Our experienced hygiene team is passionate about preventive care.

Alongside your routine dental examinations, we may recommend regular hygiene appointments with one of our dental hygienists for professional cleaning treatments such as a scale and polish or Airflow GBT therapy.

These appointments are designed to assess health of your gums, remove any plaque, tartar or stain build-up and help prevent disease progression and tooth loss.

Our hygienists also take a personalised approach to oral health education, offering guidance on oral hygiene techniques, diet and lifestyle habits to help you maintain a healthy smile.

We recognise the important link between oral health and overall systemic medical health and understand that effective plaque control and good oral hygiene can play a significant role in the prevention and management of wider health conditions.

Regular hygiene visits, typically once or twice a year — or more frequently where needed — can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums, improve confidence in your smile, and support your overall health through proactive preventive care.

Fillings are required to repair teeth affected by decay or damage.

There are several types of fillings available- the right options will depend on factors as to how much of the tooth is affected and how much filling is needed.

Amalgam

A combination of metals make this filling strong and durable- good option for back teeth. Some patients prefer other options due to the silver colour.

Metal Free Fillings

Here at Lindi we offer composite (resin based material) or glass ionomer fillings (silica glass powder)

We are also providers of Bioclear direct composite fillings more information can be found here www.bioclearmatrix.co.uk

This is a comprehensive system of restoring teeth aesthetically using industry lead materials and systems. This system works well along with teeth straightening or in posterior teeth as an alternative to lab made crowns.

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment designed to lighten the colour of your teeth and enhance your smile. It’s ideal for patients who want a brighter, whiter appearance in a safe and controlled way. As part of the process, custom-made trays are created to fit your teeth precisely, allowing you to apply professional whitening gel at home. Over time, this gently lifts staining and discolouration, delivering natural-looking results while maintaining comfort and control.

At Lindi we use a bespoke at-home whitening system called Boutique. There are various options for night or daytime wear which we will be happy to discuss with you.

For more information please go to www.boutiquewhitening.com

Patient Leaflet

Aftercare Booklet

Composite bonding is a cosmetic treatment that improves the shape, colour or size of your teeth using a tooth-coloured material. It’s ideal for patients with chipped, uneven or discoloured teeth, helping to create a more balanced, natural-looking smile. During the procedure, the composite is carefully applied and sculpted directly onto the tooth, then polished to a smooth, natural finish. The result is an immediate improvement with minimal preparation, blending seamlessly with your existing teeth.

Clear aligners are a modern orthodontic treatment used to straighten teeth in a discreet and comfortable way. They’re ideal for patients who want to improve their smile without the need for fixed metal braces. The treatment involves wearing a series of custom-made, clear aligners that gradually move your teeth into position over several months. Each set is designed to make small adjustments, helping you achieve a straighter, more confident smile with minimal disruption to your daily life.

A dental crown is a protective cap placed over a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its strength, shape and appearance. It’s ideal for teeth that are heavily filled, broken or have undergone root treatment. During the process, the tooth is carefully prepared and digitally scanned to create a custom-made crown that fits precisely. Once ready, the crown is securely fitted in place, providing long-lasting protection and a natural-looking finish.

We tailor every crown to your specific needs, aesthetics and budget.

All Ceramic – metal free, natural looking crowns- ideal for front teeth

Zirconia – a highly durable tooth coloured material that is noth incredibly strong and biocompatible.

Gold/Metal alloys – highly durable option- often used for back molars when chewing force is higher.

We use advanced digital scanning to eliminate messy uncomfortable impressions.

Your custom crown is the precision crafted in a premier dental lab for optional fit.

What is a dental implant?

Advantages of Implant Dentistry

Stable

Conservative to remaining teeth

Fixed options

Here at Lindi Dental we are able to take referrals from patients and dentists for all aspects of oral surgery. Our in-house formally accredited Oral Surgeon Dr Hannah McKinnon has been supporting Oral Surgery in the local area for many years.

Please visit her website for referral forms and information.

Simple extractions

Here at Lindi we are experienced in gentle tooth removal. A skilled extraction reduces time in the chair as well as post op discomfort. It also preserves tissues for any future implant work.

Complex extractions

Sometimes your tooth requires a degree of extra skill to undertake e.g. retained roots, fractured teeth or certain medical conditions.

Surgical extraction

When a tooth is badly fractured or buried a more involvement approach is required which may require bone removal and sutures (stitches)

This is also the case if a dentist has failed to remove the tooth completely and parts of the root remain.

Wisdom tooth extraction

Some teeth are straightforward, others can be more challenging and require more skill, including wisdom teeth. Dr Hannah McKinnon will assess each wisdom tooth on an individual basis and can discuss anaesthetic options available.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Often the jaws are too small to accommodate all the teeth. There may not be enough space for the wisdom teeth to come through completely. They are said to have become impacted (stuck). This can become painful.

Reasons for the removal of wisdom teeth

• the most common reason is repeated infections (pericoronitis) of the gum overlying a wisdom tooth
• decay in the wisdom tooth, which your dentist cannot fill
• decay in the tooth in front of the wisdom tooth. The dentist can’t fill this tooth properly until the wisdom tooth is removed
• infection (abscess) at the bottom of the wisdom tooth root
• when the molar tooth next to the wisdom tooth is affected by gum (periodontal) disease

Here at Lindi Dental, we will only recommend removal of your wisdom teeth when the benefits of taking the tooth out are greater than the risks of leaving the tooth where it is. The NICE guidelines (www.nice.com) help me make that decision.

The removal of wisdom teeth

Some wisdom teeth are harder to take out than others. It can involve an incision in the gum close to the tooth. Sometimes some bone around the tooth is taken away with a drill and the tooth may be cut into smaller pieces. This makes removing the tooth and root easier. Stitches will be placed in the area which dissolve by themselves in one to two weeks.

The procedure can be carried out with just an injection in the gum to numb the area (local anaesthetic), with or without sedation. General anaesthetic may be suggested if the complexity of the procedure or the level of anxiety are high.

Why do we use sedation?

Many people are anxious about the prospect of having surgery in the mouth, and think that the only alternative to just having treatment with a local anaesthetic (numbing injection in the gum) is to have a general anaesthetic. Not only does that mean a visit to hospital, but general anaesthetic is not completely safe, contributes to long hospital waiting lists and is unnecessarily expensive to the local health economy.

Conscious sedation is a good alternative to this and can be used to help deliver most oral surgery treatments. This allows the majority of patients to relax enough to undergo treatment they feel wouldn’t be possible without it.

What types of sedation are there?

There are many types of sedation available: Dr McKinnon offers treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation.

Intravenous sedation (IV)

This is used to help relax patients during minor surgical procedures. The sedative (usually a benzodiazepine “Valium” drug) is given by injection into a vein (intravenous) in the arm or the back of a hand. People remain conscious at all times and are able to talk and respond to instructions, but usually remain unaware of the procedure they are having. The sedative has no painkilling effect so a local anaesthetic (a numbing injection into the gum) is still necessary so that the treatment can be carried out.

For more information on dental sedation please visit Oral Surgery Solutions.

An effective way to save your own tooth and prevent extraction.

What causes the need for root canal treatment?

Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp, containing nerves and blood vessels. When this pulp becomes infected or inflamed — usually due to deep decay, a cracked tooth, repeated dental procedures, or an old filling that’s failed — it can cause significant pain and, if left untreated, lead to a dental abscess. Root canal treatment removes the source of the problem and saves the tooth itself.

What happens during treatment

Root canal treatment is usually completed over one or two visits, depending on the complexity of the tooth:

1. Assessment and anaesthetic – We start with an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and the extent of any infection. The area is then numbed with local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure itself.
2. Accessing the tooth – A small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the infected pulp.
3. Removing the infected tissue – Using fine instruments, we carefully remove the damaged pulp from inside the tooth and its root canals.
4. Cleaning and shaping – The canals are thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and shaped to prepare them for filling.
5. Filling and sealing – The empty canal is filled with a biocompatible material to prevent bacteria re-entering, and the access hole is sealed.
6. Restoring the tooth – Because a root-treated tooth can become more brittle over time, it will usually need a filling or a crown afterwards to protect it and restore full chewing strength.

What to expect after treatment

Most patients feel little to no pain during the procedure itself thanks to the anaesthetic. It’s normal to experience some mild soreness or tenderness in the tooth and surrounding gum for a few days afterwards, similar to what you’d feel after a filling — this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relief. We’ll let you know if you need to avoid chewing on that side until any final restoration (such as a crown) is fitted.

Why choose root canal treatment over extraction?

• Saves your natural tooth and preserves your bite
• Prevents infection from spreading to surrounding teeth and bone
• Avoids the cost and time of tooth replacement
• Completed comfortably under local anaesthetic, usually in one or two visits

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, don’t wait — early treatment is simpler, faster, and more comfortable.

Straighter teeth, without anyone noticing

Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to gradually shift your teeth into their ideal position — no metal brackets, no wires, no awkward smiles in the meantime. Each set of aligners is virtually invisible and fully removable, so you can eat, brush, and floss exactly as you did before.

We use digital scanning to map out your entire treatment from start to finish, so you can see how your smile will change before you even begin.

Why patients love Invisalign:

• Nearly invisible — most people won’t notice you’re wearing them
• Removable for eating, drinking, and special occasions
• No metal wires or brackets to irritate your mouth
• Fewer appointments than traditional braces
• Suitable for most mild to moderate alignment issues

Whether you’re looking to correct crowding, gaps, or a misaligned bite, we’ll create a plan tailored to your smile goals.

Missing teeth affect more than your smile — they can make eating, speaking, and everyday confidence harder too. Our dentures are custom-fitted to your mouth for a natural look and a secure, comfortable fit.

Whether you need a full set to replace all your teeth or a partial denture to fill in gaps, we’ll take the time to get the fit, colour, and shape right, so they feel and look like your own teeth.

Types of dentures we offer:

• Full dentures – for patients missing all their upper or lower teeth
• Partial dentures – for patients with some natural teeth remaining
• Implant-retained dentures – for extra stability and confidence

We’ll also guide you through the adjustment period and offer follow-up fittings to make sure your dentures stay comfortable over time.

Close the gap, restore your bite

A dental bridge is a fixed solution for replacing one or more missing teeth. It “bridges” the gap by anchoring a replacement tooth to the healthy teeth (or implants) on either side, restoring your ability to chew and speak naturally while keeping your smile looking complete.

Unlike removable options, a bridge stays firmly in place — there’s nothing to take out at night, and no adjustment period for eating your favourite foods.

Benefits of a dental bridge:

• Restores your smile and natural bite
• Prevents surrounding teeth from shifting into the gap
• Fixed in place — no tooth removal required
• Custom-shaded and shaped to match your natural teeth

We’ll assess your mouth and recommend whether a traditional, cantilever, or implant-supported bridge is the best fit for you.

Dental emergencies don’t wait for a convenient time, and neither should you. Whether it’s a knocked-out tooth, a lost filling, a broken crown, or sudden, severe tooth pain, we offer emergency appointments to get you seen and out of pain as quickly as possible.

Common dental emergencies we treat:

• Severe toothache or infection
• Knocked-out or broken teeth
• Lost fillings or crowns
• Broken dentures or bridges
• Bleeding or trauma to the mouth