I Want to Fix My Teeth, But I Don’t Know Where to Start
Maybe you have thought about your teeth for years.
You might cover your mouth when you laugh. Avoid showing your teeth in photographs. Chew on one side. Or find yourself looking at other people's smiles and wondering what could be done about yours.
You know you want things to change.
The difficult part is knowing where to start.
For some people, it has been years since they last visited a dentist. For others, there are several things they would like to change and they simply don't know which problem should come first.
If that sounds familiar, you don't need to arrive at Lytham Dental Clinic knowing what treatment you need.
That is what we're here to help you work out.
I'm embarrassed about my teeth
This is something people can find very difficult to say.
Perhaps your teeth have changed slowly over the years. A missing tooth became two. A small problem became something you learned to live with. Or anxiety made it easier to keep putting off an appointment.
Months can turn into years surprisingly quickly.
Then comes another worry: "What will the dentist think?"
Please tell us if you feel embarrassed or worried. You will not be the first person to walk through our doors feeling this way.
Our role isn't to judge how your teeth got to this point. We want to understand where you are now, what is important to you and what we can do to help.
Sometimes, making that first appointment is the hardest part.
You don't need to know which treatment you need
When you start searching online, dentistry can quickly become confusing.
Implants. Crowns. Veneers. Invisalign. Bridges. Dentures. Composite bonding.
Which one do you need?
Perhaps none of them. Perhaps a combination. The important thing is that you shouldn't have to diagnose yourself.
Your first appointment is an opportunity for us to listen.
You can tell us what bothers you about your teeth, whether anything hurts, what you would like to change and what worries you about treatment.
We can then assess your dental health and explain the options that may be suitable for you.
Sometimes the priority is getting your mouth healthy and comfortable. Cosmetic changes can be considered later. In other situations, there may be several possible ways to achieve what you want.
You don't have to decide everything on day one.
What if my teeth are too bad to fix?
When someone has avoided the dentist for a long time, it is easy to imagine the worst.
You may worry that you will need all your teeth removed or that nothing can be done.
Try not to make that decision before you have been assessed.
Modern dentistry offers many ways to restore damaged or missing teeth. Depending on your individual situation, this could include fillings, root canal treatment, crowns, bridges, dentures or dental implants.
Where possible and appropriate, we will consider ways of preserving your natural teeth.
If a tooth cannot be saved, we can explain why and talk you through suitable options for replacing it.
The important thing is to find out what is actually happening, rather than continuing to worry about what might be happening.
What if I'm frightened of the dentist?
Sometimes it isn't embarrassment that stops someone making an appointment.
It's fear.
Perhaps you had a difficult experience when you were younger. Maybe it is the sound, needles or feeling of losing control that worries you. Or perhaps you can't explain it at all. You just know that walking into a dental practice makes you anxious.
Tell us how you feel.
It helps us understand how we can support you.
At Lytham Dental Clinic, we can take things at a pace that feels more manageable for you. We can also discuss conscious sedation when appropriate for patients who need additional help feeling relaxed during treatment.
We even have therapy dogs in training as part of our approach to creating a calmer and more welcoming environment.
There is no prize for pretending you aren't nervous. We'd much rather know.
But what if I can't afford to fix everything?
This can be another reason people put off asking for help.
When you know several teeth need attention, it is easy to imagine one enormous dental bill.
But you may not need to do everything at once.
Once we understand what is happening, we can explain which treatment is a priority and what may be able to wait. If there are different clinically suitable options, we can discuss those too.
For eligible patients, we also offer 0% dental finance for up to 24 months, with longer-term finance available for up to five years at 9.9% interest.
Finance is subject to approval and terms and conditions apply.
The aim is to give you clear information so you can make decisions based on your dental needs, priorities and circumstances.
Your first step can be a small one
You don't need to walk into Lytham Dental Clinic and say:
"I want implants."
Or:
"I need veneers."
You can simply say:
"I'm not happy with my teeth, and I don't know what to do."
That's enough.
From there, we can examine your teeth, listen to what matters to you and start building a clearer picture.
There may be several steps ahead, or things may be much simpler than you imagined.
Either way, you will know more than you did before you walked through the door.
Imagine not having to wonder anymore
For many people, wanting to fix their teeth isn't only about having a different smile.
It can be about wanting to eat without thinking about which side to chew on. To laugh without automatically covering their mouth. To stop worrying about a tooth every time it aches. Or simply to feel comfortable opening their mouth at the dentist again.
Everyone arrives with a different story, and everyone will have different treatment needs and outcomes.
But they all have to start somewhere.
If you've been thinking, "I want to fix my teeth, but I don't know where to start," you don't need to work out the answer on your own.
Start by talking to us.
Contact Lytham Dental Clinic to arrange an appointment. Tell us what is worrying you, even if you're embarrassed, nervous or aren't quite sure how to explain it.
We'll start there.