This is the start of a blog about our life in a dental practice in South London. We have been here for 50 years now. The practice was started by Tom Mead at 9 Thurlow Park Road having first began further up the Hill on Tulse Hill. My name is Peter Haynes and I came here as a young associate just after I qualified in August 1970. I got this address from a fellow student. Her name was Mary Duck. We had been friends for 5 years and she said that she had this address and telephone number but the job was only part time. I took the piece of paper from her and rang Tom straight away. His gruff voice just said "when can you start?" "Better come for an interview" I said. We met in the Tulse Hill Tavern at 6.30pm and the rest was history. And that was the last I saw of Mary Duck!

We are a progressive Dental practice. Always trying new things. Luke Lucas is the other co-director of Hayneasdental Ltd. He is half Greek. He has two small children and talks a lot. He is also an excellent dentist. I could talk to him all day about teeth. Can you imagine that? Two chaps who just talk about teeth all day. That is how dentistry gets you and which is why I hope this will be an interesting blog to read.

Now there is Emily. She is our third dentist. She is cool and calm. She is sensible and keeps us in order. Her nurse is Tina and they talk about girl things all day. Fay is our receptionist. She has been here for the last ten years since she came here as an intern and took over from Ann who had been for 25years until she retired. Fay is a friendly, people person and she speaks a different language to me. Or rather I speak a different language to her. She is a real person. I am not sure what I am. But hopefully that will be revealed on this blog as the weeks go by!

We have three hygienists. Wanda, Carol and Cathy. They are all very good at their job and they all know an awful lot about things. They are all very different and I am scared of all of them.

Finally there is Bev who is my nurse and has been here 25 years, Linda who is also my nurse and Yvonne who is Luke's nurse and she has been here 10years. Bev, Fay and Yvonne are well known by all our patients. When you have worked with someone for as long as Bev and I have, there is no need to talk. It lends to a calm atmosphere. 

So that is the team you will find here at the dental practice. Finally, our logo says "Love your Teeth". It is our aim that with correct and good quality dentistry all our patients can be proud of their teeth and keep them for life. And that really is our aim. That is our passion and our goal. We will go to every length to learn new techniques and keep up with the latest scientific development just so that we can fulfil that goal. Love your teeth. Peter Haynes