FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, your confidential information is safe at our dental surgery. We follow standard security protocols to protect patient information.
There are many dental surgeries that offer hygienist services. At Smile Concepts, we have been offering dental hygienist services for many years now.
There are many people who look after their oral hygiene, but maintaining perfect oral hygiene is challenging. It is easy to miss plaque between your teeth. Once plaque calcifies, it leads to tartar and increases the risk of contracting different types of gum disease. Your dental hygienist will look for early signs of gum disease and treat you accordingly.
A dental hygienist is an oral health professional who has obtained training and completed a degree from a recognised University. A dental hygienist works closely with the dentist to look after your gums and helps you maintain oral hygiene. They examine your gums and other soft tissues in your mouth. Once the examination is completed, a dental hygienist will address all areas of concern by removing plaque or other deposits around your teeth or under your gums. Any stains on the surface of your teeth will be cleaned. Finally, a dental hygienist will also show you the best method to floss your teeth and use your toothbrush.
Our dentists believe that electric toothbrushes will greatly improve your dental hygiene. You will still need to use the electric toothbrush for a full two minutes in order to achieve superior oral health benefits.
Our dentists recommend flossing at least once a day to clean between your teeth and under the gum line. Flossing helps clean these areas and prevents colonies of plaque from building up. This protects your gums, teeth and bone.
Yes, X-rays are an important diagnostic tool. We have a modern digital X-ray machine that shows our dentists many conditions that are invisible to the naked eye. Our dentists will also investigate any signs of infection or gum disease around your teeth.
We have multiple payment options for your dental treatment.
  1. Cash -  New Zealand Dollars only
  2. EFTPOS
  3. Credit cards  - Visa, Mastercard and American Express
  4. Apple Pay
  5. Farmers Finance Cards and Q cards
  6. Gem Finance - With 6 months Interest Free* - Apply for Gem Visa now.
  7. afterpay Put your health first. Taking care of yourself is easier now that you can split the cost of your healthcare into 4 instalments.
  8. Build up credit with us via internet banking
The cost of dental treatment is subjective and varies widely. At Smile Concepts,  our dental services are affordable for our community and our dentists are committed to providing you with the best dental services available.
For your first appointment with our dental hygienist, you normally start off with an hour to develop an oral health plan. Subsequent appointments with our dental hygienist will take less time.
Our dental surgery is in full compliance with all health standards recommended by the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA).
Yes, we have sufficient free parking when you come in for your dental treatment. There is also on-street parking available.
Our dentists are busy professionals and we are mindful of their commitments. For all bookings cancelled within 24 hours, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee of $75. Please see our terms of trade by click here.
Please call the reception at our dental surgery to cancel your booking.
When you contact our dental surgery to book your appointment, please tell us what you are looking for. We will then advise you whether you should be examined by our dentist or our dental hygienist.
You can make a booking with our dentist or dental hygienist by calling us, by filling out our appointment form or by starting a live chat with us. Our live chat window is at the lower right corner of our website. If our operator is away, please leave a message and we will get in touch with you.
Regular visits to a dentist are essential for a successful preventative dental program. The idea is to detect any potential dental problems early. These dental visits are affordable and quick. If dental problems are detected late, they will be extensive and expensive. As a rule of thumb, our dentists recommend 6 monthly visits for most people. If you have taken care of your mouth by brushing well and have few fillings, then our dentists recommend a yearly visit. Even if you have dentures, you should visit your dentist once every 2-3 years to detect early signs of mouth disease.
You should avoid vigorous rinsing or gargle for the first 12 hours after the extraction. This is to allow the blood to clot and support active healing. From the next day onwards, use hot salt water to wash your mouth. If there is any pain in subsequent days, you will need to talk to your dentist or visit your dental surgery.
Extensive worldwide research has been conducted on this issue. As of 2016, there is no direct evidence to suggest that silver fillings (amalgam) used by dentists is detrimental to your oral health or general health.
Many dentists use professional teeth whitening systems that will help you get whiter and shinier teeth.
Yes, our dentists do both partial and full dentures to help you with both functional needs and aesthetic needs.
Removal of a wisdom tooth is a subjective decision that is made by your dentist after evaluating the condition of your mouth. Normally, if there is enough room in your mouth, then your dentist will recommend leaving your wisdom tooth as is. If there is limited room in your mouth, then removal is preferred option.
Our dentists will replace any of your old fillings, bleach your teeth and place veneers, if necessary. If your teeth require straightening, our dentists will refer you to a orthodontic specialist. All these procedures together will improve your smile.
There is constant pressure on your dental fillings that is caused by chewing and grinding. During your regular check-up, your dentist will examine your teeth and check for weaknesses in the fillings. If the seal between your tooth enamel and the dental filling is broken, then the fillings need to be replaced.
Our dentists recommend frequent visits to your dental surgery for early detection of any underlying dental problems. An important goal of dentist-patient interaction is education. An area of concern that a patient has, is to be thoroughly discussed with the dentist or dental hygienist in order to bring the patient upto speed with their own health.
There are multiple issues mentioned here. Having said that, the key to a bright and healthy smile is to practice good oral hygiene. Dental cavities and gum disease will lead to serious health problems. You should visit your dentist immediately for a thorough investigation and consequential dental treatment plan.
Our dentists will need to see the state of your teeth and overall oral hygiene in order to recommend an appropriate dental treatment plan. Normally, professional cleaning will remove most external stains caused by food, drink and tobacco. A tooth whitening toothpaste will also remove stains between your dental visits. Internal stains are treated with bleaches, bonds or dental crowns to improve your oral aesthetics.
Modern day dentistry is full of new perspectives and new knowledge. Issues can be viewed from different perspectives. Dentists can also differ on their diagnosis and this can have implications on treatment that is rendered to you. As a patient, you always have an option to get an evaluation by another dentist. The treatment option that is agreed, be it a simple cavity, a root canal or gum treatment, is arrived at after a careful patient-dentist interaction.
Healthy nutrition is the foundation of healthy teeth and pink gums. A well-balanced diet gives your body the nutrients and minerals that are needed to remain strong and resist infections. Infections contribute to gum disease. Foods that are firm and high in fibre help in cleaning your teeth and surrounding tissues. Foods that are sticky and high in starch remain between your teeth and these remnants produce plaque. Replacing fast-food with nutritious food such as fruit and vegetables will help your teeth, oral health and general health.
Bleeding gums indicate an inflammation in your gums. There are multiple possible causes for inflammation of your gums. You should visit your dentist immediately.
You should visit your dentist as early as possible. There are multiple approaches to prevent your cavities from growing and protect your gums from advancing gum disease. Such approaches include assessment of diet and altered cleaning techniques to better access all areas of your mouth. While frequent cleaning at your dental surgery is a good first step, how you maintain oral hygiene is crucial.
Bad breath is an unpleasant condition that everyone has from time to time. There are many underlying causes for bad breath but the most common cause is bacterial deposits on your tongue. As a starting point, our dentists recommend brushing your tongue or using a tongue cleaner. If your bad breath still continues, you should visit your dentist or your dental hygienist.
A missing tooth is normally replaced as the gap left between two teeth causes them to shift towards the space and opens up space between other teeth. There are also certain gum problems that can happen with shifting teeth.