What patients say

 I am a primary school teacher.

I used to have a phobia about attending the dentist.  It started as a result of having unpleasant treatment as a child and I used to over-worry about it.  Even thinking about going would make me really, really anxious and I avoided going.  I had an abscess when I was pregnant and so I eventually had to go.  The dentist I saw then was patronising and rude about my nervousness making me feel like I was really pathetic.  After this I did not go at all for about 6 years.  About 10 years ago we moved houses along with our three small children.  I decided I needed to set them a good example and start going regularly.  I was determined that they would not be afraid about not going to the dentist too.  I saw an advert for Dr Zaman’s practice which advertised itself as being for nervous patients.

As I made the initial phone call I was extremely anxious but the receptionist reassured me that they would be able to help.  The first time I went to see him I can remember it was a real ordeal for me.  I was shaking and my husband took me but I knew I wanted to go through with it.  I had explained to Dr Zaman that I was very nervous patient and the first few times I attended we just had a chat and he did not do any treatment.  This was to get me used to going to the dentist, to the surgery and to him.  He was so reassuring and gave me as much time as I needed.  He made me feel like it was all right to be frightened.  He did not make me feel small or stupid for being so anxious and scared.  He has always been kind and very patient with me.  I remain nervous but I can cope with this because I know Dr Zaman understands that.

Dr Zaman is also very nice with my children who have been going to see him since they were small.  He has always given them plenty of time and would always say that they could come back again if they needed more time to prepare themselves rather than doing any treatment or check up there and then if they were not happy.  He behaves exactly the same towards children and adults in my experience.  Some dentists treat children in a different manner.  The orthodontist my daughter sees clearly works a lot with children but he does not communicate well.  He takes no time to put them at ease.  I would expect him to make some extra effort wtih children if not with adults but he does not.  By contrast Dr Zaman has made us all feel at east at the surgery.

 I am the Branch manager of Barclays Bank in near Wakefield.

I have a phobia about my teeth and I did not go to the dentist for years.  I have this feeling that my teeth are going to fall out, that if I go to the dentist I will be told that there is something seriously wrong, such as severe gum disease.  I also do not like dental surgeries.  Needles do not particularly bother me.

When I moved to the area from Hull, I started to look for a dentist, as I wanted to have my teeth straightened with a brace and to have two teeth at the front, which I thought looked like fangs, removed.  It had taken me literally years to find the courage to seek this treatment.  I visited a few dentists locally to try to find somewhere I felt comfortable attending, without having any treatment.  Eventually I saw Dr Zaman’s advert, which said that his practice specialised in nervous patients and I arranged to see him.  This was a real ordeal for me and I was shaking with nerves but he instantly put me at my ease.  His manner was so nice.  He was really caring and really understanding about my phobia.  I had never experienced that before.  In particular I had never found anyone so patient with me.  If I cry when I go he has never appeared to mind at all and never made me feel silly which I have been made to feel by other dentists.

It takes me 40-50 minutes on a good day to get to the surgery, each way, which also shows how much I want to see him rather than any other dentists, as there are many practices much nearer to me than that.  The level of service he provides is worth it.

He also always tells me to put my hand up at any time if I do not like anything at all about what he is doing and he will stop immediately.  I have done so and he has always stopped straight away and not continued until he was sure that I was ready to go on.  I was rude to him and shouted ‘stop’ at him, for example, when he was taking my teeth out several times and doing a filling.  I found that he was good at sensing if I was not happy about something anyway.

When I told him that I was very nervous about how I would feel to have the brace on my teeth and then what it would feel like when it was taken off and in particular that I was worried that my teeth might come off with it, he told me all about when he had worn a brace and what it felt like, etc.  This really helped me.

Because of his lovely manner I have been able to manage seeing him without having someone holding my hand all the time.  He is always very encouraging, says ‘you’re doing well’ during treatment.

Dr Zaman is also very good at explaining to me every single thing he is going to do, which I need and ask for.  He makes me feel like I am in control of what he’s doing which also puts me very much at my ease. 

There is an instant warmth when I go and see him.  I believe he is genuinely interested in me and providing me with the best dental treatment possible.  The atmosphere at the surgery is relaxed.  He appears to get on well with his staff and there is often quite jokey banter between them but he is always professional at the same time.


 All five of us attend Dr Zaman’s practice, including my husband, and also my mother and father who joined at my recommendation (my mother is also a very nervous patient).  It is a drive from where we live, probably about 20-25 minutes in the car.  There are plenty of practices closer but it is worth going to Dr Zaman .


 It was a very big ordeal for me to go to the practice to see Dr Zaman when I first attended.  I needed treatment urgently by the time I went as I delayed going for so long.  He is the best dentist I have ever been to, both in terms of how he is towards me and also the standard of his work. 


I have visited Dr Zaman on numerous occasions while visiting the UK.  As a member of the dental profession in Canada, I have always appreciated Dr Zaman’s professionalism and genuine courtesy.