I am sure like me, there have been times when you have wondered what difference might have been made to your life, if your younger self had been gifted with the experience and knowledge you have accumulated over the years.

I invited several friends from the writing community to share their thoughts on this subject which I am sure you will enjoy as much as I did.

Today author Stevie Turner shares her experiences with dentists in her teenage years and the probable devastating effect it had on her health.

I WISH I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW! By Stevie Turner

One unfortunate thing about being a naïve, green teenager is that you tend to believe what older people tell you.

When we first moved to South East London we had to find a dentist. Mum took 13 year old Stevie to one dentist in New Cross and promptly informed me that she didn’t like the look of him. He had no nurse, no other staff at all, no patients waiting, and he wanted to anaesthetise me and take out 4 of my teeth. I was ushered out of the surgery quick as a flash and we never went back. About a year later he was front page news on the local rag due to his propensity to assault young girls while they were under sedation.

Mum eventually found us an NHS dentist she was happy with, Mr Brown. He filled her mouth with free crowns and she was as pleased as punch. Her teeth had never looked so good. We stuck with Mr Brown for years, but oh how I wish I knew then what I know now.

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