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The Sale Dental Spa journal

Advice worth reading, from the people who do the work.

Straight answers about cosmetic and general dentistry, written and checked by our own clinicians. No hype, no scare stories, and nothing we would not say to you in the chair.

Dr Aisha Ahmed, Principal Dentist at Sale Dental Spa, who writes and reviews every article
Invisalign and Straightening

Preventative orthodontics: what every parent should know before braces

The early signs of jaw and bite problems parents can spot, from thumb sucking to mouth breathing, and why an early check often means simpler treatment.

4
 minute read
Oral Health

Airflow dental hygiene in Sale: why we retired the standard scale and polish

We have replaced the 20 minute scale and polish with the 30 minute Airflow Spa Clean at £99, including gum charting and stain removal.

5
 minute read
Oral Health

Can hay fever cause toothache? Three surprising ways it affects your teeth

Sinus pressure, antihistamine dry mouth and night-time mouth breathing all raise your risk of toothache and decay during pollen season.

5
 minute read
Implants and Missing Teeth

Dental implants abroad: what to know before you book

Why compressed dental tourism packages go wrong, the warning signs to watch for, and what to do if you are already living with the consequences.

4
 minute read
Fees and Finance

Are monthly dental plans worth it? We did the maths

What a Denplan membership includes, what it costs, and the actual sums on each adult tier using our current appointment fees.

5
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Why you look tired even when you're not

People rarely ask about wrinkles. They say they look tired. Here is what a resting face is actually doing, and what it may not be about at all.

4
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Jade Morgan's story: veneers abroad, and what came after

Jade Morgan travelled abroad for veneers at a fraction of the UK price. Two weeks after coming home one of them fractured. Her account, and what it is worth knowing first.

5
 minute read
Oral Health

You are grinding your teeth away and probably do not know it

Teeth grinding does not hurt at first, which is why it is usually spotted late. Here is what to look for and what can be done about it.

4
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

How to check an aesthetics practitioner is actually qualified

Injectable facial aesthetics is barely regulated in the UK. The registers to search, the questions to ask, and the signs worth walking away from.

5
 minute read
Invisalign and Straightening

How the Love Island smile changed: from veneers to clear aligners

The reality television smile has moved from bright uniform veneers towards clear aligners. Here is what actually separates the two treatments.

3
 minute read
Practice News

Meet Mandi Beesley, our Patient Care Coordinator

The first person most patients sit down with at Sale Dental Spa is not a dentist. It is Mandi Beesley, our Patient Care Coordinator.

2
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

What cosmetic dentistry can and cannot change

Cosmetic dentistry can change how you feel about your appearance. It is not a treatment for a mental health condition. An honest look at the difference.

4
 minute read
Oral Health

The festive aftermath: looking after your teeth and gums in January

Sensitivity, staining and sore gums are common in January. Here is what four weeks of festive habits actually does, and what helps.

3
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Turkey teeth: what to understand before cosmetic dentistry abroad

Bonding, minimal-prep veneers and crowns are very different procedures. The questions to ask, wherever in the world you are treated.

5
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Why a dental practice offers skincare consultations

A fair question with a straightforward answer. What our free skincare consultation covers, what it deliberately does not, and when to see a doctor instead.

3
 minute read
Practice News

Our patient Aitch takes Down syndrome awareness to the jungle

Aitch is a patient of ours, and he has taken Down syndrome awareness with him onto one of the most watched programmes on British television.

2
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Why over-the-counter whitening keeps disappointing people

Shop-bought whitening is limited by law to a strength that only shifts surface stain. Here is what that means, and what dentist-supervised whitening does differently.

4
 minute read
Implants and Missing Teeth

Dental implants or dentures: how to compare them properly

Implants and dentures solve missing teeth in fundamentally different ways. A practical comparison of cost, longevity, bone health and daily life.

6
 minute read
Fees and Finance

Your first visit: what happens at a £35 new patient examination

What a new patient examination at Sale Dental Spa actually involves, how long it takes, what it costs and what happens afterwards.

3
 minute read
Oral Health

Are you brushing correctly? A two minute fix for healthier teeth

Brushing is the part of dental care you do yourself, twice a day, for life. How and when you brush matters as much as what you brush with.

2
 minute read
Practice News

20 years at Sale Dental Spa

Sale Dental Spa opened in 2005 and turned 20 this year. A short piece on how the practice started, what has changed and what has not.

3
 minute read
Oral Health

Looking after your teeth over Christmas

Which parts of Christmas are hardest on your teeth, and the small habits that let you enjoy the rest of it without thinking about them.

3
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Fillers and anti-wrinkle treatment are not the same thing

Two different categories of treatment, regularly confused, including by clinics. What separates them, why the difference matters, and why we cannot tell you more.

4
 minute read
Oral Health

What causes sensitive teeth, and what helps

Why teeth become sensitive, what to try at home first, and the signs that mean it is something other than sensitivity and needs looking at.

3
 minute read
Fees and Finance

What a smile makeover costs

Current fees for whitening, bonding, veneers and Invisalign, what a full smile makeover involves, and how to work out which end of the range you need.

3
 minute read
Oral Health

What is interdental cleaning?

A toothbrush misses the surfaces between your teeth. Here are the three ways to clean them, with the technique for each and how to choose.

3
 minute read
Invisalign and Straightening

Crooked teeth, cleaning and gum health

Crowded teeth are harder to clean, and harder to clean means more plaque. What straightening can realistically do for your gums, and what it cannot.

2
 minute read
Oral Health

How many times should you brush your teeth?

Twice a day, and the technique matters more than the brush. When to brush, how to angle the bristles, and which fluoride strength to look for.

2
 minute read
Cosmetic Dentistry

Are dental veneers the right choice for you?

What a veneer is, what it takes off the tooth, how it compares with composite bonding, and what porcelain veneers cost here as a complete package.

4
 minute read
Invisalign and Straightening

An Invisalign journey, start to finish

Three patients kept diaries of their teeth straightening. Fourteen posts condensed into one honest account of what Invisalign is actually like.

9
 minute read
Oral Health

Healthy teeth, healthy gums, healthy you

Gum health is worth taking seriously on its own terms. Seven habits that keep your own teeth in your mouth, and an honest look at the wider health links.

2
 minute read
Oral Health

Seven foods that are good for your teeth

Most diet advice in dentistry is about what to avoid. These seven foods work in your favour, and here is what each one actually does.

2
 minute read
Practice News

Dr Aisha Ahmed's wedding day

Our principal dentist and founder, Dr Aisha Ahmed, got married, and most of the practice went along. A note about the day, and about wedding smiles generally.

2
 minute read
Practice News

If you feel anxious about coming to the dentist

What actually happens at an appointment here, what to say when you book, and the practical things that make it easier if you find the dentist hard.

3
 minute read

Done reading? Start with a conversation.

The advice is free, and so is the Smile Design Consultation: a conversation about your goals, an iTero scan, an assessment with your dentist and a written plan with exact pricing.

Book a Free Smile Design Consultation