Nearly one in five adults in England only visit a dentist when something has already gone wrong: 18%, according to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ 2024 oral health survey. By then a small problem has often turned into a painful and more expensive one.

Booking a routine check-up before that point is the simplest, cheapest thing you can do for your teeth. And you no longer need to wait for the phone lines to open to do it: at Landmark Dental in Apsley, you can book a dentist appointment online in a couple of minutes, with a new patient examination currently £50 (including two small screening X-rays). This guide explains how to book online, what actually happens at your first visit, how often you genuinely need to return, and how to get seen quickly if you’re in pain.

Question	Short answer
Can I book a dentist appointment online?	Yes. Landmark Dental’s online system is open 24/7; send an enquiry and the team will call you back.
Do I need an appointment if nothing hurts?	Yes. A check-up catches problems before they become painful or costly. That is the point of it.
What does a first visit include?	A full exam, gum assessment, oral cancer screening, X-rays if needed, and a clear plan. Currently £50 for new patients.
How often should I go back?	Between 3 and 24 months, set to your personal risk, not a fixed six months (NICE CG19).
What if I’m in pain now?	Ask for an emergency dentist appointment: a 30-minute urgent assessment, currently £70.

Why book a dentist appointment online?

The biggest reason people put off the dentist isn’t fear. It’s finding time to ring up during working hours. Online booking removes that barrier. The system is open 24/7, so you can arrange your visit late at night, at the weekend, or on your commute, and pick a time that genuinely suits you rather than the first slot a receptionist happens to offer.

Online dentist appointment booking is also faster to change. If something comes up, you can rebook without a phone call. And because you can see the available times in front of you, there’s no back-and-forth. You choose, confirm, and you’re done.

How to book a dentist appointment online with Landmark Dental

Booking a dentist appointment online with us takes three steps:

1. Choose your appointment type. A new patient examination, a routine check-up, a hygiene visit, or an urgent/emergency appointment.
2. Pick a time that suits you. Use our online booking system to see live availability and confirm your slot.
3. Or send an enquiry. If you’d rather ask a question first, use our contact page, and the reception team will get back to you.

That’s it. Whether you want to book a dentist appointment online for a routine check-up or you’re registering as a new patient, the process is the same: pick the type, pick the time, and turn up.

What happens at your first dental appointment

A first visit is more thorough than a routine review, because your dentist is building a complete picture of your mouth from scratch. Here’s the actual sequence, so nothing catches you off guard.

Your history first

Before looking in your mouth, the dentist runs through your medical history, any medication you take, and past dental treatment. Some conditions and medicines change how care is planned, so this keeps your treatment safe. It’s not just paperwork.

A full examination

They then check your teeth and any existing fillings or crowns, the health of your gums, how your teeth bite together, your jaw movement, and the soft tissues of your cheeks, tongue and the floor of your mouth. This is also when an oral cancer screening happens: a quick, painless look for anything unusual. Mouth cancer is far more treatable when caught early, which is one of the quietest but most valuable reasons a check-up matters.

Gum health and X-rays

Healthy gums hold healthy teeth in place, so your dentist looks specifically for early inflammation or gum disease. If there’s a reason to look beneath the surface (decay hiding between teeth, or a question about a root), low-dose digital X-rays may be taken. They’re only done when they’ll actually change what your dentist can see or advise.

A clear, no-pressure plan

At the end, you’ll hear what was found and what, if anything, is worth doing, with the cost explained up front. Depending on what turns up, that might be a simple filling, a hygiene visit through our routine dental care service, or something more involved such as dental implants to replace a missing tooth. If you feel anxious about any of this, say so when you book. We regularly treat nervous patients and will explain everything as we go.

How often should you book a check-up?

This is where a lot of dental advice gets it wrong. The old “see your dentist every six months” line isn’t official guidance. It’s habit.

NICE guideline CG19 recommends that adults are given a recall interval anywhere from 3 to 24 months, set to their individual risk and agreed with them (NICE CG19). A low-risk patient with a stable, healthy mouth may safely stretch to 12, 18 or even 24 months; someone managing gum disease or frequent decay might need to return every three. Your dentist works out your case at the examination and adjusts it over time. So don’t be surprised if the answer isn’t a flat six months. A personalised interval is the modern, evidence-based approach.

Booking an emergency dentist appointment

If you’re in pain right now (a severe toothache, swelling, a broken tooth or a knocked-out tooth), you don’t need to wait for a routine slot. Landmark Dental offers emergency dentist appointments in Hemel Hempstead: a 30-minute urgent assessment to find the cause, relieve pain and advise on next steps, currently £70 and subject to availability. Book online or call the practice on 01442 269 826 and we’ll get you seen as quickly as we can.

Keeping your teeth healthy between visits

Most of what protects your teeth happens at home. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily (floss or interdental brushes, whichever you’ll actually use), and watch how often you have sugary food and drink, since it’s the frequency, not just the amount, that drives decay.

Alongside your check-ups, seeing a dental hygienist (currently £83, no referral needed) clears the plaque and tartar you can’t shift at home and keeps your gums in good shape. Do these few things and you’ll almost certainly need less treatment, not more.

Areas we cover

Landmark Dental is a private dental practice in Apsley, welcoming patients from across the area:

• Hemel Hempstead and Apsley
• Kings Langley, including dental implants near Kings Langley
• Luton: see our dentist in Luton page
• Watford and surrounding villages

Wherever you’re travelling from, you can book a dentist appointment online at a time that fits around your day.

Ready to book your dentist appointment?

Whether it’s your first visit in years or you’re moving your care to a private dentist in Hemel Hempstead, a check-up is a small appointment that saves a lot of trouble later. You can book a dentist appointment online in minutes, check our fees and current offers, or get in touch and our friendly team will do the rest.

Frequently asked questions

Can I book a dentist appointment online?

Yes. Landmark Dental’s online booking system is available 24/7, so you can arrange your visit whenever suits you. If you’d prefer, you can send an enquiry through our contact page and we’ll call you back.

How long does a first dental appointment take?

Usually around 30–45 minutes, longer than a routine review, because the dentist is building a full record of your mouth, going through your medical history, and explaining any findings and options.

What’s included in a first check-up?

A full examination of your teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues; an oral cancer screening; digital X-rays if clinically useful; and a clear treatment plan with costs. The Landmark Dental new patient examination is currently £50.

How often should I have a dental check-up?

There’s no single answer for everyone. NICE guidance sets adult recall intervals between 3 and 24 months based on your individual risk, agreed with your dentist, so it may be more or less often than six months depending on your teeth and gums.

I’m nervous about the dentist. Can you help?

Yes, and you’re far from alone. We take a calm, unhurried approach with nervous patients and explain everything as we go, so there are no surprises.