NEW PATIENTS

Are you accepting new patients?

Yes, new patients are always made very welcome at the practice. We aim to offer you an appointment as soon as possible after you call. Yes, we are currently accepting new Private Patients.

Our NHS list is closed.

Where is your dental practice?

We are located on Carleton Street, just off Church Street in Portadown. Click here for a map and directions on how to reach us.

How do I register with you?

Simply call us and we will make an appointment for you to come in and be seen by a dentist. There is no need to contact your previous dentist.

How can I pay my bill?

You can either pay by cash, credit/debit card or cheque.

Is there car parking near the practice?

Car parking is available both on street and at the nearby William Street Car Park.

How do I book an appointment?

Please telephone reception on 3839 1700/3833 4672 to arrange an appointment. Alternatively, you can email admin@carletondental.co.uk or call into the practice and we will book a time that is convenient for you. We will send you a reminder by text or email before your appointment. If you need to cancel or change an appointment, please give us as much notice as possible, at least 2 working days.

I'm really scared of the dentist. Can you help me?

Many people feel a bit nervous at the thought of seeing the dentist, particularly a new dentist. ​This fear or phobia can be so severe that it will stop people coming to see us unless they are in really severe pain. It could be that you've had a bad experience as a child and the smells and sounds in the surgery bring those memories back. Sometimes your fear is very specific, for example, being frightened by needles or the sound of a drill. Whatever your problem is we can help!

​The first thing to do is make an appointment and tell us you are nervous. You will find us sympathetic and friendly. We will listen to you and will do everything we can to help. The dentist will use anaesthetic cream to numb your gum before an injection. We go at your pace and we do treatment in short bursts. You mustn't feel worried about telling us to stop if you've had enough.

If you haven't been to the dentist in a long time you may be really worried about how much treatment you need. Most of the time it is nowhere near as bad as you imagine. The biggest thing is picking up the phone and making the appointment!

Are dental X-rays dangerous?

The amount of radiation received from a dental x-ray is extremely small. Radiation is present all around us all the time. You get about the same amount of radiation from having two dental x-rays as you do travelling on a flight to Spain. We take your safety and ours very seriously. The Practice uses Digital X-rays which further reduces the amount of radiation and the images are easily shared with colleagues, thus avoiding further exposure.

We use x-rays to take radiographs which give us much MORE information about your teeth and mouth than we can see just by looking. It can show us decay in between the teeth or under old fillings which, if treated early, is much easier and less expensive than waiting until the problem becomes obvious. They can show us the position of second teeth and what your wisdom teeth roots are like. We usually take radiographs every 2 years as part of your regular check-up or if we are treating specific teeth.

I’m moving away to another area but I want to keep seeing my usual dentist. Is this possible?

Yes, you can still see your usual dentist. Please keep your contact details at the practice up to date letting us know of any changes to your address and telephone numbers as soon as possible.

I work full time, can I still be treated under the NHS?

Yes, all UK residents who have registered with a doctor are entitled to NHS treatment. We are unable to offer this service to New Patients.

Am I entitled to free NHS dental treatment?

You can find out more information on free NHS dental treatment on the NHS website here.

What age should children start attending the dentist?

It would benefit children if you could start bringing them along with you at your dental check-ups to familiarise them with the practice, then to book an appointment when they are two years old.

Do you have a Dental Care Plan?

​Yes we do. The Carleton Maintenance Plan is designed to encourage regular attendance with the bonus of reduced fees for treatments. Click here for MORE information.

Where is your practice?

We are located at 47 Carleton Street, Portadown, Co. Armagh BT62 3EP. Click here for a map and directions on how to reach us.

Do you charge if I miss or cancel an appointment?

Please be aware that if you cancel an appointment at short notice or fail to attend without good reason, a fee of £30 will be charged.

If you need to cancel or change an appointment, please give us as much notice as possible, at least 2 working days. If you need to reschedule less than 2 working days before the appointment there will be a charge of £30 for every half hour.

I think I have broken a piece of a filling in my tooth-What should I do?

Unfortunately sometimes fillings for whatever reason may fall out or become chipped or broken.  There are many reasons for this including biting down suddenly on something hard such as a hard boiled sweet. Symptoms can vary from none at all to sensitivity to hot and cold or tenderness on chewing. A lost filling will always feel much bigger to the tongue.

It is important to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. However if you cannot immediately access a dentist here are some helpful tips.

• If you are having sensitivity or pain on biting, try avoiding eating or drinking in that area.
• Toothpaste can help with the sensitivity by rubbing some fluoride toothpaste on the tooth in question.
• Finally use over-the-counter painkillers from a chemist if it is constantly painful until you contact the dentist.  Don’t place any pain-killing tablets on the site of the tooth or its gum as this can cause burns to the gum.

My dentist told me I need Root Canal Treatment. What does this mean?

​Root Canal Treatment is needed when the nerve in the tooth dies and becomes infected. This leads to pain and an abscess if left untreated.

​The procedure can be quite a relief if you've been in pain beforehand! The dentist uses small precision files to clean out the space in the middle of the tooth that contains the nerve. The space is then sealed with a rubbery material. This allows a tooth to be kept that would otherwise have to be extracted.

I tend to suffer from mouth ulcers-how can these be treated?

Mouth ulcers are a common ailment of the mouth. Most people will experience them at some stage during their life.

The main causes of mouth ulcers are:
• Chipped or broken fillings rubbing against e.g. the tongue
• Poor diet
• Stress or even a change in the weather
• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies

Simple, small ulcers will usually heal within 7 days. However if you are having recurrent or longer lasting ulcers you should consult your dentist. The use of warm salty water or a mouth rinse can help with the discomfort. Similarly obtaining some medicated pastilles from the chemist may be useful.

Try to avoid spicy or acidic foods or locally applied aspirin as they may aggravate the ulcers.

What can I do if I'm unhappy with my treatment either in or out of the surgery?

We are very proud of the care we provide and we know that most of our patients most of the time are very happy. However, sometimes despite our best efforts, we do get it wrong.

We promise we will always do whatever we can to put it right. We genuinely believe a negative comment gives us an opportunity to improve not only our service, but also our relationship with you. So, if you are unhappy, please tell us.

There are several things you can do. If it is something small, please let our receptionist know. If it is something clinical it’s best to speak to your dentist. If you are uncomfortable speaking to your dentist or our reception team, you can ask to speak directly to Ms Naomi McKeown who is our Practice Manager.