“I found David Neal Dental in Eastbourne after a lot of online research.

My original dentist closed at short notice, so I looked into a number of dentists in the area, checking out their backgrounds, what they were offering, who was running the practice and their qualifications.

David Neal Dental looked good and like they knew what they were doing, so I registered as a new patient.

I had issues with my teeth

When I went for my initial appointment I had issues, mainly with my top teeth, including one fully broken tooth and one that was loose.

The bottom jaw wasn’t so bad.

Eating was a problem as I had to avoid anything too tough or crunchy.

I used to cut apples into small pieces.

But most of all, I was self-conscious about how my teeth looked, and didn’t want to smile.

Not wanting to smile – that was the main part.

Deciding which treatment was right for me

My dentist at David Neal Dental confirmed the problems I already knew about, and made me aware of some I didn’t. We talked through my options.

I then needed to decide what I wanted to do with my teeth.

I knew I didn’t want a removable denture as people have told me how inconvenient and uncomfortable they can be.

So, I could either carry on as I was, dealing with problems as I went along and patching things up, or I could be more radical and opt for a more permanent solution.

Weighing up the value of dental implants

A full set of new teeth on dental implants on my top jaw, plus a couple of veneers on my bottom jaw, is a significant investment.

Having done some research, I was aware of the Teeth in a Day (All on 4 treatment) that David Neal Dental offer.

I knew it was much quicker than traditional implants – and you end up with a great set of fixed teeth at the end of it.

I weighed up the cost compared to how much I would spend over time if I just kept patching things up.

It soon adds up to the same, but all your problems are sorted in one go and there’s no need for on-going treatment.

I was fortunate enough to be able to afford it, so I opted for Teeth in a Day.

Surgery day

In total, the day took about 6 or 7 hours, including the surgery and getting my new teeth.*

I arrived at about 8:30am. Michael (Dr Michael Zybutz, lead surgeon) took me through everything, then I met my anaesthetist, and he did the same.

I had conscious sedation, so I don’t remember much about the surgery at all. I was awake and fully conscious, but I couldn’t feel anything. It was like being in a dreamland, a “twilight zone” and time just passed.

I left in the afternoon with full instructions on how to care for my new teeth and what to eat. They advised sticking to soft foods for the first few weeks, before getting my final, long-lasting set of teeth. That was fine for me.

Surgery was totally painless

I was expecting some pain during the implant surgery as it’s a major surgical procedure, but there wasn’t any.

It was completely painless.

There was no actual pain afterwards, just mild discomfort and all I needed was ordinary painkillers.

My new smile – such a big difference

When I first saw my teeth that same day it was a vast improvement.  You don’t realise how bad things were until you see your new smile. It was a really big difference.

Both sets of teeth* looked really natural, which is just what I wanted.

Eial, my dentist, spent a lot of time getting the tooth shape, size and colour absolutely right, matching them – and the veneers – with my remaining natural teeth.

It was a very comprehensive process, even with a mock fitting to get everything totally right.

My new teeth look really good – I am thrilled.

Getting used to my new teeth and smile

It took a little while to get used to smiling again after a long time of trying not to smile. But after a while I just started to smile and laugh without thinking about it. It’s so good to not feel self-conscious about your teeth and smile.

I’d also say it took me a few months to get used to the feeling of new teeth in my mouth, and speaking sounded a bit different. But that all settled down.

If you can afford it, get it done

If you struggle with your teeth, and can afford the treatment, I would tell you to get it done.  It makes such a difference. It’s so worthwhile,

My teeth look great now, I don’t have to worry about eating or smiling any more.

My care at David Neal Dental

Everything about my care at David Neal Dental was very good and I felt well looked after throughout.  Everything is explained step by step and nothing is left to chance.

I’ve had no problems at all.”