Founded by Dr Kamal Akbar, Kennington Park Dental Studio brings together thoughtful dentistry and a warm, personal welcome. Our boutique practice has been designed around your comfort, creating a calm space where you can feel at ease from your first visit.

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We believe good care starts with listening. That means taking time to understand your concerns, explaining your options clearly and helping you make informed decisions about your treatment. Whether you're visiting for a routine check-up or considering a change to your smile, your care will be tailored to your needs.

Our approach combines a commitment to high-quality dentistry with kindness, respect and attention to detail. If you feel nervous about visiting the dentist, we'll take things at your pace and work with you to build confidence.

We look forward to welcoming you to Kennington Park Dental Studio.

Examination

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Healthy smiles start with thoughtful, thorough care. Our dental examinations go beyond your teeth and gums, taking a wider look at your oral health.

We carry out an in-depth assessment of your teeth, gums and surrounding soft tissues, including your tongue, cheeks and lips. We also assess your jaw joints and muscles, how your teeth come together when you bite, and even your salivary glands. This helps us build a comprehensive picture of your oral health and identify concerns early.

Throughout your appointment, we take time to listen to any concerns, explain our findings and discuss your options clearly. You'll receive personalised advice and a treatment plan tailored to you.

Hygiene

Our hygiene appointments complement this care by removing plaque and calculus deposits, supporting gum health and helping your mouth feel clean and fresh. We'll also guide you on brushing and cleaning between your teeth, with practical advice to help you maintain a healthy smile between visits.

Gum health & periodontal care

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Healthy gums provide the foundation for a healthy smile. Periodontal disease, often called gum disease, affects the tissues that support your teeth. It can begin with swollen or bleeding gums and, if it progresses, lead to loss of the bone around your teeth. Because it is often painless, you may not realise it is developing.

We carry out a detailed assessment of your gum health, checking for bleeding, measuring the spaces between your teeth and gums, and assessing the supporting bone where needed. This helps us understand the extent of any disease and create a care plan tailored to you.

Treatment focuses on controlling inflammation and removing the plaque and hardened deposits above and below the gumline. Where deeper cleaning is needed, we can use local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable. We'll also help you develop an effective cleaning routine at home, an essential part of keeping gum disease under control.

Periodontal care is an ongoing partnership. Although lost bone support cannot always be restored, treatment and regular maintenance can help stabilise the condition and protect your teeth. We'll monitor your progress closely and discuss specialist care if further treatment is needed.

Dental implants

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Implants replace the roots of missing teeth, providing firm support for a crown, a bridge or a denture. They look, feel and are cleaned like natural teeth, and unlike a bridge they do not rely on the teeth either side of the gap.

More information

Facial aesthetics

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Consultation-led treatment of lines, wrinkles, skin quality and jaw clenching, carried out in a clinical room by a dentist. Every treatment begins with a full assessment of your face, your medical history and what can realistically be achieved.

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Children's dentistry

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We recommend bringing your child for their first dental visit as soon as their first baby tooth appears, usually between six and twelve months of age. These early visits help your child become familiar with the dental setting and give you practical advice from the very beginning.

The first appointment is as much about supporting parents as it is about checking little teeth. We'll guide you through brushing, choosing an appropriate toothpaste and developing healthy eating habits, with plenty of time to answer your questions. Our aim is to help you feel confident caring for your child's teeth and lay the foundations for a lifetime of good oral health.

Whether you're replacing a single tooth or exploring an alternative to loose dentures, implants can help restore comfortable chewing and confidence in your smile.

What is a dental implant?

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A dental implant is a small titanium screw placed in the jawbone. As it heals, the surrounding bone bonds with its surface, creating a stable foundation to support your replacement tooth or teeth.

A single implant can support an individual crown, while several implants can support a bridge or help secure a removable denture. You do not necessarily need an implant for every missing tooth. The arrangement depends on the teeth being replaced, the available bone and how your teeth meet when you bite.

Is implant treatment right for you?

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Successful implant treatment starts with healthy foundations. Your assessment includes checking your teeth, gums, bite and the bone available to support an implant. We also review your medical history and medications. X-rays and, where clinically necessary, a three-dimensional scan allow us to examine the area in greater detail.

Gum disease should be brought under control before implant treatment. Smoking and some medical conditions can also affect healing and increase the risk of complications. These factors do not always rule out implants, but they need to be considered when deciding whether treatment is appropriate.

We'll explain how implants compare with other options, including bridges, dentures or leaving a space where appropriate, so you can weigh up the benefits, limitations and costs.

What if there isn't enough bone?

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The jawbone can shrink after a tooth is lost. If there is insufficient bone to support an implant in the right position, a bone graft may be recommended to build up the area.

Smaller grafts can sometimes be carried out during implant placement, while more extensive grafting may need a separate procedure and a period of healing first. We'll discuss the reason for any graft, the materials available and what it means for your treatment.

Immediate implants

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In selected cases, an implant can be placed at the same appointment as a tooth is removed. This is known as immediate implant placement and may reduce the number of surgical appointments. Suitability depends on the condition of the surrounding bone and gum, any infection and whether the implant can be secured firmly in place.

An immediate implant does not necessarily mean an immediate replacement tooth. A temporary crown may sometimes be fitted straight away, but in other cases the implant needs to heal before a tooth is attached. We'll assess whether this approach is suitable and explain any additional risks.

Recovery and possible risks

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Some soreness, swelling or bruising is normal after implant surgery. You'll receive practical aftercare instructions covering cleaning, eating and managing discomfort, along with advice on when to contact us.

Implants carry risks, including infection or failure to bond with the bone. Depending on the implant's position, there may also be risks involving nearby nerves or the sinus. We'll explain those relevant to your procedure before you decide to go ahead.

Looking after your implant

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Dental implants can be a long-term solution, but they require regular care and are not guaranteed to last a lifetime. While an implant cannot develop tooth decay, the gum and bone around it can develop inflammation and disease, which may lead to loss of support.

Thorough daily cleaning and regular dental and hygiene appointments help protect your implant. We'll demonstrate how to clean around it and check the surrounding tissues at your reviews. Over time, the crown, bridge or denture attached to the implant may need maintenance, repair or replacement.

Clear aligners can help address crowding, spacing and certain bite concerns, without the brackets and wires of fixed braces.

At Kennington Park Dental Studio, we offer Invisalign® treatment, combining digital planning with regular clinical reviews to guide your teeth towards their intended positions.

How does treatment work?

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Your assessment looks at the alignment of your teeth, how your bite functions and the health of your teeth and gums. Digital scans are used to create a three-dimensional model of your smile and plan the proposed movements. This allows you to explore the intended changes before treatment begins, although the simulation is a guide rather than a guarantee of the final result.

Your custom-made aligners are worn in sequence, with each set moving your teeth a little further. We'll check your progress at regular appointments and adjust the plan where needed. Additional aligners may be required to refine the result.

What does wearing aligners involve?

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Aligners need to be worn consistently, usually for around 22 hours a day, following your dentist's instructions. You remove them for meals, drinks other than plain water, and brushing and cleaning between your teeth.

Small tooth-coloured attachments may be bonded to certain teeth to help the aligners grip and guide movement. In some cases, a carefully controlled amount of enamel is removed between teeth to create space. Any additional steps will be explained before treatment.

Some temporary pressure or tenderness is common when starting a new set of aligners, and your speech may feel slightly different at first as you adjust.

Our approach to facial aesthetics centres on helping your skin look fresher and your appearance more rested, while preserving the features and expressions that make you recognisably you. We focus on subtle changes that soften the visible signs of ageing, with realistic expectations about what treatment can achieve.

Dr Kamal brings over 15 years of experience in facial aesthetics and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Facial Aesthetics from Ulster University, awarded with distinction. His approach combines an understanding of facial anatomy with careful assessment of your skin and the changes you'd like to address.

What we may discuss at your consultation

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Wrinkle relaxing injections

For lines across the forehead, between the brows and at the outer corners of the eyes. Priced by the number of areas treated.

Masseter treatment for clenching and grinding

Many patients come to this through their teeth rather than their face — cracked fillings, worn edges, jaw ache in the morning, headaches on waking. Relaxing the clenching muscle can take load off the teeth while the underlying damage is addressed, and it is often used alongside a night guard.

Polynucleotides and skin boosters

These aim at skin quality, hydration and texture rather than changing the shape of the face.

Preventing tooth decay

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What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is a preventable disease caused by an imbalance between acid attack and the tooth's natural repair process.

Bacteria within dental plaque use sugars from food and drinks as an energy source. As they do so, they produce acids that temporarily lower the pH in the mouth and remove minerals from the tooth surface. This is called demineralisation.

Saliva helps neutralise these acids and returns minerals to the enamel. Fluoride supports this natural repair process and makes the tooth surface more resistant to future acid attacks. When the mouth is given enough time to recover, early damage may be arrested or reversed before a cavity develops.

However, if sugary foods or drinks are consumed frequently, the teeth experience repeated acid attacks throughout the day. Eventually, mineral loss can exceed the tooth's ability to repair itself. The enamel weakens, the decay progresses and a cavity may form.

Once the surface has broken down into a cavity, it will usually require a restoration. Detecting the process before this point gives us the best opportunity to control it without drilling away tooth tissue.

It is not only the amount of sugar that matters

The frequency of sugar consumption is particularly important. Every sugary snack or drink can begin another acid attack. Continually sipping a sweetened drink or grazing on sugary foods may therefore be more damaging than having the same amount as part of a main meal.

Sugar can also be present in foods and drinks that are sometimes perceived as healthy, including:

• Fruit juices and smoothies
• Flavoured yoghurts
• Breakfast cereals and cereal bars
• Dried fruit
• Honey, syrups and natural sweeteners
• Sports, energy and vitamin drinks
• Sweetened tea and coffee
• Sugary or acidic medicines

Our dietary advice is not about judgement or trying to remove every enjoyable food from your life. It is about identifying patterns that may be placing your teeth at risk and finding realistic changes that you can maintain.

Who is at greater risk of decay?

Anyone can develop tooth decay, but risk may be increased by:

• Frequent sugary foods or drinks
• Inadequate brushing with fluoride toothpaste
• A previous history of decay or multiple restorations
• Dry mouth caused by medications, medical conditions or treatment
• Exposed root surfaces following gum recession
• Deep grooves in the back teeth
• Orthodontic appliances, bridges or other areas that are difficult to clean
• Reduced dexterity or difficulty carrying out daily oral care
• A diet or lifestyle that involves frequent snacking
• Reduced saliva flow, particularly overnight
• Existing fillings, crowns or other restorations with vulnerable margins

Children, older adults and people undergoing certain medical treatments may require additional preventive support, but prevention remains important at every age.

Early signs of tooth decay

Early decay may not cause pain and can be difficult to identify without a dental examination. Possible signs include:

• White, chalky areas on the enamel
• Brown or dark spots
• Food repeatedly collecting in one area
• Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold foods
• A rough surface or visible hole
• Toothache or pain when biting
• A broken tooth or filling

By the time a tooth becomes painful, the decay may already be advanced. Regular assessment allows us to identify subtle changes before they become larger, more complex problems.

How we help prevent decay

We look beyond the individual cavity and ask why the disease developed. Your assessment may include:

• Reviewing your previous experience of decay and dental treatment
• Examining plaque levels and cleaning effectiveness
• Assessing the condition of existing fillings, crowns and bridges
• Discussing the frequency and timing of sugary foods and drinks
• Considering medications and medical conditions that may cause dry mouth
• Assessing exposed roots, deep grooves and other vulnerable surfaces
• Taking appropriate X-rays to identify decay that cannot be seen directly
• Recommending fluoride products or professional treatments where indicated
• Setting a recall interval appropriate to your current level of risk

Where early decay is identified before a cavity has formed, we may be able to arrest the process through improved plaque control, dietary changes and additional fluoride. The area will then be monitored carefully to ensure it remains stable.

Protecting your teeth at home

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, including last thing at night.
• Adults should generally use a toothpaste containing 1,350–1,500 ppm fluoride unless advised otherwise.
• After brushing, spit out the excess toothpaste but do not rinse with water. This allows fluoride to remain in contact with the teeth for longer.
• If a fluoride mouthwash has been recommended, use it at a different time from brushing so it does not wash away the more concentrated toothpaste.
• Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes wherever possible.
• Reduce how often your teeth are exposed to sugar throughout the day.
• Choose water or unsweetened drinks between meals.
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks before bed, when saliva flow is naturally reduced.
• Choose sugar-free medicines when a suitable alternative is available.
• Clean carefully around orthodontic appliances, bridges, implants and the margins of restorations.
• Attend dental reviews at the interval recommended for you.

Fissure sealants

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Protecting the grooves of back teeth

The biting surfaces of molar and premolar teeth naturally contain pits and grooves called fissures. In some teeth, these fissures are particularly deep and narrow. A toothbrush may not be able to reach their full depth, allowing plaque and food debris to remain trapped.

Fissure sealants are thin protective coatings placed over these vulnerable grooves. The sealant creates a smoother surface that is easier to keep clean and forms a physical barrier between the tooth and the bacteria and sugars responsible for decay.

Who may benefit?

Fissure sealants are most often recommended for children and teenagers, particularly soon after the permanent molar teeth have erupted. Protecting these teeth early can help prevent decay during the years when they may be most vulnerable.

They may also be appropriate for:

• Teeth with particularly deep or complex grooves
• Children or adults with a higher risk of decay
• Patients with decay affecting other teeth
• People who find effective cleaning difficult
• Selected early lesions that can be safely sealed and monitored
• Adults with healthy but vulnerable fissures

Not every tooth requires sealing. We assess the shape of the tooth, its stage of eruption, the condition of the fissures, your overall decay risk and whether the area can be kept sufficiently clean and dry during treatment.

What happens during treatment?

Fissure sealing is normally straightforward and painless:

1. The tooth is cleaned carefully.

2. The surface is prepared with a conditioning gel.

3. The tooth is rinsed and kept dry.

4. The liquid sealant is flowed into the grooves.

5. A curing light is used to harden the material.

6. The sealant and your bite are checked.

In most cases, no injection or drilling is required. The tooth is not cut down, and the sealant is usually clear, white or tooth-coloured.

How long do fissure sealants last?

Sealants can provide protection for many years, but they are subject to everyday biting and chewing forces. They may gradually wear, chip or become partially lost.

We check them during routine examinations and can repair or replace them if necessary. A fissure sealant reduces the risk of decay in the protected surface, but it does not make the entire tooth immune to disease. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, sensible dietary habits and regular dental reviews remain essential.

Once we are open

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You will be able to book online at any time of day, or call the practice during opening hours. Booking details will be published here before we open.

If you are in pain, please call rather than booking online so we can work out how urgent it is.

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