The start of a new year often brings a renewed focus on health and wellbeing. Many of us set intentions to feel better, look after ourselves, and address things we’ve been meaning to for a while. From a dental point of view, the New Year is an ideal opportunity to reset habits and prioritise your oral health.
At tooth, we often see patients in January who say, “I’ve been meaning to do this for ages.”
My advice as Principal Dentist is simple: there’s no better time than now.
A fresh start for your dental health
A new dental health regime doesn’t have to mean dramatic change. Small, consistent steps can make a significant difference, such as:
Attending a routine dental check-up
Booking a professional hygiene clean
Reviewing brushing and interdental cleaning habits
Addressing issues that have been monitored rather than treated
Starting the year with a clean slate gives patients and dentists the chance to prevent problems rather than react to them later.
Why early action matters!
Many dental issues progress quietly, and leaving them or ignoring them isn’t the best option. Early decay, gum disease, or worn teeth don’t always cause pain at first. Left untreated, they can become more complex and costly to manage.
The New Year is an excellent time to:
Catch problems early
Spread treatment over the year if needed
Plan care in a calm, unhurried way
And remember, being proactive now often means simpler treatment later - and simpler treatment generally means less cost and less invasive dentistry!
Don’t keep putting off cosmetic dental treatments
The New Year is also a great time to think about your smile - especially if there are cosmetic concerns you’ve been delaying. Lots of people do delay things that annoy them with their smile, then do them anyway, delaying the benefit and usually adding cost.
Common treatments patients often postpone include:
Replacing amalgam fillings with white fillings
Older silver fillings can become worn, cracked, or visually noticeable over time. Modern white fillings (matched to your tooth colour) offer a more natural appearance while preserving tooth structure.
Dental implants
Missing teeth can affect both confidence and function. Implants provide a long-term, stable solution and can be easier to plan when started early in the year as there will be visits at certain stages of the process which you can plan around.
Tooth whitening
Professional whitening is a safe and effective way to refresh your smile. Many patients choose to start the year with a brighter, more confident look.
Repairing chipped or worn teeth
Small chips or uneven edges can often be corrected conservatively with bonding, restoring shape and symmetry with minimal intervention, and this can make the world of difference to your smile and your confidence!
Putting these treatments off rarely makes them easier, whereas planning them thoughtfully can be surprisingly straightforward.
A confidence boost that lasts all year!
Your smile plays a huge role in how you feel day to day. It is so often that patients tell me that once they’ve addressed long-standing concerns, they wish they’d done it sooner.
The New Year isn’t about perfection, but it can be about progress. Even small improvements can have a lasting impact on comfort, confidence, and oral health.
Our approach at tooth
At tooth, we take a calm, honest, and preventative approach. We’ll never rush you into treatment, but we will help you understand your options and plan care that suits you.
If dental appointments have been on your to-do list for a while, consider this your sign to start the year looking after your smile, and take that first step - click below to book. There’s no time like the present!
Dr. Anna x