New patients
Your first visit is a chat, an examination and a plan. Here is what happens, how long it takes and what it costs.
Your first visit
Before you arrive
We check your contact details and medical history forms. Please fill them in online beforehand. If you have not, we will have a paper copy ready.
You arrive
Ring the buzzer and one of the team will greet you. We show you to the lounge area, the location of our facilities and offer you a drink. Your dentist is told you are here.
A chat first
Your dentist comes to meet you in the waiting room. If it is free of other patients, you talk there before going into the surgery, which feels less clinical. They start with the non-clinical questions to get to know you, then what brought you to us.
The examination
Your dentist checks your mouth, jaw, gums and teeth, and tells you what they find in plain words, not technical ones. There is more on this below.
X-rays, for adults
They are taken on the day and shown to you on the monitor. Your dentist explains what they show, and you can ask as many questions as you like.
Your plan
If you need treatment, your dentist goes through the options and what each involves. We tell you the price before anything starts. You decide.
What the exam covers
Face, jaw and neck
We check the muscles you chew with and the glands in your neck for swelling, pain or anything that looks uneven. We look at how your jaw moves and note any clicks or tenderness.
Lips, cheeks, tongue and throat
Every soft surface is checked carefully. This includes a check for signs of oral cancer.
Teeth
We check each tooth surface for decay, cracks and worn enamel, look at existing fillings and crowns, and note any signs of grinding. Everything is recorded in terms you can follow.
Gums
For adults, a probe measures plaque, inflammation and bleeding, and whether there are any signs of receding gums, which can cause sensitivity. For under 18s, we check for inflammation, bleeding and plaque.
X-rays
Adults have X-rays on each side as a starting point for your records. They are processed instantly, and they are a very low dose.
Advice for home
Diet advice and a demonstration of brushing and flossing where it would help, on models if you prefer.
What it costs
Every other price is on our services and prices page.
| Service | Price |
| Your first visit | |
| New patient full examination including X-Rays (18+) | £115 |
| New patient full examination for 16 and 17 year olds | £50 |
| New patient full examination for children under 16 | £35 |
| New patient full examination & Oral Hygiene Scale and Polish with Dentist Amanda (18+) | £189 |
If you miss an appointment or give us less than 48 hours’ notice, we may charge. For a check-up or hygiene visit, the charge is the appointment fee. For treatment, it depends on the time lost.
What to bring
- Your completed forms, if you did them online. If not, your contact details, next of kin and medical history, including a full list of your medication.
- Any dental appliance you have: mouthguard, dentures or retainer.
- Any emergency medication you may need, such as an asthma inhaler, epilepsy drugs or insulin.
- A way to pay. We take all cards including AMEX, and cash. We do not take cheques, and bank transfer is not our preferred way for new patients.
If the dentist is not your favourite place
We promise not to rush and to approach treatment in a way that suits you. The chat in the waiting room before you go in is there for exactly that reason. See more of our little gestures.
Who you will meet
Rob and Amanda are our dentists, and you can choose either. They work on different days, so it often comes down to which day suits you. Both see children, at any age.
With Rob, a first visit is the examination only, with no clean or treatment. With Amanda, our Associate Dentist, a clean or treatment can be part of the visit if time allows.
Cleans are also booked with our hygienist, Mandana. Francesca, our Practice Manager, is usually the first person you speak to. Meet everyone on our team page.
Finding us
248 Ballards Lane, London N12 0EP
020 8446 5880
We are at the North Finchley end of Ballards Lane, by the Tally Ho corner. Look for us just before the bus depot, with the big Waitrose on the opposite side. We are on the Whetstone side, not towards Golders Green.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Closed at weekends. Early morning and late evening appointments are available on request.
Parking
Our driveway has room for two cars. Side roads and the main road are free. Waitrose lets customers park for up to an hour and a half, and it is a two minute walk.
Questions new patients ask
How long is the first appointment?
One hour for adults, so there is time for the exam, the X-rays and your questions without being rushed. For under 18s it is 30 minutes.
Can I have a clean at the same visit?
Yes. With Amanda, a clean can be part of the visit if time allows. With Rob, the first visit is the examination only, and cleans are booked with the hygienist.
Will I have treatment at the first visit?
Usually not. Your dentist tells you what you need, and we book the right amount of time for it. With Amanda, treatment may happen on the day if time permits, but it is not guaranteed.
Do I have to have X-rays?
It is always your choice, but without X-rays we cannot make a full diagnosis. We recommend them for adults at the first visit. They are a very low dose, and they give us a starting point for your records. If you have had X-rays in the last six months, you can send them to us instead. The cost of the appointment stays the same, because we still take time to go through them with you. If you are pregnant, we take them at your next appointment after the baby is born. If X-rays worry you, say so and we will talk it through.
Do I need records from my last dentist?
Usually not. We create our own record of your dental health here. If you have had jaw surgery, implants or other complex treatment, or gum disease that has caused bone loss, it may help to have that information to compare with.
Can I have impressions for a mouthguard?
Yes, at the first appointment if it suits.
Can I brush my teeth before my appointment?
Yes. We have facilities. Bring your own brush or we will give you a disposable one.
Should I bring my or my child's toothbrush?
Only if you would like advice on it. Otherwise we use models to show brushing and the areas to work on.
How often will I need a check-up?
For adults, every six months is typical. Some people need to come every three months, and some only once a year. For under 18s, it is every six months, or three months if there is a higher risk of problems. Your dentist tells you which applies to you.