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We’re Accepting New Patients!

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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Root canal treatment

When a large cavity in a tooth reaches the nerve chamber, or in some cases when a tooth breaks, root canal treatment may be required. In order to save the tooth the Guildford Dental Centre team take great care to painlessly clean and fill infected tooth canals with the most up to date rotary systems, before adding a filling material to seal them.

Within every tooth is a nerve chamber and a blood supply in the root canal. In a healthy tooth, these nerves will be alive. Front teeth will normally have one root holding them in the jaw bone, but back teeth can have two, three or four.

If a large cavity in a tooth reaches the nerve chamber, or if a tooth breaks, bacteria can cause the nerves to die. The root canals can become infected and an abscess may form beneath the root(s) of the tooth, in the jawbone. Pain may occur at any time during this process, and the infection can spread.

Treatment is usually carried out over one or two visits to Guildford Dental Centre. The purpose of the treatment is to remove the bacteria or dying tissue from inside the tooth and to clean and disinfect the root canals. This is achieved by making a small hole through the tooth into the nerve chamber, locating and measuring the root canals, then cleaning and widening them using fine instruments. Local anaesthetic is used throughout the procedure to avoid any discomfort.

To aid the instrumentation of these intricate channels to the tooth, magnification may be used and if possible, the tooth will usually be isolated to keep the area dry and clear.

Once clean, the canals are filled to seal them off from re-infection. In most cases, infections will start to heal at this point.

Most patients only experience mild discomfort following treatment, but it is common to experience none at all.

Meet the team

Dr Derek Whittle

Dentist

GDC NO. 78743

Dr Kavitha Sivasubramaniam

Dentist

GDC NO. 85899

Dr Chhavi Sharma

Dentist - with special interest in restorative and cosmetic dentistry

GDC NO. 136825

Dr Aradhana Bhimalingham

Dentist

GDC NO. 109760

Dr Jananie Raveendran

Dentist

GDC NO. 82926

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Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Guildford Dental Centre. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

568 Reviews

5.0

16th August 2025

The dentist was very thorough and spent time answering my questions

15th August 2025

AILL went well - nice friendly people -no complications

MC

Mihai Calotă

Had a few sessions for some fillings with Dr Whittle and everything went smoothly! He made sure to explain everything before each procedure. He’s done a stellar job, as I’ve had some deep cavities and had no disconfort during recovery. Really appreciated how patient he was with me and how he made sure my fillings were fitted properly at the end of each procedure. Him and Megan also made sure I was comfortable all the time during procedure, which was always painless and stress-free. The reception team also made sure to go above and beyond all the time with my requests. Overall an excellent service, really recommend it.

KT

Kim Thatcher

I don't often write reviews, but I wanted to take the time to give my thanks and gratitude to both Derek and Megan at Guildford Dental Care. I am absolutely terrified of the dentist after childhood experiences with braces elsewhere, but they both took the time to listen to my worries and made sure my visits were comfortable and relaxed. Derek talked me through clearly about what we were hoping to achieve. He is very professional and his knowledge is second to none. I had Invisalign treatment, and Derek managed to move all my top teeth forward as we had hoped, enough to build up my bottom ones, which had worn over time from previous work elsewhere. I now have very even teeth which sit perfectly, and I couldn't be happier with the end result. Megan is very patient and caring, and she was always reassuring during every visit and follow-up appointment. Thank you both so much for all you have helped me achieve, you have both given me back my confidence to smile!

1st August 2025

I am very nervous but always mafe to feel at ease

HB

Haley Sam Scholz Barkham

Really excellent service. They don’t try to upsell you into treatment. They make sure that you get done what you need at the time. My teeth have never been healthier

24th July 2025

Derek made me feel at ease and offered a full explanation of the treatment, anaesthetic and what to do post treatment. After the treatment he explained what he had found, what he’d done to solve the issue and the options going forward depending on how the teeth reacted to the treatment over the next 3 months. Overall very professional and helpful

23rd July 2025

Good dentist

19th July 2025

Super and professional service

16th July 2025

Dr a was lovely and we had a quiet chat about a complex problem and how the dr would tackle it.

9th July 2025

Ease & speed of securing an appointment after a tooth fell out.Staff all very kind & considerate to me as a 99 yr old patient

8th July 2025

The overall experience: it was really easy to book my appointment, the doctor was clear in what he was going to do regarding my treatment + post-op care, and the receptionists being extremely helpful in making sure my invoice will include the name of my doctor for insurance purposes.

CO

Charles Offord

Very good service and kind dentists

30th June 2025

Staff always friendly but professional , always efficient service ,always seen in a timely manner. Easy to make next appointment

25th June 2025

Friendly and professional. Listened to my questions and gave considered and understandable ansers

14th June 2025

I was highly satisfied with every aspect of my care. I was treated with the utmost respect by all members of staff, and consulted about next treatment.

28th May 2025

Dentist was very thorough, very efficient, very courteous, completing the task with minimal pain and discomfort to the patient.

TD

timothy draper

I had a MAD made by Sleepwell fitted here. Excellent service and a really comfy fit. Great to be able to get an appointment that fits around work.

24th May 2025

My dentist, Derek Whittle, very skillfully repaired the damaged edges of my two front teeth until they were straight again, much improving my smile.

17th May 2025

Dentist really listened and asked questions. Remember key things about my treatment. Took time to explain what’s she was doing and why and took the time to explain next steps. Recommended better habits

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