Dr Guru Bangari
What’s it like being a dentist?
Very interesting! All sorts of people, young and old, walk through your door each day. It’s a good feeling when someone comes to you in a lot of pain and you can take it away.
Where did you do your training?
In India – my home country. It took six years.
Was a career in dentistry always your dream?
It was either that or criminology! I actually decided to try and combine the two and moved to the UK to pursue a career in forensic dentistry. But I soon got sucked into everyday practice in London which I found surprisingly rewarding. You never know, I may go back down that route in the future.
You have been in Dartmouth for three years, do you miss London?
No, I much prefer it here. In a small town you get to know your regulars and it’s nice keeping up with their news. In London you could have 20 patients through your door one day and never see any of them again.
Because teeth are precious – when they’re gone they’re gone. Taking out a tooth can change the whole shape of your mouth as others start moving about.
Do you have a specialism?
Not yet but I’m training to be an implant specialist at the moment. It’s an 18-month course at the Royal College of Surgeons in London.
Why do dentists do all they can to save a tooth rather than just taking it out?
Because teeth are precious – when they’re gone they’re gone. Taking out a tooth can change the whole shape of your mouth as others start moving about. There’s a lot of misconception about root canal treatment but the truth is it’s a painless procedure.
What age group tends to have the most tooth decay?
Teenagers and early 20s. It’s often due to poor dietary habits, poor oral hygiene, sweets and fizzy drinks.
How do you help jittery patients?
It’s a team approach - from the minute they walk through the door our friendly receptionists try and put them at ease with a chat. They can bring their own music in if it helps. We encourage nervous children to bring a toy. The most anxious patients get sent to Torbay Hospital for general anaesthetic.
Tell us about your most eccentric patients…
There was one elderly lady who tried to smack one of our receptionists with her walking stick after a mix up with a taxi. She had forgotten to ask them to order one and got quite cross when she came out of the consulting room to find it wasn’t waiting for her. Another lady got a bit confused by our big denture brushes! She saw them on the side and took one home. The next time she came in she said; “I haven’t been getting on at all well with that new toothbrush, I had trouble fitting it into my mouth!”
Have you got one piece of advice for us?
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. Oh….and don’t be scared of dentists! We don’t inflict pain - we help people and the sooner someone comes with a problem the easier it is to sort. Bring babies as early as six months. It’s good for them to hear the sounds and take in the smells of a surgery so they don’t see them as strange unsettling places.
How do you help children feel at home?
I love having children in here. I tell them the chair is magic and if they clap three times it will go up or down! We pretend the sucker is a mini hairdryer like mummy’s. You do get the odd bite every now and again from very young children but I’ve learnt when to get my fingers out of the way!
Do you have children of your own?
I have a three-week-old son called Ahaan. His name means ‘first ray of sunshine’ or ‘a new beginning’ which we thought was appropriate as it signifies a new era for my wife and I. Luckily he’s a good sleeper so I’m still fresh and ready for work each day.
First published By The Dart magazine August 2016