FAQs

If you cannot find the answer to your question, please call us on 020 8500 6789.

We welcome new patients and offer late evenings and Saturday appointments on a private basis as well as NHS appointments on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We will try to accommodate you in order to incorporate dental care into a busy lifestyle with greater ease.

Our patient management system is fully computerized. We believe in providing the best service for our patients using an e-mail and SMS text appointment reminder system.

Treatment cost varies depending on the clinical requirement of each patient. All of our dentists give a written estimate to the patients when necessary, and all the available options are explained during an initial consultation or examination. As a new patient, you have the following choice, however availability of all the types of treatment subject to terms and conditions and availability. Please read the details carefully before you make your choice. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our reception. We are proud of both our Practice reception areas. They are large, airy, and very welcoming. We provide current newspapers and magazines as well as plasma TV for your enjoyment while you wait for your appointment.

  • Failure to attend your appointment or cancellation of your appointment at short notice could result in a discretionary charge.
  • Please be aware that if you fail to attend more than 2 appointments you will not be offered any further appointments.
  • All new patients requiring an emergency dental appointment will be charged a private emergency fee of £65.00 plus any additional treatment costs incurred during the visit.
  • Any new patients joining the practice who do not require an appointment within 48 hours will not be charged an emergency fee.

Patients can send their complaints / constructive criticism using the below Complaint Procedure.

At Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd we believe that if a customer wishes to file a complaint or express dissatisfaction, it should be easy for them to do so. 

It is Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd policy to receive complaints and consider them as an opportunity to learn, adapt, improve, and provide a better service.

In addition, a quick resolution of a complaint, in a way that respects and values the person’s feedback, can be one of the most important factors in recovering the persons confidence in our products and services.  It can also help prevent further escalation of the complaint.  A responsive, efficient, and fair complaint management procedure can assist us to achieve this on each complaint.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that complaints are dealt with consistently and properly and that all comments and complaints are taken seriously.  This organisation expects staff at all levels to be committed to fair, effective and efficient complaint handling.

Our Principles

Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd will ensure that our customers have a right to:

  • Be treated fairly and sensitively
  • Be kept informed about what is happening with their complaint
  • And be advised of the service standards they should expect
  • The timescale for acknowledging and responding to a complaint
  • And any right of appeal.

All staff representing Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd will:

  • Be sensitive to the particular needs of customers
  • Treat complaints as confidential, where possible
  • Be accessible and clearly identified.

Our policy will:

  • Be open, easily accessible, and widely promoted to all our customers and those who represent them
  • Be easy to understand and use by all customers and employees
  • Set out how to complain and how a complaint should be handled.

Complaints Contact Details

Name: Nicki Isagba – Complaints Manager

Telephone:020 8500 6789 

E-mail:  [email protected]

Address: 140 Tomswood Hill, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2QP

Web: www.bluebelldp.co.uk

Complaint Management System 

All complaints will be recorded on both the client file and the complaint management system.  This is a software system we have designed in house to enable us to track the complaint and use the management information for future developments, improvements to our products and procedures as well as providing accurate information for external bodies, regulators and our lender partners.

We will confirm the complaint details to the customer in writing (this maybe email / text message or letter depending on the customer’s choice) within 3 working days of receipt.

We will continue to keep the customer informed on the progress of the complaint weekly, in writing, in their preferred method of contact i.e., email or post.

If the complaint involves a third party, such as a manufacturing fault, we will hold the complaint as we see the customer as our customer and work with the manufacture to resolve the fault. We will inform the customer of the third party promptly; including the third-party contact details where applicable.

Oral Complaints

Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd staff who receive a verbal complaint should try to resolve this immediately if possible.

Information is to be recorded on the customers file, including the completion of the complaints form and a letter or email sent to the customer clarifying the complaint and action to be taken including estimated time frames.  This can also be communicated verbally but will always be followed up in writing.  This is to be done within three days of the oral complaint being received.

The complaint is to be discussed with the company complaints manager.

Nicki Isagba is the named person who deals with complaint through the process.  When staff or management receive an oral complaint, both should listen sincerely to the issues raised by the complainant. Any contact with a complainant must be polite, courteous, and sympathetic.  At all times, staff and management must remain calm and respectful.

After discussing the issues raised each staff member or management handling the complaint should suggest an action plan to resolve the complaint.  If this action plan is acceptable, staff or management should clarify the agreement with the complainant and agree on a way in which the results of the complaint will be communicated to the complainant this may mean a meeting or in writing.

If the proposed action plan is not acceptable to the complainant, staff or management should ask the complainant to make their complaint in writing to Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd and provide a copy of our complaint’s procedure and a complaint form.

Written Complaints 

When a complaint is received in writing, it must be forwarded to the named complaints contact, Nicki Isagba Manager of Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd who must enter the details into the complaints log and then send a acknowledge receipt within three working days in order to establish a relationship of confidence with the person who has raised the complaint.

If necessary, further clarification should be obtained from the complainant.  If the complaint is not made by our customer, but is made on their behalf, the customers consent, preferably in writing, must be obtained in advance from the customer.

After receiving the complaint, a copy of the complaint’s procedure must be given to the customer.  Clearly and politely explain the complaints process, the time it may take and realistic expectations.  We may have to arrange a visit to the customer’s home.  This must be arranged within 14-days and confirmed in writing.

Immediately on receipt of the complaint Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd will launch an investigation and within 28-days should be in a position to provide a written explanation to the complainant, either in writing or arranging a meeting to visit the individuals concerned.  On some occasions this may not be possible.  We will write to the customer and explain that we are still investigating, why there is a delay and propose a date that we hope to provide them with an explanation.

Management Information

Complaints are an important management tool which allows us to learn about the products and services we provide. They are a useful source of information about how the customers see our services and how we are serving our customers.

To ensure that Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd can learn from its complaints, the following data should be collected for every complaint received:

  • The name, address and contact details of complainant
  • The name and role of the person internally dealing with the complaint
  • The dates on which the complaint was received and on which it was responded to
  • The nature of the complaint
  • The outcome of the complaint
  • How the complaint was received
  • Remedial/Redress or both, action carried out in response to the complaint
  • Lessons learnt from the complaint.

It is important that complaints information is reported and considered on a regular basis and shared at all levels with Bluebell Dental Practice Ltd & Bluebell Aesthetics Clinic Ltd

 

All new patients requiring an emergency dental appointment will be charged a private emergency fee of £45 plus any additional treatment costs incurred during the visit. Any new patients joining the practice who do not require an appointment within 48 hours will not be charged an emergency fee.

If you are an existing NHS patient, under a current course of treatment with the practice you will not be charged an emergency fee. However, if the emergency is unrelated to the course of treatment you are undertaking a Band 1 Emergency charge will be applied. Band 1 – £25.80, Band 2 – £70.70, Band 3 – £307.00, Exam – £25.80.

Each Dentist has a monthly allocation of NHS funding and NHS funding of treatment which is subject to fund availability. Therefore when we run out of NHS fund allocation we use an alternative option to offer similar treatments on an affordable basis to our NHS patients.

Regular check-ups and hygiene are essential for a sparkling smile and good oral health. With this in mind we have designed the Bluebell® Dental plan to help you budget for your essential dental care needs and have peace of mind that dental accidents and emergencies are covered. The plan allows you to pay for your routine care in affordable monthly installments and gives you access to our portfolio of innovative treatments.

Our dental services are priced depending on the treatment you require and your status with us – i.e. whether you are an existing NHS patient or are booking a private appointment with us. We advise you ask for a full breakdown quote upon booking your appointment.

From standard dental check-ups to innovative treatments aimed at rejuvenating and brightening your smile, our team here at Bluebell Dentistry and Aesthetics boasts a broad portfolio of experience. Some of our core and more popular services include General Dentistry, Periodontics, Dental Hygiene Consultations, Implants, Anti-Aging Treatments, and Invisalign treatments. You can learn more about our services on our website.

With different appointment times available for different clients, including evening and weekend’s which are open to our private patients and the standard weekday opening hours for NHS patients, we will always try to fit you in for an appointment at your earliest convenience based on our calendar and capacity.

We pride ourselves on the feedback we receive from clients – so much so that we have dedicated an entire page of our website to a survey designed specifically for clients to let us know what they thought of our service and their treatment.

Most of our existing testimonials exist on our social media pages, where clients are encouraged to share their experiences and where our practice team will respond to as many comments and reviews as possible. You can find these linked across our entire site.

Yes – our emergency dental treatments and consultations are charged at an emergency fee depending on any treatment you are currently receiving with us. If the treatment is related then the emergency appointment is not chargeable – however if the emergency is unrelated, we will categorise your appointment into one of three bands, each with its own charge. Any additional treatment costs on top of that. If you do have a dental emergency and need to book an appointment, we do ask that you give us a call on 020 8500 6789 rather than going through the online enquiry form, as this will allow us to help you much quicker.

Bluebell Dentistry and Aesthetics is the home of the perfect smile – offering a variety of treatments which can all help to give you back your confidence and not only treat, but educate you on dental hygiene issues which may be causing pain, toothaches, and other ailments. As well as this general dental care, our team are also highly trained in dealing with a vast array of other dental problems – meaning we can help with whatever you need.

Our opening times vary depending on your status with us. NHS clients are welcome to book any appointment during our standard weekday opening hours. These run from 9am to 7pm on a Monday, and 9am to 5pm from Tuesday through to Friday.

Private practice clients benefit from extended hours which include evenings and also appointments on Saturday mornings. These private appointments are also available for emergency treatments where required.

We pride ourselves on offering NHS dental services and a private client experience, enabling us to help restore and smiles and confidence of clients all over Essex. If you are an existing NHS patient of ours then you will already benefit from our NHS service. If you want to apply to be an NHS patient but find that we have run out of funding, then please do get in touch as we often have alternative options which can help us to keep any treatments and consultations affordable for you.

Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten teeth without braces. Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth, without metal or wires.

Invisalign® uses 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position from which a series of custom-made, clear “aligners” are produced. Each “aligner” moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Invisalign® aligners are practically invisible, making Invisalign a seamless fit with your lifestyle and day-to-day interactions with others. Invisalign aligners are removable. Unlike fixed metal braces, you have the flexibility to eat and drink what you want during treatment by simply removing the aligners. And you can also remove the aligners to brush and floss as you normally would for fresh breath and to maintain good oral hygiene. Invisalign aligners are comfortable. Unlike traditional fixed braces, there are no metal brackets or wires that could cause irritation to your mouth. Invisalign allows you to view your virtual results and treatment plan before you even begin treatment so you can see how your straight teeth are expected to look when your treatment is complete.

Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade plastic that is virtually invisible when worn. Aligners are clear and look similar to tooth-whitening trays, but are custom-made for a better fit to move teeth.

Some patients may experience minor aches from using the aligners but this usually occurs for the first couple of days when using a new tray. It is sometimes more comfortable leaving them in than taking them out, as your teeth move back to the original position and so it can hurt.

Usually it is every two weeks, unless you are advised to wear the same aligner for a longer period, if, for example, a tooth is not moving as planned.

Refinements are done at the end of the treatment if teeth have not moved according to plan or the patient would like to see an additional movement. The cost of refinement is included in all Invisalign Full cases; however an additional charge may be applied with the Invisalign Lite treatment.

For years, orthodontists and dentists have used removable appliances for limited treatment. Today, with the application of computer technology and custom manufacturing, Invisalign treats a broader range of cases with greater precision, without extractions being necessary, therefore a far less evasive tooth straightening treatment.

Specific training is needed. All orthodontists and dentists interested in treating patients with Invisalign must attend training before cases will be accepted from their office. Close to 30,000 orthodontists and dentists worldwide are certified to use Invisalign.

Bluebell® Dentistry and Aesthetics has been accredited by Invisalign® with a Diamond Apex status, in recognition of treating more than 2000 cases. This reflects the amount of experience the Doctor has with the Invisalign® product compared to other practitioners.

Like brackets and arch wires are to braces, Invisalign® aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement through controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that stage.

Treatment costs are fully explained at the start of the treatment, there are never any ‘hidden charges’ unlike some other practices. A Treatment Co-ordinator will be assigned to every patient, to ensure all appointments and finance arrangements run smoothly and every patient always has a regular point of contact for advice and support.

For all Invisalign FULL cases, the treatment costs include FREE consultation, regular appointments (as and when required), refinement, retainers, and tooth whitening. In the case of Invisalign LITE cases, the above are also included, however refinement may incur an additional charge.

We are happy to offer a £200 discount on treatment prices for patients wishing to pay in full at the start of their treatment.

The Invisalign ‘Lite treatment is £2,600 and the Invisalign’ Full treatment is £3,500 for 6 months to 24 months. Depending on complexity of case, you may need longer treatment that may incur extra charges.

Subject to credit check and status, we can offer interest free finance with a monthly repayment period between 6 and 12 months. An interest bearing finance arrangement is also available with a monthly repayment period between 24 to 60 months at 14.9% APR. Unlike some other practice, there are NO arrangement fees for this service.

The My Care feature allows users to send photos of their Invisalign treatment progress to their doctor and receive feedback via the Invisalign Virtual Care capability. This feature is only available by invitation from your doctor. Once you receive and accept the invitation, you will be able to access the My Care feature.

You will receive a push notification when it is time to change to your next aligner. This is to remind you to send in a full set of progress photos and videos to your doctor.

A full set of progress photos allows your doctor to make a complete assessment of your progress tracking by viewing various angles of your teeth. While incomplete sets can be sent, it is advised that patients send complete sets to keep their new smile on track.

Once you enter the photo-taking flow, simply follow the instructions provided in each screen and place your teeth with the cheek retractors within the guidance box. Once the camera of your phone detects your teeth in the box, it will take the photo via an automatic 3-second countdown.

Within Invisalign Virtual Care, you are able to communicate with your doctor through the free-text field. This is only for you to exchange communication with your doctor. Align Technology does not engage in or hold responsibility to monitor the exchange of communication between you and your doctor and is not responsible for the content and exchanges between you and the doctor.

Yes, if you opted to receive notifications. You will receive push notifications for the following:

  1. When it’s time for you to send progress photos to your doctor and advance to your next aligner
  2. When your doctor sends “On Track” feedback to you
  3. When your doctor sends new instruction to you
  4. If you do not receive any notifications and would like to, please ensure that the notifications settings on your device are enabled. If you did not initially authorize notifications when registering for the My Invisalign app, you may need to update the notification settings in your phone. Please consult your manufacturer if you need assistance with finding this information, or if you have any other questions concerning your device’s settings

Notifications for taking and sending progress photos are triggered when you enter the required fields in the
aligner settings.

A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural tooth root and is designed to support replacement teeth and used to fill gaps. Almost all dental implants in use today are made from titanium or titanium alloy – materials that have been shown over many years to be well tolerated by bone.

There are two alternatives for replacing missing teeth. Removable dentures are relatively inexpensive and straightforward to provide. However they need to be removed for daily cleaning and many people find them bulky, loose and uncomfortable. Fixed bridges are supported by natural teeth, are non-removable and do not require a surgical procedure. However, a bridge usually involves the preparation of supporting teeth which can necessitate the removal of healthy tooth tissue.

If you are missing just one natural tooth, then one implant is normally all that will be needed to provide a replacement. Larger spaces created by two, three or more missing teeth can also be treated using implants, however the exact number will depend upon the quality and volume of bone at each potential implant site.

A conventional lower denture can be considerably improved with two implants placed beneath the front section – this is called an ‘overdenture’. The same overdenture concept, when used to treat the upper jaw, will usually require more implants as the bone is generally softer. Implant supported overdentures, just like conventional dentures, are still removed for daily cleaning. However the implants make them much more stable when in place. Whilst not suitable for everyone, with proper preparation it is sometimes possible to fit new implant supported teeth on the same day. This fast track treatment can be applied to a number of different situations, however, you do have to balance shorter treatment times against an increased risk of implant failure.

If you have good general health then dental implants will almost certainly work for you. However, habits such as heavy drinking and smoking can increase problems associated with initial healing and may negatively influence the long term health of gum and bone surrounding each implant. If you are aware of bad breath, loose teeth, or have noticed excessive bleeding, particularly when your teeth are cleaned professionally, you may have gum problems. Periodontal (gum) disease is a major cause of bone loss and with reduced bone dental implant treatment can be more complicated. It is rare to have health problems that prevent the use of dental implants but if you have any other complicated medical problems, please speak to Dr Imam as we have considerable experience in handling patients with a complicated medical history.

During your consultation you will be asked detailed questions concerning your medical history and there will be a complete examination of your mouth and remaining teeth to discover the nature and extent of any current dental problems. Routine dental x-rays will be taken and from these images it is possible to judge the height of bone available for implant placement. However, more advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans, are usually needed to determine the equally important bone width. Dr Imam will explain the scans and discuss your suitability for treatment at the consultation appointment.

One stage implant -The implant is placed into a new, healing or healed extraction site and is visible above the gum immediately after placement. The advantage of this method is that a second surgical stage is not necessary to expose the implant. The implant will not normally be ready to support a tooth for several weeks or months.

Two stage implant – The implant is placed into a new, healing or healed extraction site and then covered by a layer of gum so that it cannot be seen – this is the first stage. At the second stage some weeks or months later, the implant is uncovered and components added bringing it above the gum ready to begin placing a new tooth.

Same day implants – This technique is most often used to treat the lower jaw and requires considerable planning before the actual day of surgery. Several implants are installed and a few hours later a complete arch of temporary or permanent teeth can be fixed in place. If temporary teeth are used these will normally be replaced with a permanent bridge after a suitable healing interval. Not all patients are suitable for this style of treatment.

Immediate implant – For this technique a tooth is removed and an implant placed immediately into the extraction site. Depending upon the local bone and soft tissue conditions, the implant surgery may be a one or two stage procedure. Not all patients are suitable for this approach.

All parts of the face can be treated, Volite can be used on the neck area.

The patient has a topical anaesthetic to numb the area and then the filler is placed in different regions of the face.

It is instant, but does improve over a 2 week period as the area becomes more hydrated.

The answer to this varies, it depends on the individual and how long it takes their body to break it down, but on average; Volift is 12 months, Volbella is 12 months, Voluma is 18 months.

Yes, the Juverderm range that we use has hyaluronic acid which occurs naturally in the body .

There are some people who are not suitable for dermal fillers, however a full medical history will be taken at your first appointment.

  • Improve the overall tone and texture of the skin
  • Brighter complexion
  • Reduce the appearance of sun damage and age spots
  • Soften fine lines and wrinkles and slow the ageing process
  • Reduce hyperpigmentation, melasma and acne scars
  • Improve active acne and reduce pore size
  • Stimulate collagen to firm skin

This depends on what skin concern you are trying to address. When treating acne, scarring and pigmentation concerns you will usually require 3 or 4 peels, one month apart.

This does vary but we know it is likely you will start to peel two days after the treatment and it will be mostly finished by day 7. The full effects of The Perfect Peel continue to work at the cellular levels even after peeling has subsided. For this reason we say that full results of the peel will be seen after 28 days, or a full cycle of cellular turnover.

  • Under 18s
  • Open or suspicious lesions
  • Moderate to severe eczema or psoriasis
  • Currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Allergy to any of the ingredients or aspirin

Following a consultation appointment, the treatment appointment takes around 30 minutes, with application taking around 15 minutes. There are several steps for you to carry out at home, which will complete the treatment. Full instructions are given.

The Perfect Peel has been described as the most comfortable peel on the market. This is partly because it is self-limiting, and partly because of the ingredient phenol. Phenol has a mild anaesthetic property, which makes each pass of the peel more comfortable.

Immediately following the treatment, skin will be red. On Day 3 skin will begin to peel in large patches. Peeling will have finished by about day 6-7.

The Perfect Peel may be applied initially every 4 weeks if necessary until the desired results are achieved. After, we recommend once every 3-4 months to maintain improved skin results, and prevent further aging and environmental damage

No specific preconditioning of the skin is required prior to treatment. We recommend stopping use of Retinol 2 weeks prior to the peel. In addition patients on roacctuane must stop use after 6 months prior to treatment in order to achieve desired results.

While liposuction and other fat-reduction programs target and melt away the pockets of subcutaneous fat which collect around the hips, thighs, and stomach, our Emsculpt Neo in Essex targets the hard-to-reach layers of visceral fat deep inside the body and around the organs. This makes Emsculpt Neo a health-boosting as well as a fat-busting treatment option.

As Emsculpt Neo treatment is non-clinical, there is no required recovery or downtime. As such, you can return to normal activity as soon as feel comfortable and able to do so.

The initial results of your treatment will become apparent within 2-4 weeks – with results gradually improving up to around 3 months which is when you will find your results have reached their peak.

A single session of Emsculpt Neo involves lying back and allowing the practitioner to apply the treatment to your pre-discussed target areas. Most clients report that the treatment itself feels much like an intense workout, with no pain expected at all.

Every client is different, with some seeing results after a single session while others may require a few sessions to really reap the benefits. As part of your treatment, you will be invited to a consultation, during which one of our expert practitioners will discuss your ideal results and how many sessions are likely to be required to achieve those results.

Our Emergency fee will cover an appointment at short notice for an access fee of £65 which is designed to get a patient out of immediate pain. Each days appointments are booked in advance so we will need to find ways to accommodate the emergency, in some cases dentist/staff will have to work outside normal hours to accommodate an emergency appointment. All costs for ongoing treatment that maybe needed will be charged accordingly.

Get in touch!

If you have any questions about our services or need an answer to a specific question, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

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