The gentle dentist

Overpriced and arrogant.
Aug 8th, 2022

Im terrified of dentists and so, despite the cost, I chose the Gentle Dentist because of the promise of mindful care. It didnt take me long to realise that Toni isnt blessed with patience or, for that matter, gentleness - which, I realise, sounds comically ironic, given the name of her business. It is, unfortunately, the case. Nonetheless, my first few appointments with her were almost painless, as promised. Though I didnt appreciate the verbal and physical micro-aggressions she directed at her staff, or her being short with me at times when I was in the chair, I put up with it - my teeth were finally getting fixed. It wasnt until my last two visits that I became explicitly aware that Toni isnt a gentle person, let alone a gentle dentist. She not only did cause me severe pain when working on one of my molars, but she then reacted to me experiencing and communicating it by denying that my pain was real. She showed me no patience or empathy while I was suffering, as if she lacked basic understanding of what human fear and pain feel like, and how to deal with them. During that same procedure, one of the mouth guards used to hold the mouth open slipped and bounced off my teeth on other side of my mouth. While I have no doubt this was a genuine accident, and none of my teeth were damaged, I believe it was the cause of the following: I left the practice without being notified of any serious complications but, nonetheless, with an abrasion on the gum surrounding the tooth Toni worked on. This within a couple of days turned into a huge painful ulcer, and over the following two weeks kept me up at night, was unbearable when eating or drinking and prevented me from working, leading to loss of income. Not to mention the psychological distress of having such an experience when I was already wary of dentists. When two weeks later I went back to see Toni, I was asked to come an hour later at short notice, following which I was kept waiting for about 45 minutes. When my time and patience ran out and I complained, I was told it was simply what happened when they were busy and was then treated to an I dont know you want me to do?. An apology, or a genuine acknowledgment of my long wait would have been a great start, especially given the condition I had been left in by the dentist herself. After examining my gum, Toni denied that what occurred was a malpractice on her part and blamed the wound on my HIV status. Now while it is true that I am living with HIV, I am on effective treatment and #undetectable. This means I cant pass HIV to others and prevents me from being immuno-suppressed, which is what the dentist claimed to be the cause of the ulcer. I have been HIV positive for 8 years and I have NEVER had any health problems. I have also been deeply involved in HIV advocacy, as well as being in regular HIV care. I know the subject well enough to be certain that the ulcer was not a result of my status, but instead - of Tonis negligent practice. And even if Tonis claim was valid and my HIV status did indeed put me at risk of such a complication, she knew that I was HIV positive and she hadnt informed me of any potential risks, prior to or after the unfortunate procedure. During our last conversation, Toni kept deflecting my concerns and refused to entertain the very notion that she may have been responsible for what happened. She then accused me of being aggressive when I directly challenged her professional integrity. Of course, it goes without saying that I never went back to this practice but thats not the end of the story. Following the incident, I now have a strip of missing gum right where the ulcer was. Its a constant reminder that I placed my well-being in the hands of an experienced yet complacent and ill-mannered practitioner - a care provider unable to provide what they offer and unwilling to care about customer feedback, even when its Ow, it hurts!.
Jun 15th, 2021

As soon as I walked through the door I felt at ease. The whole experience is a warm, caring environment and everyone in the practice is there for me. Its a very pleasant experience. Sally with her caring, kind and patience is able to provide guidance about what is required and Toni was able to to show me everything as the pictures and x-rays taken was evidence of the necessary treatment. A very happy customer.
Feb 12th, 2021

Having avoided seeing a dentist for a decade due to past experiences and sheer terror, I had nearly written off getting my teeth fixed. This place was a revelation and experience here was incredibly positive. Everybody at the gentle dentist was so understanding of a fully grown adult behaving like a child as soon as I sat in the chair and they could not have made me feel more comfortable or at ease. Having had a fair amount done, I am chuffed with the results of their work, and the use of a monthly payment plan made it affordable, even for a hospitality worker in the middle of a pandemic. I won't say I'm looking forward to going back but the thought seeing the dentist here no longer keeps me up at night.
Dec 15th, 2020

The Gentle Dentist is our family dentist and we cannot fault it. The atmosphere as you enter is incredibly friendly and relaxed thanks to the wonderful Sally. Toni is unbelievably professional and we all feel totally safe in her hands. My youngest child had a tooth removed and it was dealt with such sensitivity, any anxieties disappeared and since, loves visiting for her check-ups. Keep up the fantastic work all
Oct 30th, 2020