Trust Dentistry Review: A Different Approach To Dental Health In Cape Town 

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*Sponsored post: Trust Dentistry* 

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I recently visited Trust Dentistry in Cape Town for what turned out to be one of the most comprehensive dental assessments I’ve experienced. Rather than looking only for cavities and obvious dental problems, the appointment explored everything from my gums, existing veneers and implant to my bite, breathing, lifestyle habits and even aspects of my oral microbiome. Most importantly, it picked up problems I had absolutely no idea were there. 

Starting with a really good clean 

My visit started with completing the patient forms, but there was no clipboard or paperwork involved. Trust Dentistry operates a paperless system, so everything is completed digitally and stored securely – a small detail, but one that immediately makes the experience feel modern, efficient and considered. 

From there, I went through for a professional clean with an oral hygienist. 

I was told that my mouth was in overall good health, but we also spoke about my brushing technique. I currently use a soft Curaprox manual toothbrush and apparently I can be a little heavy-handed. Over time, too much pressure can affect the gums and areas around dental restorations, so a sonic toothbrush was suggested as something that may help me control the pressure I use. 

The clean itself was an absolute breeze. I have areas of sensitivity and only flinched twice throughout the entire treatment. Everything felt gentle and controlled. 

I also proudly mentioned that I floss every day, but even there I learnt something. My flossing habits are good, but I was shown how I could improve my technique to clean more effectively around the teeth and gumline. 

This is actually something Trust Dentistry places quite a strong emphasis on. Its preventative approach includes Guided Biofilm Therapy and personalised homecare recommendations rather than simply cleaning your teeth and sending you on your way. 

Then came the Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment (COHA™) 

Next, I moved over to Dr Marguerite for Trust Dentistry’s Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment (COHA™). 

We began by going through my full dental and medical history. That included previous fillings, veneers and my dental implant, but the conversation extended well beyond my teeth. 

She asked whether I snore – I do – and we discussed some of the possible reasons for this and the relationship between breathing, airway health and the mouth. 

My blood pressure was also taken. Oral health doesn’t exist completely independently of the rest of the body, and the assessment is designed to consider some of these broader health connections rather than treating the mouth in isolation. 

We then tested my saliva pH and oral nitric oxide levels. 

I found this part particularly interesting. Much like the gut, the mouth has its own complex microbiome, and the environment we create inside the mouth can influence which microorganisms thrive there. 

My saliva pH was healthy. When the oral environment becomes too acidic, however, factors such as diet, frequent exposure to acidic foods and drinks, reduced saliva flow and certain lifestyle habits can contribute to an environment in which enamel is more vulnerable to demineralisation. 

My nitric oxide level wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite where Dr Marguerite would ideally like it to be. 

Her recommendation was surprisingly simple: more nitrate-rich whole foods such as raw spinach and beetroot. She explained the importance of the oral bacteria involved in converting dietary nitrate as part of the pathway through which nitric oxide is produced in the body. In other words, the mouth is doing far more than simply chewing our food. 

Looking at the whole mouth – and beyond it 

From there, the assessment became incredibly detailed. 

We examined my veneers and existing dental work, checked for potential cavities and assessed my gums. My bite and signs of tooth grinding were examined, along with tooth colour, wear and the possible effects of grinding on the long-term health of my teeth and restorations. 

Breathing and airway health formed part of the assessment too. 

This aligns with Trust Dentistry’s formal COHA™ process, which maps areas including gum inflammation, enamel and decay risk, bite and jaw function, airway and sleep-related factors, and lifestyle and oral hygiene habits. 

Then came the X-ray and 3D digital imaging. 

And this is where things became particularly valuable for me. 

Finding problems before they become emergencies 

The results revealed a couple of things that need attention sooner rather than later – much to my surprise. 

One tooth isn’t as healthy as I thought it was, and one of my veneers is cracked. I had absolutely no idea. 

That, for me, demonstrated the real value of such a comprehensive assessment. Neither problem was causing enough trouble for me to know it was there. Now I can address both proactively rather than discovering the cracked veneer while biting into frozen cookie dough and suddenly finding myself toothless. 

We also discussed diet and lifestyle habits, including exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking, as part of building a broader picture of factors that can influence oral health. 

Rather than leaving with a vague instruction to “come back in six months”, I knew what was healthy, what could be improved and what actually required attention. 

My report was waiting for me when I got home 

By the time I arrived home, my report was already sitting in my email as a PDF. 

This is another part of the Trust Dentistry model that I really liked. The practice uses digital records and provides patients with access to their information, while treatment planning is accompanied by clear next steps and pricing. 

According to Trust Dentistry, its COHA™ process is designed to provide patients with a straightforward scorecard and written plan so they can understand what is healthy, where risks are developing and what should be prioritised. 

The practice currently lists its Advanced COHA™, which includes CBCT imaging, at R3,050, while the Standard COHA™ is listed at R1,750. Prices are guidelines and individual treatment costs depend on the patient’s clinical plan. 

For the amount of information I received – and particularly considering that we identified issues I didn’t know existed – I think the assessment offers excellent value. 

A very different dental environment 

There are also lots of little details about Trust Dentistry that deserve mentioning. 

Situated on the eighth floor of Convention Tower in the Cape Town Foreshore, the clinic has some of the best views I’ve ever seen from a dentist’s chair. 

The team were exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and professional, and the environment doesn’t have that cold, clinical feeling many people associate with a trip to the dentist. Natural light, warm interiors and biophilic design are deliberately incorporated into the practice. 

There is also a strong emphasis on thoughtful material choices and reducing unnecessary disposable items. Even the rinsing cup beside the dental chair was glass rather than the usual single-use plastic cup. Naturally, reusable clinical items go through the appropriate cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation protocols between patients. 

Clinically, the practice takes a biologically led and minimally invasive approach to dentistry while making extensive use of digital technology. This includes digital scans and records, magnification for precision work, rubber-dam isolation where appropriate and an on-site laboratory that can produce certain same-day restorations. 

There is also a selection of oral health products available at the practice, which makes sense given the team’s emphasis on helping patients improve what they’re doing at home rather than relying solely on professional dental appointments. 

The story behind Trust Dentistry 

I first heard more about the thinking behind Trust Dentistry when I met Helen Bowes. 

She shared a story that stayed with me. She and Dr Mark Bowes realised through a conversation with their son that many young adults simply cannot access the kind of dentistry they may need or want. Their son commented that he would never have been able to afford to fix his own teeth if his father weren’t a cosmetic dentist. 

It highlighted a gap for high-quality dentistry that was transparent and more accessible, particularly for younger working professionals. 

That philosophy comes through in the clinic’s approach to transparent pricing. Guide prices for common treatments are published online, and patients are given treatment options and costs before proceeding. 

Dr Mark Bowes personally trains and oversees its associates and guides its clinical standards. He will be practising at the clinic from October 2026.

My final thoughts 

What impressed me most about Trust Dentistry wasn’t only the technology, the beautiful clinic or even that view from the dentist’s chair. It was how much I learnt about my own mouth. 

I went in thinking my dental health was pretty good – and overall, thankfully, it is. But I walked out knowing that I could brush more effectively, floss better, make small changes to support my oral health, understand more about my breathing and oral microbiome, and, crucially, address two dental problems before either turns into a much bigger one. 

For me, that’s what preventative dentistry should look like. 

There is an enormous difference between waiting until a tooth hurts and understanding what’s happening before it hurts. A cracked veneer I couldn’t see and a tooth I didn’t know needed attention are pretty convincing examples of why. 

Trust Dentistry manages to combine the thoroughness of a highly detailed dental assessment with an experience that still feels relaxed, accessible and remarkably human. 

Find out more or book 

Trust Dentistry is located on the 8th Floor, Convention Tower, Heerengracht Street, Foreshore, Cape Town. The practice offers Comprehensive Oral Health Assessments, preventative and hygiene care, general and paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry and aesthetic treatments including veneers, composite bonding, whitening and clear aligners. 

Appointments can be booked online through the Trust Dentistry website, where readers can also view its services and current guide pricing. 

Tel: +27 21 205 0115 
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00 
Website: www.trustdentistry.co.za  

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