Haslemere Dental Centre
Testimonials
Testimonial from Jo
Cosmetic dentistry with Barry Oulton
While I have always done my best to look after my teeth, my ‘smile’, such as it was, degenerated quite rapidly in my late 30s and early 40s due to enamel problems caused an auto-immune disease. I was upset about the appearance of my teeth but had always been reassured by my dentist at the time. My two children were growing up during these years, and looking back I find it quite sad that I have no photos of me smiling alongside them. In fact there are very few photos of me during this period at all.
Towards the end of 2010 my NHS dentist abandoned his practice. I only discovered this when I turned up at the surgery early one morning, in great pain from a newly-broken crown. NHS Direct made me an emergency appointment with another NHS dentist. The new lady took one look inside my mouth and said I had big problems and would need a lot of work very soon. She said the auto-immune condition that I suffer from needs extra-careful dental supervision – which I had never had. She put her hand on my arm and said I needed to find someone who would “look after me”.
My sister Sarah lives in Haslemere – 50 miles away. When she heard what had happened she rang me and said “Jo, come up and see my dentist, Barry. I just know he’ll be able to help.”
Going to the Haslemere Dental Centre was genuinely a life changing experience for me.
The treatment coordinator, Chloe, spent more than an hour listening to me and comforting me as I described my distressing dental history. So even before I got to see Barry I already felt I had a friend on my side.
When I finally met Barry he listened carefully to everything that had gone on before then started with a full examination. It took a good half hour for him to catalogue the chaos, and in between telling me what he was doing and calling out instructions to his nurse he was whistling a happy tune. It sounds crazy, but it was really reassuring: it told me he wasn’t fazed by anything he was seeing – and that he actually enjoys his job!
The upshot was that I needed all the rubbish that had been put in my mouth drilled away and my teeth built up and shaped again with best quality, long-lasting filling material. I had the work done in two three-hour sessions, the first the week before Christmas. The original plan was to do the left then the right side of my mouth, because you can only numb-up half a mouth at a time. At the last minute Barry changed his mind and did all my top teeth in the first session, because he said he wanted me to be able to smile for Christmas. When he finished I was very reluctant to take a look. He eventually put a mirror in my hand and as soon as I saw what he had been able to achieve I burst into tears. I did the same when he finished the bottom set a week later.
When people ask me what is different about Barry, I tell them the first thing is his attitude: he genuinely wants to help you, and it shows. The next thing is the standard of his work – he’s a perfectionist, and he uses the best available materials. He has a lot of his supplies shipped in from America, because they’re not generally available over here. His third ‘unique selling point’ is his team. Everyone at HDC is just as friendly and professional as Barry himself. Finally, Barry is one of those people who will always be at the top of his game because he researches and embraces the new techniques and new technologies that will benefit his patients. So he’ll never be left behind.
I am absolutely delighted with the work Barry (and his team) has carried out on my teeth.
I am absolutely delighted with the work Barry (and his team) has carried out on my teeth.
It had been nearly 4 years since I last visited a dentist, and I had a feeling that there was quite a bit of work to be done. I also had a filling that had been broken for some time. Barry was not concerned by this at all. In fact, he put me at ease straight away.
The results are much better than I ever imagined. My new front teeth look (and feel) completely natural-nobody has really noticed, but I am getting lots of “you look really well” comments.
I am already smiling more – not realising how self conscious I had become about my uneven and discoloured smile.
I had whitening, several fillings and new front teeth in just 4 visits in a friendly, relaxed, stress free and professional atmosphere.
Thank you Barry, I am looking forward to seeing you again.
A lifetime of grinding had worn my teeth down so much that I had started to lisp; The shape of my face had shrivelled and was beginning to age noticeably. All this making me self conscious and withdrawn, which was not good news for someone whose job relies so much on face to face communication.
Barry explained meticulously what could be done which gave me assurance straight away. His team took care and patience, assisted by some impressive technology, to rebuild my teeth and give me back my bite. The T scan was fun!
The result has been even better that I expected. Articulation and confidence are restored which makes me smile more and when I do I have some teeth to show with pride.
My thanks to all the team at HDC.
As a child I enjoyed the tooth fairy’s gift under my pillow. Life went on and by 15 I’d chipped a tooth because of thin enamel. The placement of my front teeth was acceptable though the colour was never quite right and I didn’t wear lipstick. Many chipped teeth later I met Barry who asked me where I saw my teeth in 15 years, “not in a glass by my bed” was the answer! “I’m a dentaphobic” and we embarked on a journey.
I now have teeth that look like the ones I started with in my teens, I am truly happy to smile and wear lipstick by choice. Importantly when my back teeth were sorted I realised how much my eating habits and chewing ability had been governed by my fear of chipping more teeth. During the process my temporary front teeth I worried because I had to maintain public photo shoots and speeches plus TV appearance – the only thing that happened was that a friend asked to be referred! Nobody said “You’ve had your teeth fixed” but several have complimented me on how well and relaxed I look. My son agrees that I have “spent his inheritance wisely, after all, jewellery like that will not go out of fashion!”
I love my new look and my lips are rejuvenated without surgery.
I congratulate the “tooth Wizard” and his team for giving me back my confidence.
Thank you Barry
Hi Chloe,
Although I had my implant a few weeks ago, I wanted to let you know my experiences so that anyone worrying about going through the same thing can at least see what it’s really like.
Professor Haers is such a charming man that he puts you at ease right away. Because I suffer from nerves I had decided on having an anaesthetist present to keep me heavily sedated, but I was so calm I only needed a very small amount and was perfectly able to get up and walk out after the procedure, rather than having to recover in a side room till I woke up properly. I had no pain during the procedure, just a sense of tugging and fiddling. It was over very quickly with no complications. The nurses warned me that I might have swelling and bleeding after and that I should take painkillers right away and keep taking them for a couple of days. When the anaesthetic wore off I’m delighted to say that I had none of these things and felt absolutely fine. No painkillers needed at all.
If I’d known it would be so easy I don’t think I would have waited so long to have the implant. I realise everyone is different and some people may suffer more than others, but all I can say to anyone thinking about it is……… go for it!
Dear Barry and Team
I just wanted to write to you to thank you so much for helping considerably with my painful jaw. I have religiously worn the customised splints you made for my teeth every night and the pain in my jaw has virtually gone so I feel confident that it will go completely in time. I am now able to eat all the things I struggled to eat before and in general my wellbeing is so much better.
I am “delighted from Ashtead”.
All very best wishes and kind regards
I had lived with horribly disfigured front teeth since my front tooth got knocked out as a child and my dentist at the time decided it would be a good idea to move my canine tooth to fill the gap, the result being a tooth that stuck out with a large gap in between.
To be honest, I have lived my life since then, embarrassed of my mouth. I hid my mouth whenever I could, I didn’t like to smile and I certainly dreaded any photo situation where I couldn’t hide behind someone. I don’t think I realised how much I lived in the shadow of my disfigured teeth until HDC gave me a smile to be proud of.
I have been a patient of HDC for many years and it is the first practise I have ever felt comfortable and sure of. Barry and his staff are so friendly and kind and have always put me at ease even though being at a dentist’s isn’t something I am particularly comfortable with. It is was my trust in and ease with Barry and his staff that enabled me to find the courage to go for all the work I had done on my teeth and ultimately, change my life.
Not only did I fear how it would feel to look so differently after all these years but more pressingly the many hours I would have to spend in the dentist chair having teeth out, moulds taken, teeth filed and new teeth fitted. It was hard, I can’t lie about that, but through every step Barry and his staff at HDC looked after me, understood and sympathised with what I was going through, encouraged me and generally were more reminiscent of good friends than staff of your average dentist surgery. When I was nervous about what my teeth would look like they even encouraged me to bring a friend in with me so that I could have a second opinion (not that I ever doubted their total honesty) and they made me friend feel totally welcome and were happy to explain everything to both of us and answer questions as many times as needed.
I didn’t realise it would be the case, but HDC has given me a completely new lease of life. The confidence and happiness my new look has given me just couldn’t be imagined. I didn’t realise the embarrassment of my old teeth held me back so much. I think the absolute icing on the cake had to be the wedding of my eldest daughter this year. The year before her sister got married and I know I felt so unhappy with my appearance I didn’t enjoy the day as I should. I just wanted to blend into the background and avoided photos wherever possible. My self-esteem had got so low over the years that it affected everything, I wasn’t just unhappy with my teeth, but I felt unhappy with my appearance, full stop. The wedding this year, well what a difference! I am so much happier with myself, not just my teeth, I actually took joy in finding clothes to wear, shoes to suit and generally looking forward to the event in every way. I am so happy to have photos of me with my family, looking every bit the happiest, proudest mother of the bride. Thanks, and a very big thanks it is, to HDC for giving me a new lease of life and for all their care and expertise, which is I know, above and beyond the norm in dental care.
My initial reaction to Barry’s proposal for dental improvement was pretty negative. He had long since cured me of my phobia regarding dental work, but the prospect of choosing to have such major work done seemed mental.
True, age, major surgery and heavy duty prescription drugs had taken their toll on the colour and condition of my teeth, but I could not see myself signing up for either the expense or the experience.
But I did. And how glad I am.
Not only are my teeth doing what they are supposed to do, but my personal confidence has received a huge boost. In addition, nocturnal grinding is a habit of the past.
Clare and Barry were ever so kind, patient and attentive. Indeed the dental surgery became a home from home. And when it was all over, I was given a huge bunch of flowers and a bottle of fizz. Really, that should have gone to Clare and Barry.
Thank you so much for the procedure and the continuing care I still enjoy.
I spent a considerable amount of time during my childhood in the dentist chair what with orthodontics, over crowding not to mention a plate, an extremely long journey one which I do not want to encounter again. I always felt like the odd one at school, with lots going on in my mouth. I feel a great sense of relief since my smile lift as I have spent less time in the chair and feel totally satisfied as a result. Looking back I felt worn out as well as having to think about the costs incurred. I now feel that I am no longer tested on compared to previous visits to the dentist as I thought I was part of a “trial and error” scheme, my teeth issues still not being resolved after each visit, left me feeling frustrated, not to mention the costs involved.
In the past work always came first, no time off, no quality time for me let alone visiting a dentist. I have started to put more emphasis on me and not work. Previous experiences at the dentist meant that I was left feeling that I had spent a considerable amount of money yet I was still not happy with the outcome and result. Barry has looked at the bigger picture and addressed my smile not just individual teeth.
My previous experiences at my last dentist, compared to now is really no comparison, the treatment I receive currently is outstanding. The overall package in a relaxed and comfortable environment, always accommodating, flexible, not being treated as a number or feeling like I was in and out without being able to discuss my options and concerns. I feel part of the team, valued along with the fact that I have built great relationships. Having the confidence now to phone and chat to the dentist any time I need to always makes me feel totally at ease.
I am so happy with the result and the investment was totally worth it. I smiled with confidence at my daughters wedding. Looking back at all the pictures was fantastic as everyone had wonderful smiles including myself, although I didn’t feel that I was conscious of my smile previously, looking back, in hindsight, I guess I was but didn’t really realise it until now.
I would certainly consider implants in the future.
