Dentist FAQs — Stevenage

Bowling Green Dental Surgery is a fully private practice — we do not see NHS patients. All treatments are private. We keep our fees transparent and our fees page lists every routine treatment price.

We are at 26 High Street, Old Town, Stevenage, SG1 3EJ — at the top end of the Old Town High Street. There is on-street parking on the High Street and free public car parks within a few minutes' walk. Patients with mobility needs are very welcome to call ahead and we will help arrange the closest possible space.

Monday–Thursday: 9:00am–5:00pm. Friday: 9:00am–1:00pm. Saturday: by appointment only (mornings). Closed Sunday. For emergencies during opening hours, call us on 01438 355624. Out of hours, NHS 111 can advise.

Bowling Green Dental Surgery has been serving Stevenage since the 1980s. Dr Alan de Vos took over the practice in 2005 and has been the principal dentist ever since. Many of our families have been with us across two or three generations.

Just call us on 01438 355624 or use the contact form on the website — there's no formal registration process. We'll book you in for a New Patient Examination (£81), which includes a thorough examination, any necessary X-rays, and a written treatment plan if anything is needed. Many of our patients arrive having been with the same dentist for decades — switching is easy.

Yes, easily. We will request your records from your previous practice with your written consent, but you don't need to chase anything yourself. If you have recent X-rays we can ask for those too — no need to repeat them. Just tell us at booking which practice you've been seeing.

Yes. You don't need to be a registered patient to be seen for an emergency. Call 01438 355624 as early in the day as possible and we'll do our best to see you the same day. The emergency appointment fee is £81 — the same as a New Patient Examination.

Yes — children of any age, from their first teeth onwards. We take an unhurried, gentle approach and offer acclimatisation visits for nervous first-timers. The child examination fee (ages 5–17) is £31. Read more on our /childrens-dentist-stevenage page.

A New Patient Examination is £81 and includes a full assessment, any necessary X-rays at the standard add-on rate (£5 each for small X-rays), and a written treatment plan. A routine examination for existing patients is £55. The full fees list is on our /fees page.

We accept cash, credit and debit cards, and bank transfer. We do not run interest-free finance ourselves but we are happy to phase larger treatment plans into stages if that helps. We always agree a written estimate before any work proceeds — there are no surprise bills.

Yes. Most major insurers (Bupa, AXA, WPA, Vitality and others) cover dental treatment. We do not bill insurers directly — patients pay us at the appointment and we provide a full itemised receipt that you submit to your insurer for reimbursement. Please check your specific policy for what is covered.

Yes — we offer both Denplan and Practice Plan. These are monthly direct-debit schemes that cover routine examinations, hygiene visits and X-rays for a fixed monthly fee, with discounts on treatment if anything is needed. They suit patients who like to spread costs predictably across the year. More on /denplan-stevenage.

Always. Apart from the examination itself, no treatment goes ahead without a written, itemised estimate that you have agreed. Transparency on price is one of the things our patients tell us they value most.

Most adults should have a check-up every 6–12 months, though Dr Alan will recommend an interval that's right for your specific risk profile after your first visit. Children typically benefit from 6-monthly visits. Hygiene visits are usually every 6 months but more frequent for some patients.

A New Patient Examination is around 30–45 minutes. Routine check-ups are typically 20 minutes. Treatment appointments vary — a single white filling takes around 45 minutes, while a same-day CEREC crown takes around 90 minutes start-to-finish. We always allow enough time and never rush.

Modern digital X-rays use a very small dose of radiation — substantially less than older film X-rays. We only take X-rays when they're clinically justified, and we follow national guidance on intervals (typically every 1–3 years for routine bitewings, depending on your dental health). For a single tooth investigation, a small periapical X-ray (£5) is usually all that is needed.

We'll talk through your dental history, your concerns and what you're hoping for. Dr Alan will examine your teeth, gums and bite, take any necessary X-rays, and check your soft tissues for early signs of problems. You'll leave with a clear, written plan and a price for any treatment recommended — no pressure to book anything on the day.

You're far from alone. Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people avoid the dentist, often for years. We allow longer appointments, work at your pace, explain everything before doing it, and never proceed without your full consent. A 'getting to know you' visit with no treatment is always an option. Just mention when you book that you're anxious and we'll plan accordingly.

No. We are a routine private dental practice and we do not offer sedation (oral, inhalation or IV) or treatment under general anaesthetic. If you've been told you specifically need sedation, the right route is the NHS Special Care Dental Service via Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust — your GP or NHS 111 can refer you.

Yes. If you or your child wears a Sunflower lanyard, just let us know when you book — we'll allow extra time, keep the environment calmer, and apply our usual reasonable adjustments. The lanyard is a signal that more time and patience may be needed; it does not commit us to clinical care outside the scope of routine private dentistry.

Common adjustments we make on request: extended appointment slots, an acclimatisation visit before any treatment, a quieter waiting environment, the overhead light kept off, minimal numbers of people in the room, written notes provided in advance, a stop-signal so you can pause at any time, and a parent or carer always welcome to stay throughout. Read more on /sen-friendly-dentist-stevenage.