An honest guide
Looking for the best dentist in Stevenage? Here is how to actually judge one
Every practice in Hertfordshire says it is the best. None of them is allowed to, and none of them can prove it. What you can do is check eight things in about twenty minutes. This page walks through them, and shows you how Bowling Green Dental Surgery measures up on each, so you can decide for yourself.
The checklist
Eight things to check before you choose a dentist in Stevenage
Use these on any practice, including ours. Each one has a short note on how Bowling Green answers it.
1. Check the dentist on the GDC register
Every dentist in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council. The register is public and takes thirty seconds to search. It shows qualifications, registration date and any conditions on practice. If a website will not tell you the dentist's name and GDC number, that is your first answer.
At Bowling Green
Dr Alan de Vos, BDS (University of the Witwatersrand, 1995), GDC No. 71186. Principal dentist and owner here since 2005.
2. Read the CQC inspection report
The Care Quality Commission inspects every dental practice in England. Reports are free to read online and cover safety, cleanliness, record-keeping and how the practice handles complaints. A practice that has never been inspected, or hides the result, should give you pause.
At Bowling Green
Bowling Green Dental Surgery is CQC registered. Ask at reception and we will show you the report.
3. Read the reviews, not the star count
Anyone can accumulate stars. Read the text. Look for reviews that describe a specific treatment, a nervous patient, a child, or an emergency, and look at how recent they are. Google weights recent reviews more heavily than old ones for a reason: a practice can change hands and change completely.
At Bowling Green
5.0 on Google, every review from a verified patient, with new reviews arriving every month. Read them on our Google profile before you call.
4. Ask what technology is in the building
Digital X-rays at low dose, a 3D CBCT scanner for implant planning, and an intraoral scanner instead of impression trays are the current standard. In-house CAD/CAM milling for same-day crowns is rarer. Technology is not everything, but it tells you whether the practice has invested in the last decade.
At Bowling Green
CEREC Omnicam scanner and in-house milling unit, the only one in Stevenage. Orthophos 3D CBCT. Digital X-rays throughout.
5. Look for published fees and a written plan
The Competition and Markets Authority opened a review of private dentistry in March 2026 because too many patients could not find out what things cost until they were in the chair. A good practice publishes its prices and puts every treatment plan in writing before starting.
At Bowling Green
Every fee is on our fees page. You get a written, itemised estimate before any treatment begins. No exceptions.
6. Will you see the same dentist every time?
Corporate chains and larger practices often rotate associates and locums. That is fine for a one-off filling; it is not fine for implant work, ongoing gum care or a nervous patient who has finally found someone they trust. Ask who owns the practice and who you will actually see.
At Bowling Green
Dr Alan owns the practice and treats every patient personally. His mother Glennis has managed it since 2005. Sandra on reception has been here since 2003.
7. How quickly can they see you?
Ring and ask for a new patient appointment and an emergency appointment, and note the answers. The August 2026 NHS figures show three in five adults in England have not seen an NHS dentist in two years. A practice that can see you this week is worth a great deal.
At Bowling Green
New patients usually within a few days. Emergency appointments held every working day, including for people who are not registered.
8. How do they treat nervous patients and children?
Ask what happens if you are anxious. A good answer involves time, explanation and control, not just a leaflet. For children, ask whether a first visit can be a look-round with nothing done.
At Bowling Green
Tell-show-do throughout, numbing cream before every injection, acclimatisation visits for children, and an SEN-friendly approach. Read our nervous patients guide.
Our honest pitch
We will not call ourselves the best dentist in Stevenage. Here is what we will say.
Bowling Green Dental Surgery has been on the Old Town High Street since the 1980s. Dr Alan de Vos bought it in 2005 and has treated every patient personally since. Some families are on their third generation with us.
We are the only practice in Stevenage with in-house CEREC same-day crowns. Dr Alan has placed Astra Tech implants for over fifteen years and trained in facial aesthetics with Professor Bob Khanna. Every fee is published, every plan is written down, and every review on Google is from a real patient. That is the case. You can check all of it.
Choosing a dentist in Stevenage: your questions
Who is the best dentist in Stevenage?
There is no official ranking, and the General Dental Council does not allow dentists to describe themselves as the best. What you can do is check the GDC register, read the CQC report, read recent Google reviews, ask about technology and fees, and find out whether you will see the same dentist each visit. Bowling Green Dental Surgery holds a 5.0 Google rating, is the only CEREC same-day crown practice in Stevenage, publishes every fee, and has been family-run under Dr Alan de Vos since 2005.
What makes a good private dentist?
Time, transparency and continuity. Thirty-minute appointments rather than ten. Prices you can see before you book. The same clinician every visit who knows your history. Modern equipment that has been invested in. And a team that has been there long enough to know patients by name.
Are Google reviews for dentists reliable?
Mostly, if you read the text rather than counting stars. Look for reviews that describe a real treatment and a real experience, and check how recent they are. Google's own guidance is that a steady flow of new reviews is a stronger signal than a large number of old ones.
How do I check a dentist is registered?
Search the General Dental Council's online register at gdc-uk.org using the dentist's name or GDC number. Dr Alan de Vos is GDC No. 71186.
Is a highly rated private dentist worth the extra cost?
If you can get an NHS appointment and your needs are straightforward, NHS care is good value. The case for private strengthens when you cannot get on a list, when you need something the NHS does not offer (implants, whitening, veneers, aligners), or when you want longer appointments with the same dentist. Our private vs NHS comparison sets it out honestly.
Do you see patients from outside Stevenage?
Yes. Patients come from Hitchin, Letchworth, Knebworth, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford and across Hertfordshire. Stevenage station has direct trains from most of the county and the practice is a short walk from the Old Town car parks.
Ready for a Healthier, More Beautiful Smile?
Book your consultation today. New patients always welcome.
✓ New patients welcome · ✓ Same-day emergencies · ✓ Written estimates provided