygiene visits as well as offering a 10% discount on most treatments, among other benefits. See here for more details.
Some dental treatments have more significant associated costs than others and in order to make these more accessible, 0% interest finance plans are available. Please visit our finance page here for more information.
Treatments and prices
We are a full-service dental practice offering patients everything from routine appointments and teeth whitening to adult orthodontics, implants and complex extractions. Prices for our dental treatments can be found here.
We also provide a range of facial aesthetic treatments such as B12 and anti-wrinkle injections, fillers, Profihilo and non-surgical rhinoplasty. A full list of aesthetic fees can be found here.
Teeth whitening
We are pleased to offer two different teeth whitening systems; Boutique trays where you use gel to gradually whiten at home and BlancOne which is performed at the surgery during an extended hygienist visit. BlancOne is open to patients, available at a discount to those on a membership plan, as well on direct access to non-patients. Click here for further information.
Do you offer Invisalign clear aligners?
Yes, we work with I nvisalign and 32Co clear aligner providers to give patients these very popular alternatives to traditional braces.
Do I need a referral?
We pride ourselves on being a dental referral centre, providing advanced and specialist dentistry. We accept referrals from dentists, dental therapists/hygienists and dental technicians. Individuals seeking treatment are also welcome to contact us directly, or ask their current dentist for a referral. Our referral and self-referral form can be found here.
You don’t need a referral to make a routine appointment.
Do I need to be a dental patient to have facial aesthetics?
No; our facial aesthetics are available to anyone. Please make a free consultation to see if the treatments are right for you.
Access and facilities
We have our own carpark with level access to the front door. Most of our surgeries are downstairs; if you would prefer or need to avoid the stairs please just mention it when making your appointment and we will ensure we make your appointment in a downstairs surgery.
Our waiting room is spacious and can accommodate wheelchair users. We have a modern, accessible downstairs toilet off our waiting room for patients’ use.
Information for nervous patients
We recognise that some patients are more nervous than others and that many have a fear associated with visiting the dentist, and we are happy to work with you to help put you at ease. If you have any specific questions or worries please do contact us either by phone or email and we can do what we can to help.
- Will it hurt?
We always do our best to make your visits as comfortable as possible. There are some elements of dental treatment that patients find nerve wracking, such as being made numb or having a tooth removed, for example. To help put our patients at ease during treatment, we apply a numbing gel to the gum to help reduce the feeling of the injection. Once you are numb, you really should not feel any pain. We make sure we have plenty of time to allow patients to take regular breaks if needed, and explain everything that we are doing step by step. If you have any concerns about your treatment, you can talk to our patient coordinator, Jess, to help answer your questions and talk your through treatment.
- Can I bring someone with me?
Absolutely. We are very happy for you to bring a companion to your appointment and there is room for them to accompany you into the dental surgery.
Unsure or have questions?
We have our own dedicated patient coordinator who is here to answer any questions you might have that we’ve not covered. Please contact the practice and we will be happy to help in any way we can.