I hope everyone had a great festive break and I wish you all an even better New Year in 2023.

But, no matter how much you enjoyed the holidays, I suspect those three or four days between Christmas and December 31 dragged and felt like dead time.

After all the celebrating and looking back fondly on the past year it’s just a matter of marking time until the start of a new era. For me it was no different and all that broke the monotony were two trips out – one to the barber and a second to the dentist.

The first is self-explanatory as we all love a bit of pampering, even if it is for only 20 minutes, but I should perhaps explain the pleasure I extract from a dental visit.

First, with teeth like chalk I’ve become accustomed to spending hours in the chair, and second, the administration and effectiveness of pain relief has evolved exponentially.

I’ve got so used to having cavities filled I often waive the offer of an injection, preferring instead to endure a little discomfort and avoid the numb dribbling.

But, this time I was having a snapped premolar extracted in preparation for the introduction of some cow bone and an implant, so avoiding pain relief wasn’t an option.

'I have to conclude failing to book a six-monthly appointment is the result of a more justifiable terror – perhaps receiving the bill from the receptionist as you leave....'

The trouble is anaesthetic is now so good and my dentist so professional and gentle that, following quite a few late nights at Christmas, I found myself nodding off. Being woken the first time wasn’t too bad, but falling asleep a second time and having to be nudged awake and asked to ‘open a little wider, please’ was frankly embarrassing.

I made a muffled apology and he said something polite about it being a pleasant change to have such a relaxed patient to treat.

Whilst I really can’t see why anyone makes a fuss about going to the dentist any more, I did see a stat claiming two in five Brits don’t bother with check-ups at all, choosing instead to only get their teeth looked at when they’re actually in pain.

In this day and age I simply can’t believe people don’t visit a dentist regularly due to fear.

I have to conclude failing to book a six-monthly appointment is the result of a more justifiable terror – perhaps receiving the bill from the receptionist as you leave.

Unless you’re one of the increasingly larger number of people falling at the first hurdle and simply being unable to find an NHS dentist you can sign up for.

Personally my biggest fear is my dentist retires before I get the chance to get my gnashers sorted or I fall asleep so often he refuses to treat me.

I’ve managed to make my next appointment, to have the work finished, in early March – take my advice and don’t leave it too long in 2023 before you book in with a dentist yourself, you might enjoy it more than you think.

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