Your Stories

The government are planning big changes for dental care in the UK this year. I worry about the effects of further increasing market forces in dentistry and healthcare generally. On a lighter note, it's good to see a resurgent Liverpool FC.

There are few things more rewarding than changing people's lives and I get the opportunity to rebuild smiles every day and see the dramatic change this has upon the confidence of our patients.

Ken sometimes gets to relax

I am equally fortunate to be able to work in state-of-the-art facilities with a highly trained, vastly experienced and totally committed team at the top of their game.

I must say I do feel saddened by the image the dental profession continues to have with the public generally. There is a huge misconception about what we do and why.

Too many people these days blame outside forces for their misfortunes instead of getting off their backsides and doing something about it. I get really annoyed when people fail to take responsibility for themselves.

I'm originally from Liverpool but came to the North East for my dental training in the 1970s and liked it so much I stayed. The people are friendly and I like the way you can be in the heart of the city one moment and in the wilds of Northumberland the next.

Thorough. Driven. Obsessive.

My journey to work takes upwards of 45 minutes each day so I like to use this time productively. I do all my thinking there and I also listen to talking books, including Tolstoy's War and Peace!

My patients are always surprised to hear that I, too, was petrified of the dentist as a child. My worst memory is having teeth out under gas from the school dentist. One of the reasons I became a dentist was to try to change things, but it seems we still have a long way to go with that one.

The birth of the children… obviously!

Twenty-five hours in a day would be nice but, failing that, another Tyne Bridge would be a great help!

My work needs precision and accuracy and I work using x5 magnification lenses. Without them I would be unable to work to the high standard my patients expect.

As a boy I was always fascinated by tales of heroism and adventure and, for a while, I wanted to be a mountaineer. I can't imagine what I was thinking!

My wife snoring… only kidding!

I am tremendously loyal.

Professionally I'm very proud of building a world-class dental practice up here in Sunderland when my dental colleagues said it could not be done.