19/01/2026
ππΏββοΈ π§π©βπΌππ»ββοΈππΌββοΈ Human Connections & Longevity
This is a story about trust, time, and why longevity in dentistry is NEVER accidental.
This ladyβs original veneers were carried out over twenty three years ago. At the time, she was not my patient, but the interior designer of our practice who brought my vision and dreams to life. She translated my ideas into space, light, and flow, and created the environment that still stands modern today.
As a thank you, I gifted her a whole smiles makeover. I wanted to give her something meaningful, something she would live with everyday. I wanted it to be a reminder of my appreciation for all the endless hours she spent on our project. I wanted to know how her effort truly mattered, and not just as a transaction.
Over the years, for reasons of access and cost, she chose to maintain her ceramics closer to home. Each time, she trusted she was being cared for properly and that she was getting true value for money. In the short term, everything appeared fine.
As a patient, you cannot see what is happening at a microscopic level. You cannot see whether gums are being managed delicately, whether ceramics are being protected, whether aggressive instruments are being used, or whether glaze and margins are being respected. These details determine longevity, and they only reveal themselves when problems appear.
Eventually, she was told that some fractured ceramics needed replacing. She trusted the process and went ahead. After several appointments, 3 sets of ceramics, she became increasingly unhappy with the quality of what she was receiving. In the end, she was left in βun-humanβ temporary restorations, and the practice was content to let her leave like that. I received a WhatsApp message with the photo and message βJust Help.β
I felt so touched, not because she returned, but because time had quietly spoken for itself. Twenty years later, she recognised the difference between dentistry that looks acceptable for a while and dentistry that is built to last. She returned to the place where she knew standards would not drop, details would not be compromised, and the outcome would not be questioned.
This is not about blame or disappointment. It is about the truth. The quality of dentistry you receive is entirely dependent on who you place your trust in. Longevity does not come from just luck or price. It comes from experience, respect for materials, and care that continues long after the work is placed.
Itβs all in the WHO. Part two and three of this story are coming. They are certainly worth a read.