Coventry Dentists

Something completely different! In early 1940 my father needed a dentist; like so many people, he only visited when absolutely necessary because of the cost, and at the age of 39 needed all his teeth out. He went to a dentist named Shevlin (I don't know if this is the correct spelling) whose practice was by Hearsall Common. The dentist gave him a number of injections, and proceeded to pull each tooth out. My father said that everything went black each time, and the pain was horrendous. When he went back a while later, the surgery was crawling with police. The dentist himself had gone away on an extended break, and his chauffeur had decided to impersonate him, grab his ill-gotten gains, and scarper before Mr Shevlin returned. Someone must have notified the police, because the chauffeur took his boss's car and fled, the police caught him, he was charged, and sentenced to a quite hefty prison term. How he expected to get away with it, even then, is a mystery. The chauffeur couldn't access the drugs in their cupboard, because it was locked, so he injected "his" patients with distilled water. He made such a mess of my father's mouth that the gums had to have a lot of attention from a police dental surgeon for months afterwards, and special dentures made, because normal ones wouldn't stay in place due to the damage done. My dad couldn't have been the only one, but how many were "treated" by this crook, I don't know. I wonder if anyone remembers the dentist or the incident?

I'm sure there still is a dentist there, not sure if it's the same owners, as my daughter's boyfriend used to go to it, another bad dentist was on Dark Lane in the 80s, also a few years ago one was found practising without any qualifications and not numbing properly when pulling teeth at Nuneaton.

Bet they weren't impostors, though!!

(One of?) The dentist(s) who succeeded Shevlin was named Carter, and I went to school with his son. Someone whom I knew at work a few years ago (and still know well) is the son of (one of?) Carter's successors in the practice. I think, but I'm not certain now, that the practice was on the corner of Hearsall Lane and one of the roads joining it. (The little grey cells are a bit uncooperative at times these days. )

Hi all, or should I say "hwdodlepfumpidoo" I have just returned home following the second of three prearranged dental treatments this morning. More to come in a fortnight too. I still have a reasonable set of teeth & I cannot remember suffering toothache much ever, but the time had come for a once in a while over-haul. My dentist, part of Holbrooks Health Team, was very reassuring throughout to her very timid patient, as her engineering work progressed. No pain, just a sloppy mouth feel which has at least shut me up. I don't know why I am nervous, as I have never had a bad experience with any dentists, unlike some. I have outlived three of my dentists, Mr Cleverly in Binley Rd, Mr Cross in Rotherham Rd, & Mr Bowden at HHT (Holbrooks Health Team). What are your stories & experiences on this, please?

"You are a braver (better) man than I Gunga Din" As quoted by Rudyard Kipling.

I had my first teeth extracted when I was 5 years old, and I was constantly at the dentist afterwards until at the age of 18 I had them all removed and false ones fitted, which I have never regretted, I am now 79 years old. I have had 6 sets of false teeth to get used to and never had any trouble with any of them.

I've had nothing but nightmares on most of my visits to dentists in Coventry! I'm struggling to remember their names, (probably trying to eradicate them from my memory) but the first one was based at 2 Longfellow Road. He didn't inspire much confidence by muttering 'oops!' as he injected me in the wrong part of my mouth. Result? A bruised yellow cheek for two days. Dentist number two was the infamous Mr Summerfield and his team of Antipodean torturers based on the Binley Road. He ran what can only be described as a 'Dental Factory' with six or seven dentists working at breakneck speed. So much so that one of them injected me in the arm prior to an extraction, then proceeded to try to remove the offending molar whilst I was still wide awake! They also tried to dupe me into having four crowns at a total cost of £30. Not much these days, but quite a lot when you're only earning £25 a week. 36 years later I still haven't had them! I rest my case. Summerfield I believe fled back to the southern hemisphere a year or so later with wads of cash and several unpaid bills. Third mouth man was a chap called Mr Norton, based near the Devonshire Arms roundabout. He wouldn't have been out of place in 'Marathon Man' with his white coat and small round spectacles. He told me to grab his arm if he hurt me with his drill, not a very good sell in my book! When the time came to grab his arm, he ignored me and continued drilling. I closed my mouth with the drill still buzzing furiously away inside my mouth. I was half expecting him to utter the immortal words ..... 'Is it safe?' Happily my final dental visit was to a Mr Clemons also on the Binley Road. He cheerfully informed me that I had more metal in my mouth than could be found at the local scrapyard! He then proceeded to administer some painless treatment which made me realise that dentists could be half-human if they really tried! I hope this salutary tale hasn't revived too many unpleasant memories for other forum members. Makes me realise why I moved to Cornwall though!! P.S. I hope Philip that I haven't discouraged you from your final visit!!

How uplifting you are Beesman, I found your post really encouraging - NOT. As the world's most biggest wimp when it comes to dentists I am now lost for words. I am sure you meant well. As a matter of interest, are there no dentists in Cornwall?

Hi Gilly, are you sure you've been seeing a DENTIST? My early recollections when I was maybe 7 or 8 was at a dentist called "Randle" (not sure of spelling) maybe on Lockhurst Lane or Foleshill Road(?) I only ever recall having teeth out there, and having the dreaded "gas" each time. The waiting room was downstairs, and his room was up a very steep iron circular staircase - which you then had to navigate down whilst still coming round from the effects. My parents used to make sure they had a rather large bowl in the car for the journey home! In later years I visited a dentist on Earlsdon Ave called Mr Newbould - who was a bit of a butcher if I remember correctly. I recall I would often jump with pain during fillings. He would inject the anaesthetic in my gums when I needed a filling and then leave me for what seemed like hours waiting for it to take effect - which probably meant it had worn off! He tried everything to persuade my wife that she should have all her teeth out - which she flatly refused and promptly went elsewhere!

Hi TonyS, I was racking my brain this morning trying to remember his name (Newbould). He was another who wore those small circular spectacles that reminded me of Himmler !

Sorry about that Dreamtime. There are dentists here in Cornwall and I must admit that visiting the dentist is nothing like as scary as it was 20 or 30 years ago.