EXCELLENCE and everyday are the two watchwords of the Northwick Manor Dental Practice.

Middle left: Katie Robertson, Rosemary Yapp and Roberta Elliott

Front: Sarah McLead

Opened only 10 weeks ago in a plush new surgery on Northwick Road, the private practice offers a friendly, professional service focusing on basic dentistry with patient relexation at its heart.

Dentists Paul Elliott, 51, and Simon Gumbley, 43, offer 50 years experience between them and pride themselves on treating their patients as people rather than just sets of teeth.

"We want to emphasise the fact we are different here because we have a very tranquil, relaxed approach," Simon said. "We want the dentists and the staff to be fully approachable, it's a fully team orientated approach."

And the pair said their efforts to help patients relax and feel unpressured often meant they had less need to use drugs to calm them down.

Northwick Manor Dental Practice prides itself on offering value for money, and Simon and Paul said although this wasn't the sole aim, they tried to make sure people left the surgery feeling they had got what they paid for.

The building welcomes patients into a clean, high quality waiting room, equipped with televisions and music, all to add to the relaxing atmosphere.

Simon said: "We put a lot of thought into the way to do it. We just went for a good quality approach that works and the same approach to our dentistry."

"We aim for excellence in everyday dentistry We look after the normal stuff really well, people want to know are their dentures going to fit, are the fillings going to stay in."

The practice includes two surgeries, and the pair are hoping to have a hygienist as well. They use good quality, reliable equipment that Paul describes as the 'Audi' of dentist equipment, rather than the 'Rolls Royce.'

The practice also has an on-site lab, which does crowns and aesthetic work, enabling them to turn things round quicker and for the dentists to ensure they get the appearance and aesthetic of things just right.

Patients can also be reassured that there is a strict policy that if someone is in pain, the dentists will see them the same day.

The practice is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm and is closed from 1-2pm for lunch.

It also runs its own emergency service from 5-8pm in the evenings, and 10am-2pm at weekends.

But Simon said: "We like to think most of the time we treat people enough for them not to come out in the evening.

"Prevention is a big thing and patient education is important to us. It's what people do in their mouths everyday do which makes the difference."

Paul added: "It can be so doom-laden for most people that if they see the dentists and the staff smiling.

"We do not take ourselves seriously but we do take what we do seriously."

More information on Northwick Manor Dental Practice is available on www.northwickdental.co.uk or by calling 01905 757400.