Dr. Kimberley Dugdale

I began writing this by listing all the usual stats, but then I thought it may be just as important to instead express some of the reasons that I still look forward to coming to work each day. Let me share with you some of the things that make me appreciate my life’s work as much as I really do. For one thing, the opportunity I have to change someone’s life by cosmetically remaking their smile is a little life changing for me too. Seeing the confidence return to a person who has undergone a smile makeover gives meaning to what we do here at Westgate Dental Centre. When we see that we can provide someone with a new outlook on life, and know that we have made someone’s world a little better, it is awesome! Can you imagine us doing this for you or someone you love who is just waiting to show the world the smile they’ve tucked away because it has embarrassed them or undermined their self-confidence? We know that a smile can open doors as well as hearts, and it is a terrible thing to hide away from the world and those we love. This isn’t to say that we don’t also enjoy caring for those who already have a great smile; guiding a motivated person to maintain excellent oral health is our mandate and goal for every patient we see – at every age. Another aspect of my work that matters to me is being given the opportunity to change someone’s view on “the dental experience.” For a variety of reasons, not everyone enjoys a visit to the dentist…really! In fact, less than 50% of people who have dental insurance benefits actually go to the dentist. That tells me that something has gone wrong here. Be it a negative childhood experience, a failure to receive adequate numbing, a sense of being judged with condescension or a case of old fashioned dental phobia, this is something we have the know-how to change at the Westgate Dental Centre. Just keeping it real here, I do appreciate that not everyone will love being here as much as we do. We are mindful that you really don’t have to be extremely positive about receiving dentistry; you may just want to get through it, and we are here for you with a helping hand, the understanding and the TLC that will enable you to enjoy your dental health goals, and the healthy smile we think everyone deserves. I cannot think of a better day at work than when I receive a hug from a child who, at the end of their appointment, didn’t realize we had already removed their tooth. When I see a smile of gratitude from someone after we finished restoring a tooth that they felt certain was unsalvageable, or when we are rewarded with a giant smile after brightening someone’s smile before their big day – that makes my day. These are the things that motivate and inspire us to work as hard as we do for you here at Westgate Dental Centre. I am truly grateful to be able to work in this community, and in a practice with such a fabulous group of gifted, and generous individuals, and with patients whom I have come to know as friends, and who are like family.