"My visit to the Dental Hospital"

When I visited the Dental Hospital on Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, I had no idea what to expect. Would COVID regulations mean that the whole process would be de-humanized and therefore intimidating? The dentist is nerve-racking at any time, but this could surely only be accentuated by the unusual circumstances.

Immediately upon entry, it was clear that everything had been done to respect the COVID rules, a confidence inspiring realisation; then it was a question of how the staff would be under these extreme circumstances. Any worries I might have had were immediately put to one side, as I was welcomed by Stef, who greeted me warmly and took me to the consultation room; she then introduced me to John, who was similarly professional and welcoming. We moved smoothly through the various stages of a first consultation, including the chaperoned visit to get an X-ray. This was a COVID driven change, but actually from my perspective, a welcome one - no chances of getting lost! On our return from  X-ray, the consultant, Gareth Calvert, came in almost immediately so we could discuss the X rays and next steps. This discussion took place in a clear, friendly and relaxed way, which made comprehension of the more difficult points easy.   I felt very involved in the discussion and that my views were being taken into account.

As I left, I congratulated the team on an experience that had left me far happier and relaxed than my usual visits to a dentist. Excellent work in challenging times!