A trip to the hygienist is never going to register too highly on many people's list of fun activities, so don't worry: I'm not about to try and make any crazy claims about completely enjoyable dentistry. But speaking as a former dental-mental who was phobic of having any sort of work done for most of my life, I can honestly say that my visit to Smilepod was the most stress-free and painless experience I've had to date - and I've come out with an astonishingly clean and gleaming set of gnashers to show for it.
Read on to find out what happened!
Smilepod's London office is a bijoux little place tucked away in Rose Street just off the main shopping drag of Covent Garden, so you could easily fit in a session when you're out on an errand, or as I did, in your lunch hour. The waiting and consultation rooms are brightly decorated and the staff are equally cheerful - not that I had long to inspect the decor as I was promptly ushered in for my appointment as soon as I'd arrived.
I was booked in for the popular High Gloss Diamond Polish (£85) which is a really thorough clean that leaves teeth visibly spruced up and shiny, as it's designed with cosmetic improvement in mind. This is an entirely non-invasive procudure that's a great choice if your teeth are starting to build up plaque, have everyday staining or in need of freshening up.
My dentist, Alice, was extremely friendly and did a great job at putting me at ease. She started by scaling my teeth with a high power air polishing jet, which gets rid of stains and plaque buildup. I soon got used to the vibrations and water, and was very relieved to find that there was very little discomfort. If you have sensitive teeth as I do, you may experience the odd bit of discomfort, but certainly nothing remotely on a par with plucking eyebrows or waxing legs!
Once she'd finished the scaling Alice blasted my teeth with a super stain removing formula which tasted like a really strong toothpaste, then spent a few minutes polishing them using a diamond polishing paste and electronic brush. This element of the treatment was entirely comfortable even for a wuss like me, and I was able to sit back and enjoy the feeling of my teeth getting fresher and brighter. I was half expecting some fairies to come along and do a little dance in my mouth at the end, so transformed did I feel, but before I knew it the treatment was over and I was looking back at my grinning face revealing a set of super shiny teeth! I'm almost looking forward to my next check up at the dentist, who'll be massively surprised at the transformation.
Would I go again? Most definitely. It's great to know your teeth are in fantastic nick and you can smile with confidence. And that it won't hurt to get them looking that good again...