Interview With Chris Pottle (Semi-Retired Dentist)

Chris Pottle was my final interview as he was extremely available to me and happy to talk about his profession. The interview was firstly recorded then written out to form the "Q&A" style of  interviews you often see printed in magazines and news papers. 

Interview with Christopher Pottle (semi- retired dentist)

Chris Pottle

25/07/1957

Previously owned two dental practices in Kent and was the principle dentist of both. 

Managed the practises with his wife Janice.

Now sold up and currentl doing locum work.

Q. What made you choose dentistry as a career?

A. Well I always want to do something in the medical profession as a child as I spent quite a bit of time in hospital. On careers day there was a doctor, vet and a dentist and the dentists described his profession so passionately that it made me want to do it.

Q. How does training differ now to when you trained?

A. It was more male orientated in the 1970s at guys hospital where I trained. And now in all dental schools there’s much more female than male students. The change of materials means that filling teeth with amalgam is not taught, the silver amalgam, is more white fillings these days and also we use to make our own crowns and dentures which I don’t think is done so much now.

Q. What innovations in equipment or materials have there been since you qualified?

A. Well I think white fillings, especially white fillings for back teeth where there use to be silver ones that came in, in about 1981 with a material called occlusion which was horrible stuff and it was a bit like wet sand but it got much better over the last 30 years and now looks really life like. Also what we call light curing or light activated fillings where the fillings are actually set by shining light on them. Flexible acrylic dentures much better than the old fashioned hard plastic dentures and the last thing is 100%pure ceramic crowns means there’s no metal inside so you get a much better appearance. 

Q. What would you say makes a good dentist?

A. I think the number one important thing is being sensitive to your patient’s individual needs. Having a good chair side manner, being gentle, talking to patients but also keeping up CPD (continuing professional development) which is learning about new materials and techniques so you don’t fall behind on technology.

Q. How have patient’s expectations changed?

A. Well patients use to go to the dentist for fillings, extractions and dentures that was it. There use to be a phrase we had 3 sets of teeth milk teeth, adult teeth and false teeth. But now much more prevention and cosmetic works been done patients wants to keep their teeth for one thing they don’t want dentures, they want to look good not just to be able to chew, so crowns and veneers and tooth whitening especially is in demand.

Q. Would you call yourself a successful dentist?

A. If success can be measured in patient satisfaction in my work, and if enjoying over 30 years of dentistry 2/3 of which have been owning and running my own practise then yes.

Q. Is there anything you don’t like in dentistry?

A. Charlatans, as in any profession a dentist who rips off their patients by giving substandard work for over inflated prices really annoys me, I think these days we can give the patients what they need for a reasonable price even outside the health service.

Q. If you were not a dentist what would you want to be?

A. I would have gone into special effect in films, I love the idea of being able to create movie monsters and zombies using electronics and makeup.