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"Great service"

About: Adult Community Services / community dental care Arches Wellbeing and Treatment Centre Diabetic Eye Screening / The Arches Wellbeing and Treatment Centre

(as the patient),

After a long bout of flu and chest infection in January, oral problems arose with quote generalised teeth, gums and jaw pain, especially in one part of my mouth.  I needed a dentist, and am registered with one, but engagement has been irregular for several reasons not unique to me.

Coincidentally and unknown to me, the day I was looking to phone the dentist, I saw I was down for an appointment to see the Community Dentist Clinic based at The Arches Centre, and they would be coming to me and other people with limited mobility.

So, this was a hugely timely coincidence, as confirmed by Roy on the phone at the Dental Clinic.  Roy was helpful and reassuring.

I saw the Denist, Dr Conroy later that morning, along with two colleagues, and she took the time to properly engage, listen and answer my queries, and examined me, confirming it looked like a painful abscess, and the priority was/is to clear it and calm things down before any other Dental work. Dr Conroy said would prescribe a suitable antibiotic, but also wanted to look at my other medication, etc, and would call me later in the day.

Dr Conroy called me back, agreed the antibiotic, and said to continue with regular rinses with salty warm water (which I have been doing).  She said she would call me two days later to see how things were, and was true to her word. I told her I had started the antibiotic, and the mouth and jaw felt a little less swollen, but I was leaving that side of my mouth alone apart from the rinses. I thanked Dr Conroy and the Team, and said I would phone the Clinic with an update after the weekend.

I phoned the Dental Clinic and got through to Roy there, who remembered our conversation, and I left word that the swelling and pain have reduced, and I'm continuing to take the antibiotic until the course is completed, along with the salty water rinses.

Roy told me they've made an appointment for me to see them at The Arches Centre early April, which is great, and I know to call them if anything arises in-between now and then.

I thanked Roy and the whole Team for their help and care, as I do again here now, and am glad, based on my experience, to recommend this service to other potential users.

On a wider point, this is the third service based at The Arches Service in recent times.  I also utilise the Diabetic Eye Screening and the Podiatry Service at The Arches Centre, and I have provided very positive feedback on those, too. I am scheduled to use both again within the next month or two.

Thank you to all concerned.

Take care.

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Responses

Response from Tara Hynds, Business Support Officer, Dentistry, Belfast Health & Social care Trust 3 weeks ago
Tara Hynds
Business Support Officer, Dentistry,
Belfast Health & Social care Trust
Submitted on 25/02/2026 at 15:32
Published on Care Opinion at 15:32


Hello,

Thank you kindly for taking the time to tell us about your recent experience with the Community Dental Service and your engagement with staff at the Arches Health & Wellbeing Centre.

I am especially pleased to hear that your scheduled appointment with the Arches came at the right time. There is nothing as bad as having dental pain and having to wait to see a dentist.

Roy is a valued member of our admin team at the Arches and is always very helpful and I am pleased that he was able to help and allay any concerns about a follow up.

Very pleased that the treatment was successful and a follow-up phone call was made, which really helps to reassure patients.

Thank you again for your time in conveying your positive experience.

Kindest regards

Tara Hynds

Business Support Officer.

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