Back to the Dentist, Over the Bridge

Begin by phoning 01382 477350 or sending a WhatsApp message to 07984 709110, and let us know roughly how many years it's been and how the idea of coming in makes you feel. Your first visit can be nothing more than a conversation, with no need to go near the chair, if that would help. Many people across Broughty Ferry and Dundee have left it a long time, and you won't be lectured by anyone here. After we've had a look, we'll sort everything into order so you can see what needs attention now and what can safely wait.

Often, yes. A small chip is usually rebuilt with tooth-coloured bonding at that same appointment, while a larger break might be given a filling or a core build-up. Where a crown is needed, a temporary one goes on to protect the tooth while the permanent crown is being made. The emergency appointment costs £70, and you'll have the price of the permanent repair in writing before it goes ahead.

The condition of the teeth on each side of the gap is usually the deciding factor. If they're sound and unfilled, a resin-retained bridge or an implant leaves them untouched, whereas a conventional bridge means shaping them down for crowns. An implant and crown, from £2,605, stands on its own and helps keep the bone in the gap, though it does mean minor surgery and several months of healing. The resin-retained bridge is the faster and cheaper route. All three options are weighed up in our guide to implants, bridges and dentures.

Neither is right for everyone. The clip-in denture costs less and is taken out to clean; fixed teeth remain in place and feel closer to natural teeth. Implant-retained dentures start from £8,500 for each jaw, resting on two to four implants, and fixed full-arch teeth from £9,300 for each arch. Fixed teeth sit on four implants, or on anywhere from four to six if you're on the Same-Day Fixed Teeth or Premium Guided Zirconia pathway. ¹ The fixed option demands more bone, or implants angled to compensate, plus a little more work keeping the underside clean. What your scan shows, what you want to spend and how you feel about removing teeth at bedtime all come into the decision, and we'll set the two options out side by side when you come in for your consultation.

No. A new denture is made for you, with the clip housings built in from the start. Converting an old one seldom produces a precise, durable fit, and ageing acrylic has a habit of cracking around the attachments. That said, your present denture still earns its keep: you'll wear it during the healing period, often with a soft temporary liner, and many people hang on to it afterwards as a back-up.

Yes. The majority of broken dentures can be mended, and a tooth can be added to one you already have for £105. Where the problem is looseness rather than breakage, a chairside reline (£110) refits the inner surface to your gums in a single appointment. Resist the temptation to glue it at home: household adhesives damage acrylic and can rule out a proper repair altogether. Bring all the pieces with you.