St Faith Dental Practice

Specialist dentistry

Specialist dentistry

Specialist Dentistry at St Faith Dental Clinic

Providing the highest standard of specialist dentistry on referral.

St Faith’s Specialists was launched in 2015 providing a comprehensive service for more complex aspects of dentistry that general dentists are unable to help with.

Since then we have grown from strength to strength and between us we are able to address almost any dental problem. You can ask your own dentist for a referral to see us.

If you are not registered, our general dentist can see you to assess your needs.

Our specialist areas

We are pleased to offer a full range of independent specialist services on referral.

Endodontics

The study and treatment of the dental pulp (nerve) commonly referred to as root canal treatment. This is usually carried out on teeth causing tooth ache or where the dental pulp (nerve) is already dead.

The other option in these circumstances is usually removal of the tooth. Root canal treatment typically involves two visits. The anatomy of the root canal system varies greatly, and it can be a real challenge to get the best possible result.

Specialist endodontists often use microscopy and more sophisticated techniques than general dentists.

Jenny Lai

Specialist in Endodontics
GDC No: 74402

Our Specialist endodontist Jenny Lai is highly skilled and experienced in the field of endodontics and has saved and restored teeth for many patients.

Periodontology

The study and treatment of the structures around the tooth, i.e. the gum and underlying ‘periodontium’ that supports the tooth. This usually involves the treatment of periodontitis or ‘gum disease’ (used to be termed pyorrhoea). If left untreated, this can lead to the loosening and ultimately the loss of teeth.

Treatment is usually over a number of visits, and typically involves thorough cleaning of the root surfaces, sometimes including minor surgery. A thorough course of treatment by a specialist periodontologist can be the difference between keeping one’s own teeth for a lifetime and never ending dental problems.

Alex Shokry

Specialist in Periodontics
GDC No: 245622

Our Specialist periodontist Alex Shokry is highly experienced at identifying, preventing and treating all aspects of gum disease. He can quickly detect and address any periodontal issues, enabling patients to maintain their natural teeth for as long as possible.

Orthodontics

The prevention and correction of irregular teeth. This is often carried out by way of fixed appliances – often referred to as ‘railway tracks’.

Advances in techniques mean that this can often now be accomplished with transparent ‘splints’. Orthodontics is not only for children, and the alignment of teeth can be improved at any time of life.

Compared to veneers or crowns which involve cutting away tooth material, Orthodontics can be the least invasive way to improve your smile.

Alex Cash

Specialist in Orthodontics
GDC No: 69849

Our Specialist orthodontist Alex Cash is one of the foremost orthodontists in the south east. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the field, he can straighten the smiles of patients with significantly misaligned, crowded, crooked or unevenly spaced teeth.

Paedodontics

The branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. Whilst simply removing deciduous /baby/milk teeth is often the simplest way to prevent further dental symptoms, this is often unpleasant for the child, can make alignment of the adult teeth more complex, and can often be avoided by more sophisticated procedures that are usually available on the NHS.

Deciduous teeth can undergo the equivalent of root treatment and even be crowned.

Saroj Prajapati

Paediatric Dentist
GDC No: 206163

Saroj Prajapati has worked as a speciality paediatric dentist at the world-famous Great Ormond Street Hospital. She has over 13 years experience in helping transform anxious youngsters to self-confident adolescents and is able to provide a full range of paediatric care including root treatment and crowns on deciduous teeth.

Oral Surgery

The branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions requiring surgical intervention. This largely comprises of tooth removal but also encompasses procedures such as exposure of impacted teeth that can then be aligned orthodontically, biopsies where a sample of tissue is taken to help diagnose a condition, grafting where materials are used to enhance the remaining bone and gum and dental implant placement.

The stated aim at the clinic is to perform such procedures as swiftly, simply and painlessly as possible.

Richard Simons

Specialist Oral Surgeon
GDC No: 69849

Our Specialist oral surgeon Richard Simons has developed an enviable reputation in the field of cosmetic dentistry, and has had a special interest in dental implantology stretching back over two decades.

Implantology

The study and treatment involving endosseous dental implants. Dental implants are best thought of as artificial roots. It is usual to place these, often under a simple local anaesthetic, and then leave them for a period of eight weeks whilst ‘osseointegration’ occurs.

At that stage, impressions are taken and the final crowns, bridges or ‘clip on’ dentures are fitted two to four weeks later. It is sometimes possible to fit temporary crowns or bridges at the same time as the implants are placed.

The practice will provide a quote of exactly how much the suggested treatment will cost. The stated aim at the clinic is to perform such procedures as swiftly, simply and painlessly as possible.

Richard Simons

Specialist Oral Surgeon
GDC No: 69849

Our Specialist oral surgeon Richard Simons has had a special interest in dental implantology stretching back over two decades. He trained at the world famous Branemark institute in Gothenburg Sweden and was the first in the country to provide the revolutionary Branemark Novum Same Day Teeth.

Peri-implantitis

Peri-implantitis is inflammation around the supporting structures of a dental implant, causing loss of attachment. It is in many ways analogous to ‘periodontitis’ (‘gum disease’) around teeth, but can be very challenging to successfully treat.

There are relatively few dentists who have the experience and skill to address this condition properly.

Alex Shokry

Specialist in Periodontics
GDC No: 245622

Our Specialist periodontist Alex Shokry is highly experienced at identifying, preventing and treating all aspects of gum disease. Alex enjoys every facet of his craft from the non-surgical management pathway to the regenerative, periodontal plastic surgery and management of inflammation around implant domains.

As well as seeing our own patients, our Specialists accept referrals from other dental practices. If you would like to refer a patient to us for specialist treatment please visit our referrals page and use the forms provided.

Unfortunately NHS Commissioning standards have changed

We are now obliged to carry out all NHS treatment on under 12’s using inhalation sedation only.

This limits the types of treatment that we may be able to carry out on NHS contract, and regrettably we cannot guarantee that we will be able to complete all of the treatment you have been referred for.

We remain compliant with National ‘IACSD’ sedation guidelines which allow us the clinical freedom to use -where necessary -alternative ‘advanced’ sedation techniques on a non- NHS (private) basis.

If it looks like treatment will not be successful under ‘basic’ sedation, the options will be to refer you onward to Community Dental Service or Hospital (where facilities allow) or back to your own dentist for the treatment to be attempted under local anasethetic, or to discuss re-referral on a private basis.

We wish to make clear that this situation is purely as a result of NHS commissioning and completely beyond our control, but assure you of our best efforts in continuing to provide high standards in NHS treatment where possible.