Most patients find the appointment comfortable. Because little or no enamel is removed, many cases need no injection at all. You may feel pressure while the composite is shaped and some coolness during drying. If a veneer extends close to the gum or the tooth is sensitive, we numb the area first.
They use the same material. Composite bonding adds resin to part of a tooth, such as a chip or small gap. A composite veneer covers the whole visible front surface, so colour, shape and proportion all change together. Bonding is £175 or £350 per tooth; composite veneers are £350–£500 per tooth.
Composite veneers are sculpted directly onto the tooth in one visit, usually with little or no enamel removal, and can be repaired in the chair. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory over two visits, usually need some enamel preparation, resist staining better and often last longer. Composite costs £350–£500 per tooth; porcelain £750–£1,050.
At Dental & Wellness London, composite veneers cost £350–£500 per tooth, depending on how much shape change and shade layering each tooth needs. The consultation is £65. Every plan is priced tooth by tooth in writing, and 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo is available, subject to status.
Not always. Very early decay that is confined to the enamel can sometimes be stopped with fluoride, diet changes and closer monitoring. Once decay has reached the dentine or caused a hole, a filling is usually needed. We explain what we see on your X-rays and, where watching is reasonable, offer that option.
Composite is available in many shades and can be layered to mimic the translucency of enamel, so a well-placed white filling is difficult to see. On front teeth we treat colour matching as a priority. Because composite does not respond to whitening, we usually whiten before matching any visible front-tooth fillings.
Yes, if you choose to, usually for appearance or personal preference. We do not advise removing sound amalgam fillings for general-health reasons. Where removal is chosen, we follow recognised precautions to reduce exposure to mercury vapour and particles during the procedure, and we explain these at your assessment at our Islington clinic.
The filling is placed under local anaesthetic, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Mild sensitivity to cold for a week or two afterwards is common. If the tooth aches, feels sharp or the filling seems high when you bite, contact us so we can check and adjust it.
A well-placed composite filling commonly lasts seven to ten years, often longer on front teeth, although results vary. Large fillings on back teeth, grinding, a frequent-sugar diet and missed check-ups shorten their life. Daily cleaning, regular 30-minute hygiene visits and a night guard if you grind all help them last.
For new fillings we use composite as standard: it is mercury-free, bonds to the tooth so less healthy structure is removed, and matches the tooth colour. Amalgam is regarded as safe and effective by mainstream dental bodies, and we do not advise removing sound amalgam fillings for general-health reasons. The choice is about material and appearance, not a health claim.
The cost depends on the size of the cavity and how many surfaces of the tooth are involved, so at Dental & Wellness London we quote it in writing after assessment, before any treatment. The dental examination is £65 and a dental problem assessment £75. If a lab-made restoration is better, ceramic inlays start at £750.
Our clinic is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and on the 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 bus routes. Angel is a 15–20 minute walk. For appointment details aimed at local patients, see our composite bonding Islington page.
If you would like your teeth lighter, yes. Whitening does not change the colour of composite, so we usually whiten first, wait around two weeks for the shade to settle, then match the bonding to your new colour. Teeth whitening at our clinic starts at £450, and we include it in your written plan where it is needed.
Composite can pick up surface stain over time, more readily than porcelain or natural enamel. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking are the usual causes. A good final polish, avoiding strongly coloured food and drink for 48 hours after treatment, and a maintenance polish every year or two keep the surface looking fresh for most patients.
Yes, for small gaps. Composite can be added to the sides of neighbouring teeth to close spaces of a few millimetres while keeping the teeth in proportion. Larger gaps usually look better if the teeth are moved first with aligners, then refined with bonding. Our gappy teeth page explains how we decide between the two.
Typically composite resin for fillings, glass ionomer in some situations, and ceramics such as Emax for inlays, onlays and crowns, all metal-free and tooth-coloured. At our Islington clinic a ceramic inlay is £750, an onlay £850 and a full-ceramic crown up to £1,200. Composite fillings are quoted in writing after assessment.
The NHS provides tooth-coloured fillings where clinically appropriate, but it does not offer biological dentistry as a distinct service. Dental & Wellness London is a private practice and does not provide NHS treatment. A private dental examination with us costs £65 and takes 30 minutes, with a full risk assessment and written plan.
Amalgam releases very small amounts of mercury vapour, and the NHS, the British Dental Association and other major bodies consider it safe for most people. Since 2018, UK use has been limited for children under 15 and pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you have concerns, we will discuss the evidence with you calmly at your examination.
Many do, and so do we when a patient chooses it, using rubber dam isolation, high-volume suction and water cooling. However, UK and international guidance does not recommend removing sound amalgam fillings for general-health reasons, because removal costs healthy tooth structure. We replace amalgam when a filling has failed, for cosmetic reasons, or by informed preference.
Biological dentistry is an approach that emphasises minimally invasive treatment, biocompatible, metal-free materials and informed patient choice, while considering how dental care fits with general health. It is not a recognised specialty in the UK. At Dental & Wellness London in Islington we practise its evidence-based core and avoid claims that dental materials cause or cure disease.
We fit custom devices at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and one stop from Highbury & Islington. The 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 buses stop nearby, and Angel is 15–20 minutes' walk. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm (Tuesday from 9am), by appointment.
A custom device fitted after a proper examination is generally well tolerated. Mild jaw or tooth tenderness in the first weeks is common and usually settles. A small number of people notice longer-term bite changes, which is why we start conservatively, advance gradually and review your bite at regular check-ups.
Usually two to three visits over a few weeks: an examination, a scan or impressions, and a fitting once the laboratory has made the device. The device is then adjusted in small steps over two to four weeks until snoring settles at the smallest effective setting, with a review to check your bite and jaw.
Sleep apnoea is diagnosed and managed by a GP or sleep physician, not a dentist. For some diagnosed patients, a sleep physician recommends an oral appliance as part of their care, usually where CPAP is not suitable. In that case we can make and fit the appliance to their recommendation, while the medical management stays with them.
Yes. Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, which dentists do not diagnose or treat. Your GP assesses your snoring and, if needed, arranges a sleep study. We make a device only after that medical advice, so that quieter snoring never hides a condition that needs medical care.