What a nice surpise it is when a visit to the dentist doesn't end in tears! My eight year old daughter was due for a check up and I won't lie, I put it off for more than a week! My reason? Taking my daughter to the dentist has always been an ordeal in the past, between the over-long waits in the waiting room, my daughter's off and on shyness at meeting new people and her inability to tolerate someone poking around in her mouth (not that I blame her), dentist visits have been stressful and generally unpleasant since her first tiny tooth popped through her gum and changed her angelic, baby girl smile into a cheeky toddler's grin. But no more will we dread the uncomfortable silence of a waiting room we are both anxious and reluctant to leave. Bupa Dental conducts their clinic in an entirely different fashion, our appointment started on time with no more than a five minute wait in the jolly and casually styled waiting room. Next we met the dentist, a sweet lady who seemed entirely comfortable around kids, to my jubilant disbelief my daughter seemed entirely unperturbed at this point, following the dentist (whom she had never met before) into the examination room, smiling shyly as she went. Dr Shirlyn (our dentist) engaged my daughter in an easy conversation about Elsa, Christmas and our old dog (whom we all adore). Never before had I seen my daughter so at ease at the dentist. The check up part was quick and painless, followed by kindly instructions from Dr Shirlyn on how to care for her teeth, my daughter was then presented with a sparkly plastic toothbrush and we were sent on our way, both of us beaming and in higher spirits then I ever would have thought possible upon leaving a dentist office. Well done Dr Shirlyn, we'll be back in three months! read more