Central Hutt Dental — Local services in North Island

I need to make one thing very clear: I suffer from an extreme case of dentophobia. Truly, it's debilitating. My nightmare started on Friday evening when I began feeling a throbbing pain in one of my teeth, followed by swelling in my glands and an earache. I was hoping it was just my imagination.

Desperate to avoid seeing a dentist, I tried to self-medicate with paracetamol and clove oil — unfortunately, it didn’t work. I suffered in silence all of Saturday, still hoping it would resolve on its own. But, as Murphy’s Law would have it, things only got worse.

By Sunday morning, I could no longer ignore the pain. After some searching, the only available practice I could find was Central Hutt Dental. I called and spoke with a wonderfully kind and welcoming lady who managed to get me an appointment later that afternoon. I was both relieved and incredibly anxious.

Now, I absolutely have to share what an extraordinary and unexpectedly amazing experience I had at Central Hutt Dental.

From the moment I walked in, I was genuinely wowed. The reception area is beautiful, open, and modern. I was greeted by professionally dressed staff who made me feel at ease straight away. They’re truly ahead of the game — instead of the usual paper forms, I was handed an iPad with a clean, intuitive questionnaire. It was quick and painless.

The practice itself is stylishly decorated and thoughtfully designed. Even the consulting rooms are open and airy, helping to ease that all-too-familiar fear of being shut away behind a door and "silently tortured." (Yes, that’s how dentophobia feels.)

Then, it was my turn. A professional staff member gently escorted me to a consultation room where she took photographs of my smile and the problem area. She carefully explained what the next steps would be, which helped calm my nerves.

Next, I met Dr. Haider Al-Hassiny. I immediately shared my extreme dental anxiety with him. He was incredibly understanding, patient, and reassuring — he promised that after this experience, I would no longer feel the same fear about visiting the dentist.

And he was right.

He took the time to thoroughly explain my dental issues and patiently answered all of my questions. I had been hoping for just a prescription for antibiotics or maybe a simple filling, but unfortunately, the situation was much worse than I expected: I needed a root canal.

Dr. Haider acted swiftly and kindly arranged for a specialist to begin treatment immediately. This specialist was phenomenal — they used advanced tools and techniques I’d never seen before. The experience was nothing like the horror scenes I had imagined. It was delicate, professional, and surprisingly comfortable. I never felt overwhelmed or in pain, and they reassured me throughout the entire procedure.

I’m still in awe.

To Dr. Haider Al-Hassiny and the entire team at Central Hutt Dental: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You didn’t just treat a painful tooth — you helped me begin to overcome a lifelong fear. I cannot recommend your practice...

During my visit, I found it disconcerting that the dentist proceeded to fix my loose cap without thoroughly assessing the alignment of my bite. It surprised me that such a crucial aspect of the procedure was overlooked. Subsequently, when I noticed that my bite felt unusual and uncomfortable the following day, I immediately brought it to the dentist's attention. To my dismay, the response I received was inadequate. The dentist merely conducted a bite test using paper when I requested a more thorough examination. I believe that a more comprehensive evaluation was necessary to accurately diagnose and address the issue. Despite my insistence, the dentist only made a quick adjustment and claimed that everything was now fine. This experience has left me deeply dissatisfied and questioning the sincerity and quality of the work performed at your clinic. I expected a higher level of professionalism and dedication to patient care. It is disheartening to feel that the primary motivation behind the treatment I received was monetary gain rather than genuine concern for my well-being. As a result of this unfortunate experience, I am left with no choice but to seek an alternative solution for my dental needs. I plan to consult another dental professional to ensure my bite is properly assessed and any necessary adjustments are made. I hope that you take this feedback seriously and consider it as an opportunity for improvement. Dental care is essential, and patients deserve to receive the highest standard of service and treatment. I sincerely hope that you will address these concerns and take steps to ensure that such situations do not recur...

The dental practice was beautifully designed and well equipped, and friendly staff.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a good experience with Central Hutt Dental. I had been communicating with the admin team and had told them that I needed all my wisdom teeth removed and had also informed them of the current situation (that I was travelling around New Zealand).

I came in to get the 3D test scan and assessment which cost $200. And the whole process took less than 20 minutes, including the consultation with the dentist. The dentist said that he couldn't remove my wisdom teeth and referred me to an oral surgeon in the area.

The referral process were slow even though they were well informed of my travel dates. I was due to move out of Wellington by January. The oral surgeon wasn't available until after July.

I felt that there was lack of support in finding a new oral surgeon for my case.

I was left on my own to look for a new oral surgeon and had to make all the arrangements myself.

In the end, I found one in Christchurch and still have to coordinate to get my case transferred. The transferred process was slow. I had to call in almost twice a day to follow up on my referral letter and 3D scan result which could not be accessed by the new oral surgeon.

I felt like I wasted my...