When you visit a dentist these days, you can easily get carried away with fantasies of perfectly shaped white teeth created by cosmetic dentistry.

And, while, at Smilecraft, we agree that of course you should have well-aligned, shapely, white teeth, if you want them, we also believe that good oral health forms the foundation of every beautiful smile.

That is why when you join our clinic and come to us for your first appointment with a Stevenage dentist, we will start by taking a detailed look at your gums, jawbone, tongue and mouth, as well as your teeth. We will also have a good chat with you about your dental history, and your dental desires.

However, if we find that you need some remedial work, we will carry this out using modern equipment, techniques and materials.

For example, your fillings no longer need to be made of mercury amalgam. Your Stevenage dentist at Smilecraft can use composite materials that match your tooth colour and withstand the stresses and pressures that biting and chewing place on teeth. With this kind of filling material, we do not have to remove so much of the tooth in order to give it something to bond too, which means your teeth are stronger too.

It may be that at some point, you will need to have root canal therapy. This need arises after bacteria have entered into the pulp of the tooth, either via a crack or decay. These bacteria give off acid, which irritates and infects the tooth, leading to severe toothache as the pressure increases inside the tooth. Our dentist will clean out the canal, removing the pulp and filling the resultant space before sealing it.

If you need to have teeth removed, your Stevenage dentist can fill the gap left with a bridge. Bridges are false teeth supported by the teeth next to them, or by dental implants. This stops the surrounding teeth from tipping into the gap left by the lost tooth.

However, if you come to us for a twice-yearly check-up, visit the hygienist, and brush and floss twice a day, you may never lose a tooth or need root canal therapy.

If you are shopping around for a dentist in Stevenage, you are probably looking for one whose skills you can trust. Feeling comfortable and able to trust your dentist is as important as trusting your new car, or feeling comfortable in your new home. You only get one mouth, and keeping it in optimum health and looking good over decades of hard wear and tear is very important.

As we go through life, our dental needs change, and what most people want is to be able to find a great dentist whom they can go and see throughout their lives and take their children to see, and, even their elderly parents.

At Smilecraft, dentists Dr Bradley Abrahams and Dr Caroline King head up a practice with three hygienists, and three nursing and reception staff. We have been established for more than 25 years and extend our caring ethos to your entire family.

When you bring your toddler or baby with you to the dentist for the first time, your Stevenage dentist will make sure that these very young patients have a positive experience. That way, they will be able to start building a lifetime habit of regular visits to keep in optimum oral health.

When your baby becomes a child and then a teenager, our dentist in Stevenage will be on the lookout for the changes that growing mouths and emerging teeth go through. They will be able to catch problems with crowded, crooked or misaligned teeth almost before they happen and recommend the right treatment to give young patients a great smile of healthy teeth.

But it’s not just the teenage year that are important: as we go through adulthood, our teeth and mouths continue to evolve. Accidents, lifestyle, diet, and wear and tear all take their toll on our hard-working mouths. Our dentists can correct any problems, be they health-related, such as infections, or aesthetic problems, such as chipped, worn or broken teeth.

In older age, our dental needs are more likely to include the need for replacement artificial teeth and problems with receding gums. Your Stevenage dentist can look out for the issues that come with old age, recommending the best options for you.