This Dental Centre, at 129 High Street, is opposite Sainsbury's, and has 6 dentists working on the NHS, who between them speak English, Afrikaans, Czech, Slovak, Russian, German, Lithuanian, French and Spanish. (But not Korean).

They are currently accepting new NHS patients, though the Hygienist's services have to be paid for privately, at ₤35 per session.

Tel 0208 521 4333

Willing as I am to suffer for my reading public I made an appointment to meet the dentist to look at a problem I have with one of my lower molars. Those who are squeamish need not look away while I give opinions on Dr Oscar Villa's handiwork. Dr Villa is a charming man, but it turns out that the work needed is not available on the NHS and I have been told it would cost about two thousand pounds! I am exploring options, which could include having the work done by a dentist in Dalian or Shanghai in China.

There is another dentist practice called the Abbey Dental Practice in St James's Street.