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By Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic, Ruabon, North Wales 3D Scan   | Whitening | Composite Bonding   | Veneers | Invisalign 👶 It Started in 1984 — In Our House When people ask me how long our clinic’s been running, I say: “Since 1984… technically from our living room.” My Mum and Dad built the original surgery from scratch — not in a rented unit or business park, but inside our own house. The study was the surgery, the living room became the waiting room, the kitchen was the lab, the decon room, the stock cupboard, and the tea station. Mum was the receptionist, hygienist, decorator, and accountant (dentistry wasn’t quite as regulated back then). Dad was the dentist, plumber, fixer, and everything else. And me? I was the baby in the waiting room — literally. Sat in my high chair, raking in 50ps from patients like some miniature receptionist with charm. (Adjusted for inflation, I’m owed a small fortune.) The chair marks are still engraved in the parquet floor. And to this day, the smell of developing fluid still takes me straight back to that kitchen–slash–lab–slash–brew station. 🛠️ Growing Up in a Dental Clinic (and Sleeping in the Waiting Room) After 18 months, the surgery moved next door into the old doctor’s surgery — which meant we got our house back. Sort of. Since I was a baby, our weekends and holidays weren’t for lie-ins or beach trips. Me and my little brother were: Painting surgery walls Tiling floors Carpeting cupboards Digging up concrete Fixing suction units And once — lugging a dental chair up a flight of stairs and around two tight corners (never again). I didn’t want to be a dentist back then. I wanted to be a volcanologist and chase lava around the world. How it all started - 1984 (According to AI) However, when university forms arrived, something drew me back. Dentistry was suddenly on the list again. So I tested it the best way I could: I spent my 6-week summer holidays nursing alongside Dad, who (very cleverly) tried to put me off by throwing me into blood, vomit, and hard work. It backfired. I absolutely loved it. 🧬 The Long Way Round I didn’t get into dental school the first time — because I missed the final page of my A-Level Biology paper (yep… 20 marks gone). So I did a degree in Physiology first, then got into dental school. Honestly? No regrets. I got 8 years of uni, played hockey, made lifelong friends, and discovered that the human body is amazing. I even did a year of MaxFax (maxillofacial surgery) — and that was an education in itself. Happy not to see dog bites on the neck again, or sleep on the floor waiting for the bleep to go off at 3 am, or stitch drunks back together in the wee hours… But I learned a lot. And I still use that knowledge to this day — especially when understanding how dentistry fits into the bigger picture of health, trauma, and recovery. It also reminded me that I really, really liked teeth. And not working through the night! 🧑‍⚕️ Full Circle: Returning to Ruabon in 2013 I did my foundation year in 2011 with Dad — because I knew I could ask any question and never feel stupid. In 2013, I came back for good. By 2018, Mum and Dad retired. Mum skipped off into the horizon, while Dad did a 3-day week, then a 1-day week, and now finished for good! Everyone shed a tear or two, or three. (Although if you know my dad, you’ll know he’s busier than ever — not quite sure how they ever ran a business on top of that.) Now I’m the one: Treating patients who used to hand me 50ps Running the practice they built And getting babysitting flashbacks from Andrea and Helen, who looked after me and my brother when we were toddlers. (Yes, I still remind them — even now I’m over 40.) 🔧 What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t) Dentistry’s moved on. We’ve got: Digital scanners Microscopes Magnification 3D imaging Instagram and TikTok And a LEGO astronaut named Captain Apex filming his own reels on YouTube But some things haven’t changed — and I hope never will: We still treat patients like family We still believe trust matters more than trophies We still value listening more than talking And we still believe a warm welcome and honest advice go further than fancy lighting We don’t want to sell you a smile. We want to help you build confidence — your way, if ethically possible. 🧠 What I’d Tell That Kid in the Waiting Room I’d tell him not to worry about that biology paper. I’d tell him that sometimes the scenic route is the right one. And I’d tell him that one day, this place would still be something special: A clinic full of patients who feel like old friends. A team that feels like family. And a blog that isn’t afraid to talk about the real stuff — even if it started in a high chair next to a steriliser in 1984. Looking back now, I never imagined I’d become a dentist in Ruabon — but this is where it all started. And the smell of the dentist, for me, is like walking back in time to being hugged by my parents. 👉 Want to See It for Yourself? Come visit. Ask questions. Sit in the chair. Or just stay in the waiting room for now — we get it. 📅 Book a relaxed consultation 📚 Or keep exploring the blog: 🗓 Book Your Free Smile Scan & Consultation 📞 Call us: 01978 823490   📧 Email:   wrexham2-tco@mydentist.co.uk 📍 Visit:   Start Your Smile Journey To speak to our brilliant TCO team — Faz, Angie, or Hannah  — to book a scan and chat. Looking back now, I never imagined I’d become a dentist in Ruabon — but this is where it all started.

By Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic, Ruabon, North Wales 3D Scan | Whitening | Composite Bonding | Veneers | Invisalign We don't bite, unless you’re a flapjack. Welcome to the dental blog you didn’t know you needed. We’re not here to sell you smile makeovers with sparkle emojis. We’re not going to throw dental jargon at you like plaque at a molar. And we’re definitely not here to make you feel bad about the Haribos you just inhaled. (They were the sour ones, weren’t they? No judgment. We love those too. ) We’re here to talk about real things. Like: Why do you keep cancelling your check-up (it’s not just your calendar) Whether a root canal is actually worse than The Smiler at Alton Towers How composite bonding might be the most underrated glow-up going And what happens in the hygienist room? What on earth is a Treatment Coordinator? And why are they so smiley? This is dentistry without the stiffness : just honesty, humour, and a healthy respect for Dad jokes and puns. 👨‍⚕️ Who’s Behind This? Hi. I’m Dr John Barclay  — or just John , unless I’m talking to my daughter (in which case I’m “Dad the Dentist with LEGO in his pocket”). Yes, I’m a dentist. Yes, I teach other dentists how to do complex root canals. But more than anything, I’m someone who gets how weirdly human  dentistry is. I’ve built this place — and this blog — around one goal: To help people feel more confident, less judged , and a little more like themselves in the chair (and in the mirror). Meet the Team in Ruabon Dentistry is a team sport — and I couldn’t do any of this without this bunch of legends: ☎️ Andrea – Part of the Furniture Since Last Century No, really — Andrea’s been here since the ‘80s . She’s our head receptionist and our human search engine! She remembers everyone’s name. She remembers their kids’ names. She remembers their dogs’ names. Andrea has been the first face (and voice) many of our patients have seen for decades — she is in every possible way, part of the furniture.   🧡 Ruth & Keris – Our Quiet and not so Quiet Compasses Calm, kind, maternal. They are the steady heartbeat of the clinic — the one who always knows when you need a moment, a tissue, or a second cup of tea. 🎧 Chloe & Charlotte – Both Cooler Than Me My nurses, my shadows, my occasional eye-rollers. They keep the room (and me) grounded, making sure everything runs to plan — and reminds me that TikTok is still a thing. 🏆 Amanda – Our Hygiene Queen She doesn’t just clean teeth. She mentors, teaches, plans study sessions and helps shape the next generation of nurses. She could do it all blindfolded, too. Even your teeth. 💼 Faz & Hannah – The Fixers They’re your first smile guides. You’ll talk to them before you ever sit in the chair. They’ll answer your questions, help you plan your treatment — and they genuinely care if you feel safe, calm, and clear. 🛟 Helen – The Secret Superpower Our practice manager. Also our human duct tape. If something breaks, goes wrong, or disappears mysteriously — Helen fixed it ten minutes ago. Probably while emailing a supplier and checking in on a nervous patient. Meet the Kandy Lodge Dental Team, Ruabon // DRJB 🤖 And Yes… There’s Captain Apex You might see a LEGO space captain pop up in our videos. That’s Captain Apex  — my plastic alter ego who crash-landed in the practice, stuck around, and now stars in educational reels, musical parodies, and the occasional flossing demonstration (don’t ask). You’ll see him here and there — he’s part of the fun. But this blog? It’s where we slow things down and really talk. No filters. No fluff. No lectures. Just real answers, my quirky humour, and a proper peek behind the smile. 📚 What to Expect From This Blog This isn’t a vanity blog full of crown photos and “aren’t we great?” posts. It’s a place where we’ll explore: Dental fears (and how to shrink them) Treatments you’ve heard of but don’t really understand The science of confidence The art of fixing something without making it worse Real patient stories Behind-the-scenes chaos And everything we wish more people knew about their teeth This is part of what we call your Smile Confidence Journey  — because this isn’t just about straight, white, shiny smiles. It’s about feeling like you  again. You ’ll also find out what we really  think about: Whitening strips Dental fear Flossing with a kitchen string (please don’t) The going rate of the tooth fairy (and no, it's not linked to the FTSE 100) ( "Captain Apex here: I will sneak in my own blog - my own record on this weird world"). Let's break down some of those burning questions, find out how it works, what is the dental nurse thinking about, and why does my dentist have great taste in music? If we tickled your taste buds with our Welcome to DRJB Smile Clinic | The Dentist in Ruabon .... then read on. So come on in to the Dentist in Ruabon, Wrexham. 👉 What’s Next? You don’t have to read everything. You don’t have to book anything. You don ’t have to brush your teeth right this second. But if something here makes you feel a little more seen, a little more informed, or a little less afraid of the chair — then this blog’s done its job. 📚 If you're ready to chat in person - Book a relaxed consultation   And don’t worry — we don’t bite. (Unless you're a very  good flapjack.) 🗓 Book Your Free Smile Scan 📞 Call us: 01978 823490   📧 Email:   wrexham2-tco@mydentist.co.uk 📍 Visit:   Start Your Smile Journey To speak to our brilliant TCO team — Faz, Angie, or Hannah  — to book a scan and chat. 🔍 Explore the DRJB Blog : Do Root Canals Hurt? Here’s the Truth from Someone Who’s Done Thousands Too Nervous to Call the Dentist? Start Here First Composite Bonding vs Veneers – What’s Actually Right for You? Teeth Whitening That Works – And What to Avoid Behind the Chair: What Dentists Wish You Knew (But Rarely Say Out Loud)