Gerald Feaver; 2022; £9.99, Troubador Publishing, pp. 120; ISBN: 978-1803130217

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Dentists like Gerald Feaver are few and far between. Leaving public school in the late 1960s with just two A Levels, Feaver worked in hospital clerical jobs before applying to study dentistry at Guy's. A career in corporate dentistry with Marks and Spencer followed, eventually ending up with a practice on Harley Street. Although Feaver only retired in 2018, much of A little book of impressions tells the story of how things used to be. Of a time when dentistry was uncomplicated, and dentists were free to concentrate on what was best for their patients without fear of recriminations. One might assume that the tales within hold little interest to today's dentist, but this assumption would be incorrect.

Although clearly written for the layperson, A little book of impressions offers much of interest to those working in dentistry today. We'll find no stories here of filling CVs and UCAS forms full of evidence of dedication to dentistry from a young age, but instead, we may discover tales to which we can all relate. Stories of those patients and tutors who left a mark on our lives. And the importance of support from friends, family and colleagues throughout a dental career.

Highlights include the description of life at Guy's Hospital, which fellow alums will recognise with joy, and those of a certain age may even find some of the names of the tutors to be familiar. But the real standouts are those tales of the patients throughout Feaver's practising years. Here we see that dentistry, and dental patients, are truly universal. Even though few of us will have the opportunity, or desire, to practise on Harley Street, we will all recognise these people cropping up on our day list. We each have a 'Mrs Buzzy', the challenging patient who regularly calls out of hours. And we will all recognise the seemingly quiet patient who eventually uncovers a history of bravery and valour.

A light and breezy read, at just 120 pages, A little book of impressions can be digested in one or two brief sittings. Feaver is an amiable raconteur who worked through what many would consider to be the golden years of dentistry. The book is crammed with anecdotes from a career many can only aspire to, and with Christmas not all that far away, it makes an ideal stocking filler for the past, present or future dentist in the family.

Shaun Sellars