When did our prices change?

Our private fees and NHS fees changed on the 1/4/2025.  While all NHS fees increased for patients,  we are pleased to say not all private fees increased.  For more information on existing and future changes, see the Fees and News pages.

Are we taking on new customers?

This changes often. Please check our New Patients page for the current information.

We are accepting private dental and hygiene patients (see FAQ below). As of 1st September 2025, we have also been accepting new NHS children.

Are we taking on new Private customers?

We have been admitting new private hygiene customers for a while under the 'direct-access' method, i.e. a private hygiene customer with no routine dentist/therapist assigned.

On the 1st April 2025 we reopened the private dentist list.  A dentist-therapist registration form can be found here.  

Private hygiene customers that would like to have a dental check-up can do so:

• If you have seen our private hygienist within the last 6 months please book for a 'routine/existing' (20 minute) appointment with the dental therapist*, either by telephoning the reception team during office hours, or anytime via ONLINE booking. 
• If you last saw the private therapist over 6 months ago, then please book for a 'new patient' (30 minute) appointment with the dental therapist*, either by telephoning the reception team during office hours, or anytime via ONLINE booking. 

* In time we hope to add more online appointments, including those for a private dentist check-up appointment.

Existing NHS customers wishing to join the private dentist-therapist list are invited to fill in the registration form should they wish.  They have always been welcome to join the private hygienist list.

Please call the reception team is you require more details.

Will I receive reminders about my appointment?

If we have a mobile phone number or email to contact you with - and that number/email is not blocked or listed as spam, you will receive automated reminders. We use a digital communications triage to remind patients of their appointment. You will receive an email 4 weeks and 1 week prior to the appointment, followed by an SMS text 2 days before the appointment.

We recommend calling reception (01449 771 700), if you want to check the date and time of your appointment in the meantime or you want to provide/update your email or mobile number, or use our webform here.

Can I receive SMS text messages to my landline number?

Sorry no, the UK telecommunication landline networks no longer support SMS text (text to speech) messages.  Or if they do, the situation is likely to change by early 2027.

Wedgwood House Dental Practice will by default only send SMS text messages to mobile numbers.

Why do I see a new dentist every year?

We provide both NHS and private services at Wedgwood House. If you are an NHS patient, you may be booked in with one of our Foundation Dentists (FDs) rather than an Associate Dentist or dental Therapist.

Foundation Dentists are newly qualified dentists, who typically do a one year on placement with the dental practice before moving on elsewhere. Sometimes, they choose to stay on longer as an Associate Dentist.

On the rare occasion, we may use a locum dentist, therapist or hygienist. Patients would be made aware of changes.

What is the difference between an Associate Dentist and a Foundation Dentist?

A Foundation Dentist (FD) is a newly qualified dentist (post 5 years of intense dentistry school with practical training!) whereas, an Associate Dentist has been practising for a number of years. Foundation Dentists typically only spend one year at the dental practice. Sometimes they choose to stay on longer as an Associate Dentist. When FDs first come to the practice, we allow for lengthy appointments for the benefit of their training. Times will improve once they have settled. 

We are lucky to have our FDs at Wedgwood House Dental Practice and we celebrate their work and nurture them in their early career. 
Thanks to their work, we can serve many more NHS patients!

What is the difference between a Dentist and a Dental Therapist?

A dentist and a dental therapist can both conduct a dental examination of a patient.  Each can fill teeth.  A dental therapist can extract children's teeth whereas, a dentist can extract child and adult teeth.  Only dentists can perform complex treatments such as root canal therapy, crowns, bridges and dentures, and prescribe medicines as part of dental treatment.  The GDC scope of practice explains in detail.

Though not always the case, some UK registered (GDC registered) dental therapists are actually fully trained dentists with many years of experience working as a dentist overseas.

During a dental checkup with a dental therapist, should you need follow up complex treatment (as mentioned above) they will refer you to one of our Wedgwood House dentists.

How often do I have to come for a checkup?

We see patients based on National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, between 3 and 24 months.   And the period between routine appointments could become longer on the NHS as their guidelines change.

Our dentists and dental therapists typically recommend that children visit the practice every 6 months and adults visit at least once a year to have the condition of their teeth checked. If you have sensitive teeth or are at risk of dental problems, you may be asked to visit more frequently and/or have dental hygiene therapy.

Please always follow the recommendations of your dentist-therapist and dental hygienist. If you unsure when you are next due for a check-up, please call reception to advise you.

I only want to see the hygienist for Airflow. Is this possible?

Yes, this is possible. You can register to see our dental hygienist (or dental therapist in their capacity as hygienist) via the "direct-access" method or by contacting reception.

You do not need to be registered with one of our dentists or dental therapist to see the hygienist.  However, please also note that seeing a hygienist does not automatically register you with a dentist/therapist - please see the registration form. See hygienist information.
 

What happens if I forget my NHS exemption or Universal Credit information?

Some NHS patients may be eligible for free or reduced-cost NHS dental treatment. To qualify, they must have a valid exemption at the start of their dental treatment (see NHS document HC11 for details). Patients must provide proof of eligibility by giving their National Insurance Number and noting their exemption on the FP17 NHS consent form when entering the practice. 

If unsure of your entitlement, it is best to pay upfront and then apply for a refund via the HC5(D) form within three months of receiving treatment. Universal Credit recipients may still need to pay, as not all are eligible for free dental care.

Sometimes what used to be a valid exemption changes.  For example, as of the 6th April 2025, theTax Credit Exemption certificate will no longer entitle patients to free NHS treatment.

NHS checks are routinely done to prevent fraud. If you forget to bring your details for the exemption on the day of your appointment, you are signing the FP17 form under your own discretion. Be aware that fraudulent claims may result in a £100 (cost can change, set by UK government) Penalty Charge Notice plus treatment costs.

If NHS patients have any questions about exemption certificates, the NHS authority ask that patients speak to the issuer of their respective benefit (not the dental practice please).
 

What happens if I miss an appointment?

A Failure to Attend (FTA), or a failure to warn us that you could not attend, will appear on your file if you miss an appointment. This could result in your eventual removal from our NHS list. Private patients may incur a charge if they miss an appointment.

If you miss an NHS appointment, a Failure to Attend (FTA) notice will appear on your file, but we will rebook the appointment for you without charge. However, if you fail to attend another appointment within a two-year period, you will automatically be removed from our NHS list and may only be able to attend as an independent patient subject to dentist availability (i.e. having one-off emergency appointments and no check-ups).

Appointments with the private hygienist normally require a financial deposit. Should you fail to attend a private dentist, therapist or hygienist appointment, or are too late arriving, or cancel within 24 working hours of the appointment, you will be charged a fee (see private price guide) and our practice information leaflet.

Read our "Practice Information Leaflet" on the Pre-Appointment information page to find out more about FTA's.

Don't forget, a child's attendance is the responsibility of their parent or guardian.  No attendance will be seen as "was not brought".

Online booking allows me to book ANY clinician, not just my usual dentist/therapist/hygienist.  What do I do?

A limitation of our private online booking system, is that it does not check who is your regular dentist/therapist/hygienist.  When searching for the next available date&time it defaults to 'any provider'.  So to maintain the continuity of your dental journey, please can you select your regular clinician.  We appreciate sometimes your personal diary can drive a change, but we would then expect you to re-book future appointments with your regular clinician.  

Should you wish to change your regular clinician,  discuss your options with the reception team 01449 771 700 first.   Sometimes changes will be refused because e.g. your dental health requires someone with dental implant knowledge, or the clinician has no availability to see new patients on the NHS.

I am a private adult with private children, but want to see a different clinican?

Should you have children seen privately enjoying a discounted fee, the expectation is that your (adult) appointment will be with the same clinician and usually at the same time.  Switching of clinicians can result in the removal of child private fee discounts.

I have recently had a baby. When should I book their first appointment?

It is recommended that children are taken to the dentist once their first tooth comes through and by the age of one.   NHS research shows teaching parents/guardians the benefits of child dental care warrants having dental checkups even earlier.

Please note that new mothers (existing NHS patients) are entitled to free NHS dental treatment, along with free prescriptions, for the duration of their pregnancy and for 12 months after their baby's birth.
 

Are you open at weekends?

On weekends, we are usually closed and do not offer emergency appointments.  (In future, private payment plan patients will have worldwide accident and emergency cover at other dental practices.)

We have an occasional private treatment day which falls on a Saturday.  On these occasions, patients can only enter the practice by pre-arranged appointment, as organised by the dentists and receptionist team. 

How much will my appointment cost?

You can view our price guide for NHS and private appointment and treatments on our fees page.

We expect NHS prices to increase every April.  Even though the cost of your treatment to the dental practice varies (normally increases) all the time, the price NHS customers pay remains static in a given year for the treatments they have done - as specified by the English government.

We last reviewed our private prices in April 2025, so that we can continue to offer high-quality services at competitive prices whilst also paying our staff and suppliers.  

Sometimes we state "from" on our private price guide, this is because there are treatment options that will need to be discussed with you during your dental assessment, for example what type of crown do you prefer on your dental implant.  Occasionally we don't know how much a laboratory made item of work will cost until it is ordered because it uses precious metals such as gold.  (The international price of gold has never been higher, 1/4/2025.)

After a check-up appointment, should you need additional treatment your dentist or dental therapist will explain the treatment options with recommendations, you will decided what if anything is to be done with an understanding of future treatment costs and possible complications.

Can I spread the cost of my private appointments?

In future, Wedgwood House Dental Practice intends to have a private payment plan to spread the cost of private check-ups and hygiene treatment.  We are surveying our customers to determine whether such a scheme would be attractive to them.  If you would like to state your interest please click here.

How long do I have to await for my appointment to start?

You will be given an expected start-of-appointment time when making you booking.  If you arrive early, it is unlikely you will be immediately asked to start your appointment because we are very busy - please do enjoy our selection of magazines or (ground floor) TV to pass the time comfortably.  Those people who drive to the dental practice and need to find parking, we always recommend to plan their journey so as not to be late.

Typically 30-44% of appointments start on time [4Q2025 WHDP survey].  On average patients don't wait longer than 5 minutes.   (Google comments that everyone has to wait 30 mins or more are simply untrue.)

Sometimes a prior appointment to yours will be prolonged e.g. due to difficult dental procedure.  Our Foundation Dentists can experience such situations particularly in the period September to April.

An exact measurement of waiting times is difficult.  It depends when the clinician opens the 'medical history' form on their computer.  Of course a clinician who welcomes you into their room and chats with you before opening such form can appear to have longer waiting times. In practice, we find most patients love their clinicians and the care they show for their personal wellbeing and dental health.