This wasn't the plan.

Fresh out of dental school, full of clinical knowledge but struggling with something that seemed wrong: the pace, the pressure, the feeling that we weren't really connecting with people.

"What if we slowed down? What if we actually listened?"

Those questions felt dangerous then. They turned out to be the most important ones I'd ever ask.

There was a time I worked across both NHS and private care. We recognised that each system serves people differently.

"Different expectations, different possibilities."

Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, we chose our lane - focusing on calm, unhurried care with time to listen, while others prioritise access and affordability for those who prefer it.

A patient looked at me after treatment and said, 'This is the first time I've felt heard by a dentist.' That's when I realised: technical skill without human connection is just expensive mechanics.

"Warmth and connection aren't obstacles to good dentistry - they're the foundation."

Everything I'd learned about being 'professional' was actually getting in the way of providing genuine care.

I founded West Dental on a simple principle: what if we designed everything around how people actually feel, rather than what looks efficient? What if we made space for real conversation?

"Patients started telling me this was the first time they'd felt truly heard by a healthcare professional."

That's when I knew we weren't just fixing teeth - we were restoring people's confidence in healthcare itself.