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…..
✨ Every smile has a story.
For this patient, treatment was about more than improving their teeth - it was about feeling confident enough to smile without hesitation.
It’s moments like these that remind us why we love what we do. Watching someone see their new smile for the first time never gets old.
If you’ve been thinking about making a change but aren’t sure where to start, we’re always happy to have a conversation about your options.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
Worried that teeth straightening might hurt?
It’s one of the most common questions we get from patients considering aligner treatment.
The good news is that most patients don’t describe teeth straightening as painful. You may notice a feeling of pressure when you move to a new aligner, but this is usually mild, temporary and simply a sign that your teeth are moving as planned.
Many patients are surprised by how quickly they adapt and find that treatment fits comfortably into their daily routine.
Every smile is different, but our team will guide you through every step of your treatment journey and make sure you know exactly what to expect.
Thinking about straightening your teeth but still have questions? We’re always happy to help.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
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Could you be the first smile our patients remember?
At Evolve Dentistry, we believe every patient deserves to feel genuinely welcomed, cared for and valued from the very first moment they contact us.
That’s why we’re looking for a new Patient Care Advisor to join our award-winning team.
This isn’t just a reception role.
It’s about creating exceptional experiences, building relationships and helping people feel at ease during every interaction.
You don’t need dental experience. If you love helping people, enjoy working as part of a supportive team and take pride in delivering outstanding service, we’d love to hear from you.
Here’s what you can expect:
• An award-winning team culture
• A modern private practice environment
• Ongoing training and development
• Staff dental benefits
• Team socials and celebrations
• A role where you’ll genuinely make a difference every day
Working hours
Monday: 8.00am - 7.15pm
Tuesday: 1.45pm - 6.15pm
Friday: 8.00am - 1.45pm
If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you.
To request an application pack, email hello@evolve-dentistry.co.uk
Please help us by sharing this post with someone who would be a perfect fit for the Evolve family.
A huge thank you to everyone who completed our latest patient survey.
Your feedback helps us celebrate what’s working well, identify where we can improve and continue providing the level of care our patients expect from Evolve Dentistry.
Every comment has been read and every response helps shape the future of our practice.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Every smile has a story, and it’s a privilege to be part of the journey. ✨
This transformation is a wonderful example of what can be achieved with personalised treatment planning, attention to detail, and a focus on creating natural-looking results.
Whether you’re looking to improve the appearance of your smile, restore confidence, or simply feel more comfortable showing your teeth in photos, we’re here to help you explore the options available.
A huge well done to Dr Yasmin Zeina and the team for helping this patient achieve a smile they can feel proud of. 😊
If you’ve been thinking about making a change to your smile, why not get in touch to arrange a consultation and discover what’s possible?
📍 Portishead
📞 Contact our reception team to learn more.
✨ Thousands of happy patients ✨
Choosing a dental practice is a big decision, and we’re incredibly grateful that so many people have trusted us with their smiles over the years.
Whether it’s helping someone feel confident enough to smile in photos again, straightening teeth they’ve been unhappy with for years, or simply making dental visits feel less daunting, every patient’s journey is important to us.
Thank you to every patient who has chosen Evolve Dentistry, shared their experience, recommended us to friends and family, or trusted us with their care.
Your support means the world to our team, and we’re proud to be part of so many smile transformations and success stories.
💙 Here’s to many more happy smiles.
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