Friars Street Dental Practice - Sudbury

Phil S.

Have been going here for 50+ years . I had the same 2 dentists for around 40 years of this period which was great. However, nowadays they change the dentists on a yearly basis so you never build a rapore. The building itself is looking shabby on the outside and in the room I sat last week they had a waste paper bin perched on a filing cabinet collecting water from a leak in the ceiling above !!!! Hardly hygienic considering the sterile environment this is supposed to be . They really need to up there game !!!!

Sarah D.

I have been a patient here for 35 years and was devastated when Mr Grimwade retired. We were underwhelmed by his replacements until we were allocated to Karolina this summer. She told me some unwelcome home truths about my dental hygiene which initially upset me. However, she was extremely kind and patient and took a lot of time to give me excellent advice and show me how to improve the situation. In the autumn she gave me an extremely thorough clean and I left with the cleanest teeth I ever remember having and thanks to her advice my gums are in a far better condition. Yesterday I had a filling replacement under local anaesthetic which went very well and I am so pleased to have found such an excellent dentist again. Thank you, Karolina!

Alastair R.

So after two visits my daughter has been left petrified of the dentist due to the fact the dentist who was clearly new said and did things that have left her hating the experience unnecessarily. Complete lack of tact and care. Today with no notice I have arrived with my daughter and her mum to support her with today’s procedure and on entering the room was told only one parent. So now my daughter is upset again as she specifically wanted me there. Why not communicate in advance and why only one parent!? I have tried to call and complain by phone but nobody is answering! No wonder more people are neglecting their teeth with this being the service offered! Shocking!
Update, got through by phone and receptionist said she could pass me to the practice manager who was stood right next to her. Phone goes quiet and she comes back to me saying ‘ the practice manager will have to call you back’. Obviously swerving the complaint as was free 20 seconds ago.

Annahi B.

THIEVES!!!! They stole the full NHS funding for my teenage daughter's orthodontic treatment and refused to provide her with any treatment at all. The way we were treated was disgraceful and it has now resulted in thousands spent to try to get the same treatment privately elsewhere. I would give this practice cero starts if I could, unfortunately that is not an option in Google.

Nearly 2 years on the waiting list after referral she was finally granted her first appointment. The orthodontist reiterated that she needed braces. She was given a second appointment two months later for the fitting. The practice did not allocate enough appointment time, the orthodontist rushed and was interrupted twice to be advised that she needed to squeeze two emergency appointments in between. My daughter left with her full braces on. I have had braces myself so we were fully aware of aftercare and the do's and don'ts when having braces fitted.

The brackets started to come loose and a couple fell out. I made another appointment to correct these issues, the orthodontist advised that it was ok to leave her with a few brackets missing. Three weeks later, most brackets had fallen out. When I phoned the practice, they advised me that the orthodontist had left and they did not have anyone to replace, so nothing could be done at the time. They further advised that the only option was to go to the dentist and have the remaining brackets pulled out, which we did.

4 months later, the practice finally recruited an orthodontist. We were given an appointment and were told that we had to start all over again. Pictures and impressions taken again. Another appointment was made for the fitting, then cancelled because the new orthodontist had left.....

2 months later, another appointment made, another orthodontist... just to be refused treatment on the grounds that it was my daughter's fault, the failure of the first fitting was her responsibility and she will not be entitled to anything else. The new orthodontist was beyond rude and obnoxious, she did not let us speak and shooed us out. That was it, the NHS will not fund again. We practically got kicked out of the consultation room. Disgusting.

I appealed with the practice manager who referred me to the practice owner, just to be told that their decision is final.

I see this as plain robbery and abuse of the already weak NHS dentistry service - it is my hard earned money, paid to the NHS, which indirectly should be funding my daughter's treatment. DO NOT USE THIS PRACTICE.

georgia J.

Did not get as far as the appointment.
Have used this dentist for a long time however hadn’t been there for a while due to Covid and using another dentist.
Booked in for a scale and polish over the phone- no problem.
Upon arrival I was asked to complete some new forms as they had ‘lost my records’ as it had been such a long time since I had been. I agreed to complete the forms and did not think much of it.
I was taken through to the dentist where I met the hygienist and dentist. The hygienist then mentioned to me that it would be an initial £80 payment as I’m not a ‘new patient’ and then I could pay for the scale and polish on top of that. Absolutely disgusting, why should I be paying for someone else’s mistake. Will not be returning!

Jacob L.

This dentistry provides extremely poor service. I have had Several cancelled appointments with no notice given - Having Driven large distance for hours just to be told appointment is cancelled - multiple times. On more than one occasion they claim they had sent a letter, of which no letter was ever sent. This is therefore a lie to cover their inadequacy.
The main issue is that I have been receiving dental service for multiple years and no progress has been made. This is due to negligent care and constant changing of staff. Overall it is an extremely poor and painful experience, with what seems to be badly trained staff who seem to frequently quit the job. I have had over 4 dental staff assigned to me over 5 years (due to them leaving frequently) and the desired outcome has not been reached. Poor service. Poor communication. Poor dentistry.

Paul D.

Unfortunately I haven’t managed to get as far as being able to review the actual dentists as I’ve been on a waiting list for two years, with no proactive update from the clinic. I’ve chased a few times to be told I’m still on the list but nothing further than that. I’ve now given up hope as looking at the reviews, it doesn’t look like it would be worth the wait. I’ve since joined a practice in Lavenham and have an appointment within a week of my initial enquiry.

John

I have been a patient here for around 45 years. After many years with Dr Walker I am now looked after by Dr Karolina who always delivers first class care.