Face
Dentistry
In February 2020 I was lucky enough to join a group of fellow dentists and support team members to go to India to provide dental care with the charity Smilestar. Smilestar is a charity that was set up 10 years ago by fellow dentist Mitesh Badiani to provide basic dental care in some of the poorest countries of the world.
Each dentist travelling needs an assistant who doesn’t need any dental experience so I travelled with my sister, Louise. I also knew one of the other dentists going as we had met 10 years previously through the BACD, but I had never met any of the other people going. We met up in Heathrow on Saturday evening for the first time just as we went through check in.
We flew to New Delhi and then onto Rajkot, followed by a 3 hour minibus drive to Khambalia where we were based. After around 24 hours of travel door to door, we got a good night’s sleep and were ready to start work the next day. Smilestar had built a hospital in Khambalia and we started seeing patient there. When we arrived at the hospital, the welcome that we got was incredible, they were so happy to see us.
The set up was very basic, just a chair in one large room, no such thing as patient confidentiality in India. We each had a translator who would explain the problem, all we could do was take out painful teeth or refer to the hospital for actual treatment. In the part of India that we were in, Gujarat, there is a significant problem with diabetes and high blood pressure, this results in a lot of gum disease and wobbly teeth that needed to come out.
We had brought all our equipment such as forceps, syringes and local anaesthetics so we were able to make sure that everyone we saw could have pain free treatment and we took out a lot of teeth. There were no x-ray facilities, no suction, no dental chairs, it was very different to how I normally work at Evolve. We saw everyone who needed to be seen and it was a very busy clinic.
Over the next few days, we went to different villages where we were always welcomed like rock stars and we took out hundreds of teeth. Between the 4 dentists and 1 doctor, we saw around 600 patients whilst we were there.
I had never been to India and it was a fantastic experience, I absolutely loved it all. I think we saw a tiny part of real India, we didn’t see any other Westerners whilst we were there until we got back to the airport in Rajkot. The food was incredible, Gujarat is a vegetarian state, so no meat, just a lot of delicious vegetable curries. It was such a colourful place, all the women dressed in the most beautiful saris, and it was so incredibly busy everywhere we went. I made some great friends too.
I feel very humbled and honoured to have had such an experience and thank everyone who supported me which allowed me to get a lot of people out of dental pain. I am already thinking which trip I can do next year…..
This morning, our Clinical Director, Carol Somerville Roberts, was featured on BBC Radio Bristol discussing something we are incredibly passionate about – the connection between oral health and your overall wellbeing. 🦷✨
Many people don’t realise that your oral health can have an impact on the rest of your body, with links between gum health and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia.
During the interview, Carol shared practical advice on maintaining good oral hygiene and why looking after your mouth is about so much more than just your smile.
We’re so proud to see Carol helping to raise awareness of the importance of preventive dental care across our local community. 💙
#Northsomerset #multiawardwinning #patientsatisfaction #patientsfirst #healthysmiles #healthysmile #acceptingnewpatients #nailsea #portishead #clevedon #portisheadmarina #dentist #oralhealth #gumhealth #preventivedentistry #bbcradiobristol
✨ Considering cosmetic dental treatment? We’d love to welcome you to Evolve Dentistry ✨
We are currently accepting new patients for cosmetic dental treatments including clear aligners, composite bonding, veneers, smile makeovers and tooth whitening.
And here’s something many people don’t realise… you can visit us for cosmetic treatment even if you already have your own regular dentist.
Whether you’re looking to make a small change or completely transform your smile, our team will take the time to understand your goals and talk you through your options in a relaxed, supportive environment 🤍
If you’ve been thinking about improving your smile, now could be the perfect time to start.
📩 Message the practice or call reception to book a consultation.
#Northsomerset #multiawardwinning #patientsatisfaction #patientsfirst #straighterteetheveryday #straighterteeth #newpatients #naturalteeth #healthysmiles #smilemakeovers #healthysmile #acceptingnewpatients #nailsea #portishead #clevedon #portisheadmarina #dentist #cosmeticdentistry #compositebonding #clearaligners #toothwhitening
It’s officially Smile Month! 🎉
This year is extra special, as Smile Month celebrates its 50th anniversary - five decades of encouraging healthy smiles and better oral health across the UK.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing simple tips, advice and reminders to help you care for your smile at home and understand how small habits can make a big difference.
This year’s message is simple:
🪥 Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
🦷 Clean between your teeth daily
🥤 Cut down on sugary food and drinks
Looking after your oral health is about more than teeth - it can have a huge impact on confidence, comfort and overall wellbeing too.
Here’s to healthy smiles for everyone 💙
#SmileMonth #SmileMonth2026 #HealthySmiles #OralHealth #DentalHealth #Portishead #NorthSomerset #PatientsFirst #Healthysmile #Dentist #PortisheadMarina #Clevedon #Nailsea
Still feeling incredibly proud
A few months on, and we’re still celebrating Carol Somerville Roberts in her role as President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
It’s something we don’t take lightly - representing the profession at this level, while continuing to care for patients here at the practice, is no small thing.
What makes us most proud is that nothing changes for our patients. The same calm approach. The same honest advice. The same focus on doing what’s right for you.
Just with a little extra recognition behind it.
A big moment for Carol - and a proud one for all of us at Evolve.
🌟 Help us make history! 🌟
Nominations are now open for the very first Together Portishead Business & Community Awards, and we’d absolutely love your support! 🏆
We’re so proud to be part of this amazing community, and being recognised as a finalist would mean so much to our whole team. If you’ve visited our practice or supported us in any way, we’d be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to nominate us.
Vote here: www.togetherportishead.co.uk
Thank you for all your continued support - it truly means the world to us 💙
#PortisheadAwards #TogetherPortishead #SupportLocal #VoteForUs #PortisheadBusiness #EvolveDentistry #portishead #portisheadmarina #nailsea #clevedon
Dear Portishead 💙
There are places you work, and then there are places you belong.
For all of us at Evolve Dentistry, Portishead is the latter.
We are incredibly grateful to the generations of families who have trusted us with their care, to every patient who has recommended us, and to the wider community that continues to support our practice.
We are proud to live here, work here and care here.
From sponsoring local events to welcoming patients through our doors each day, being part of this community means so much to us.
Thank you, Portishead, for allowing us to be part of your lives.
Healthy, glowing skin starts with the right routine - and the right guidance.
We’re now offering AlumierMD at Evolve, giving you access to professional-grade products tailored to your skin.
Because these products are only available through registered practices, you’ll need to register before purchasing - we’ve included our secure link in our bio so you can get set up and explore the range at your convenience.
Even if you’re not ready to buy just yet, registering means you’ll have access when you are, plus trusted recommendations to help you get the best results from your skincare.
#Northsomerset #patientsfirst #healthyskin #skincare #alumiermd #naturalskin #glowingskin #portishead #clevedon #nailsea
