It's the early 1970s and Justin Derwent is a newly qualified dentist who joins a country practice in a small town in rural Dorset. His memoirs are amusing and detail many of the varied characters he meets both professionally and socially during the early days of his career. The practice owner, Spencer Padginton, is particularly colourful; much-loved by his patients, and with a passion for food and vintage cars but very reluctant to replace the aged dental equipment with anything modern. Soon, women feature in Justin's private life. Unfortunately they bring their own problems especially when there is more than one on the scene at the same time. Everything one would expect from such a book is here - from difficult extractions and coping with a phobic nurse to dealing with patients reluctant to pay for their treatment. It might even convince you that your dentist is actually human.