He has already won the accolade of Scotland’s best young dentist and now Mike Gow is determined to make his patients’ time in the chair as pain-free as possible.

Mike has taken another step in his quest to drill the anxiety out of dentistry with the introduction of a state-of-the-art relaxation device.

Patients who visit the Berkeley Clinic in Glasgow’s Charing Cross can now opt to use the B-Calm system, which masks the sound of the dental drill with white noise and soothing sounds.

His surgery is the first in Scotland to use the device, which patients have said takes the stress out of surgery.

Mike, who was named Best Young Dentist in both Scotland and the UK at the Dentistry Awards 2008, said: “There are a number of people that say the noise of the drill is a major fear.

“The B-Calm system drowns out the high frequency sound of the drill. Patients report feeling calmer during dental surgery.”

Mike and his colleague Jamie Newlands, who won Best Young Dentist in Scotland last year, use a variety of techniques to help their patients, including hypnosis and a dental button. Patients can press the button to stop the drill if they are feeling too uncomfortable but, Mike says, they rarely use it as feeling in control makes them calmer.

Mike added: “There are people with major phobias but this is the 21st century and we should expect this to be addressed. Now there is technology that will help with phobia management and I am dedicated to using it.”

One patient at the clinic said: “It’s easier to go into your own world with the B-Calm. You’re less aware of what the dentist is doing.”

Another added: “I came in very anxious and finished very calm. I was terrified of the drilling process but the B-Calm made my visit much easier.”

The Berkeley Clinic also offers traditional sedation drugs for patients.