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If you have never been to a proper dental clinic before, or if your last visit left you swearing never to go back, you are not alone. Lagos can be a jungle and a lot of places are not as we expect them to be. And sadly, this is also a thing in medicine too. From the drugs you buy, to clinics you visit, some experience can stop you from ever doing them again.
A lot of people in Lagos carry small dental issues around for years, not because the issue is not serious, but because the first experience somewhere puts them off.
We sat down with one of our patients at Dr. Reach Dental Clinic to talk about exactly that: what her first visit to a dental clinic in Lagos was like, what nearly stopped her from trying again, and what actually happened when she walked into our clinic. No filter, no script. Here is her story, in her own words.
“I dodged the dentist for almost two years”
Us: Thank you for doing this. Before we start, how should we refer to you?
Patient: You can call me Jane.
Us: How long had the issue been bothering you before you finally saw someone?
Patient: I’ve always felt pain in one of the teeth, but I took medications for the pain whenever it gets intense, and generally tried avoiding the tooth area whenever I’m eating or chewing something.
Her first clinic experience – before Dr. Reach
Us: Tell me about the last dental clinic you visited before coming here. Where was it, and why did you choose them?
Patient: There’s a clinic around where I stay (name withheld). I went for my tooth removal and you won’t believe that the anesthesia wore off even before the tooth was removed. It was my wisdom tooth, and I believe there was little difficulty in getting out the root. I didn’t receive any clear explanation (I couldn’t even ask, my mouth, head body, everything dey bang).
Us: Walk me through what actually happened when you got there.
Patient: I walked him, I’ve always seen the clinic around, I met with the dentist and complained. I was actually expecting the teeth to be saved because the dark spot I noticed was very tiny, and it was the first time it’ll be aching me. But it was removed, not really messy, but painful towards the end.
Us: Was there a specific moment that made you uncomfortable, or made you think, “I’m not coming back here”?
Patient: It was the dentist’s rush. I still had a lot to talk about when the dentist decided I’ll have to remove the tooth.
Us: Did they actually fix the problem? Did it come back?
Patient: Yeah. It was fixed.
How she found Dr. Reach
Us: So how did you first hear about us?
Patient: It was first on instagram earlier this year. So, lately, I often see their content online when searching for some dental health information, which gave me the confidence to visit the Ikeja branch.
Us: Was there anything that almost stopped you from booking an appointment with us?
Patient: Nothing. If there is anything, I’ll be holding back for several months.
Her first appointment at Dr. Reach
Us: Take me through it from the moment you walked in. What did you notice first?
Patient: Yhhh, even before I walked in, the online customer was top notch. When I got to the Ikeja clinic,
Us: Was there anything the dentist said or explained that stood out to you – something nobody had explained before?
Patient: Well, I’ve read a lot online already, but one that stood out, exceptionally, was how the doctor calmed me when he noticed I was scared. I was just afraid of the procedure.
Us: Was there a “wait, they do it differently here” kind of moment?
Patient: Yesssss, yes. The procedure didn’t feel like a “typical” dental procedure at all.
Us: How long did the appointment actually take, and did the cost match what you expected going in?
Patient: Honestly, I was in and out in about 45 minutes, including the prep time. Cost-wise, it was spot on with the quote they sent over WhatsApp beforehand, no surprise ‘add-on’ fees at checkout, which was a huge relief.
The comparison
Us: If a friend asked you to explain the difference between your old clinic and Dr. Reach in one or two sentences, what would you tell them?
Patient: At my old place, you feel like you’re on an assembly line getting drilled, but at Dr. Reach, they actually talk you through the process, respect your time, and keep it completely pain-free.
Us: Would you come back for something else? What would make you hesitate?
Patient:100% coming back for my routine check-ups. The only thing that would make me hesitate is traffic on the Island during peak hours, so I’d just make sure to book an early weekend slot.
Us: Anything you wish you had known before your very first dental appointment, anywhere – not just here?
Patient: I wish I’d known that a dental visit doesn’t have to equal pain or fear – you just have to find a clinic that treats you like a human being instead of just a patient.
What her story tells us about a first dental visit in Lagos
Every patient’s experience is different, but a few things came up in this conversation that we hear again and again:
- A bad first experience sticks. It is often not the dental issue itself that keeps people away – it is how they were treated the first time.
- Explanation matters more than people expect. Being told why something is happening, in plain language, changes how people feel about the whole visit.
- Cost surprises break trust fast. Knowing what to expect to pay before you sit in the chair makes a real difference.
If you are putting off your first dental appointment because of something that happened somewhere else before, we would rather you come and see for yourself than take our word for it. Book an appointment at our Yaba or Ikeja branch, and let’s help you get back on track.
