Meet Our Team

Please meet our caring team at The Croft Dental Centre! We have been providing the highest quality dental treatment to the local area for over 40 years.

Dentists

Kripa Sharmilla Radia BDS Lond 1995 DGDP 1998, Dip lmpDent RCS (Eng) 2018
GDC membership number: 71041

Sharmilla qualified from Guy’s Dental School, London University in 1995 with a distinction in Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine. She is the practice principal. Sharmilla is a member of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners UK and has been awarded the Diploma in General Dental Practice. She has also achieved the Postgraduate Certificate in Medical and Dental Education with Oxford Brookes University. In 2018 She attained the award of post Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantology from The Royal College of Surgeons  (RCS) England  and until recently was a foundation dentist trainer providing guidance and support to young dentists.

Sharmilla has a special interest in dental implants and is a member of the Association of Dental Implantologists UK.

She is passionate about her work. Sharmilla is highly experienced in the replacement of missing teeth, the restoration of natural looking teeth and in both complicated and simple restorations. Sharmilla believes that developing a good rapport with each patient helps her provide treatment to the highest standards in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere.

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Nikolaos Antonopoulos DDS (Rom) 2001
GDC membership number: 100589
 

Married to Rodica Pirtea (below) Nikos graduated in 2001 from the University of Timisoara, Romania and lived and worked in Athens, Greece until 2006, when he relocated to the U.K. He has been a member of the Croft Dental Centre family since 2009.

Always happy to listen and eager to help, Nikos will greet you with a smile and do everything he can to help you re-discover yours. Cosmetic Dentistry and Smile Design is a big part of his clinical life and his continuing professional development efforts emphatically reflect this.

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Rodica Pirtea DDS (Rom) 2001
GDC membership number: 104902

Married to Nikos Antonopoulos (above) Rodica graduated in 2001 from the University of Timisoara, Romania and lived and worked in Orsova, Romania as well as Athens, Greece until 2006, when she relocated to the U.K. She has been a member of the Croft Dental Centre family since 2009. Always kind and gentle, Rodica greatly enjoys helping nervous patients gain back their confidence. Cosmetic dentistry is the field she thrives in, having completed numerous smile makeover cases, so please feel free to ask her what she can do for your smile! Rodica is a certified Gold level “Invisalign" provider - The clear alternative to braces!

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Rajpal Sirha BDS (Lond) 2011, Msc (Kent) 2014 PGDip (Implant Dentistry) 2019
GDC membership number : 211276

Rajpal graduated from King's College London in 2011. After Completing  his foundation year, he gained valuable surgical experience as an SHO in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. He joined us in 2015.

Since returning to general practice Rajpal successfully achieved a Masters Degree in Primary Dental Care. He has been awarded a Diploma in Implantology at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London. As well as being dedicated to postgraduate development, Rajpal strongly believes dentistry should be both predictable and pain-free. He finds it rewarding to help anxious patients overcome their fears and aims to provide a functional dentition that boosts their confidence.

With a keen interest in facial aesthetics he is able to offer his patients anti-wrinkle treatments and for those interested in a straighter smile, Rajpal is an accredited Invisalign provider.

Outside of dentistry, Rajpal enjoys travelling, catching up with friends and basketball to keep fit.

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Rishi Patel BDS (London) 2005
GDC membership number 86119

Rishi graduated from Guy’s Dental School, London in 2005. He joined Croft Dental Centre  in 2019.  He is currently studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Implantology at The Cambridge Academy of Dental Implantology.

Over the years he has gained considerable experience in general practice. He has a specialist interest in Cosmetic dentistry and is a Gold Level Certified  Invisalign provider. He has a calm, confident chair side manner, which is especially popular with nervous patients.  He believes in ensuring patients receive optimal dental care and utilises the most advanced techniques in modern dentistry to achieve this. He has a non-invasive, minimal intervention approach to patient care and management. His attention to detail, and prioritising patient needs and expectations, has resulted in successful outcomes in even the most challenging of situations.

Prioritising patient needs and expectations, has resulted in successful outcomes in even the most challenging of situations.

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Kavitha Sivasubramaniam BDS (Lond) 2005, MFDS RCS (Edin)
GDC number 85899

Kavi qualified as a dentist from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Dental School, London in 2005. She Joined Croft Dental Centre in 2019. She is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons after passing their exams. Kavi gained valuable surgical experience whilst working as a senior house officer in the Oral and Maxillofacial Department at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. She then went onto work as a community dental officer where she treated medically compromised and extremely anxious patients. The skills Kavi developed at these places have made her an experienced and caring professional who is very approachable. Kavi has also worked in a fully cosmetic practice. She has an interest in aesthetic dentistry using crowns, veneers and teeth straightening to provide her patients with a better, more confident smile. Kavi is a fully certified Invisalign provider. Invisalign - removable near-invisible aligners – a clear choice for straighter teeth. Kavi is also Sedation trained and is able to provide sedation to patients of the practice.
In her free time Kavi enjoys swimming and yoga.

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Jake O’Connell BDS King's 2015, PgCertPDCFD Kent 2016, MScPDC Kent 2018,

DipPCD RCSI 2021 AssocFCGDent

Jake studied at King‘s College London graduating with his Bachelor of Dental Surgery to become a Dentist. He then completed a postgraduate Certificate in Primary Dental Care before completing his Master’s degree at the University of Kent, studying a pilot study into the effects of smoking/vaporisers on gums. He has gained full Membership of The Faculty of General Dental Practitioners.

Jake has been awarded the Diploma of Primary Care Dentistry by the Royal College of Surgery (Ireland) and he is a Foundation Member of The College of General Dentistry, before achieving Associate Fellowship status.

Through the College and RASA Academy he has been working towards a postgraduate degree in non-surgical facial aesthetics, and more recently, he has undertaken training in fixed braces and clear aligners with IAS Academy with the aim to be able to offer non-specialist orthodontic opinions and treatment.

He has for many years acted as guest speaker for working in dentistry at the Royal Grammar School Guildford, as well to trainee dentists for the NHS. Jake loves spending time with his patients, talking them through their options and, with the more anxious, putting them and their minds at ease.

In his free time, Jake is an avid reader, drawer and ceramics enthusiast, as well as someone who enjoys simply catching up with friends.

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Sheel Jayesh Patel BDS (Birm) 2011, MFDS RCS (Ed)
GDC membership number 210535

Sheel graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2011 and has worked in general practice since, carrying out both Independent and NHS dentistry. Sheel has a post graduate certificate in primary dental care for foundation dentists,awarded by the University of Kent and a MFDS qualification from Royal College of Surgeons.

Sheel is constantly striving to expand and improve her skills, and has undertaken several postgraduate courses. These include the year long renowned Aspire Dental Academy Aesthetic and Restorative dentistry course. She has a keen interest in short term orthodontics and is able to provide Six Months Smiles treatments. Sheel is a certified “Invisalign Go "provider - The clear alternative to braces! With her gentle and caring approach, she is able to put even the most nervous of patients at ease.

In her spare time, Sheel enjoys exercising in the gym, socialising with friends and seeing the world!

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Aidan Yates BDS MFDS (RCSEng)
GDC membership number 283356

Aidan Graduated from University of Liverpool in 2019 and following his foundation training he joined Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Ipswich Hospital in August 2020. He has completed a postgraduate diploma MFDS (Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery) in 2021 with the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Aidan has the right blend of competency, efficiency and compassion needed and makes special effort to ease the anxieties of those in his care. He has a special interest in surgical extractions, and dental trauma, including under sedation.

Aidan enjoys playing badminton, cycling, and running. He has a passion for photography, and music.

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Guy McLellan BDS FDSRCS (Eng) MBBS
Visiting Dental Implant surgeon.

GDC number 6988

Guy is doubly qualified in dentistry and medicine and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He has over 10 years’ hospital experience including training in ENT and plastic surgery and currently holds a Honorary Consultant post in Oral Implantology at Charing Cross Hospital where he runs the dental implant clinic.

His experience in implants dates back to 1994 and includes extra-oral implants to retain facial cosmetics/reconstruction following facial cancer surgery as well as intra-oral cancer rehabilitation and facial deformities such as cleft lip and palate. He continues to work as a member of the Cranio-Facial team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. In private practice he limits his practice to surgical implantology and augmentation procedures including complex intra-oral and extra-oral grafting. He is a mentor for Nobel Biocare and is actively involved in Implant education. He is a member of the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI), the European Association of Osseointegration and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is a mentor for Nobel Biocare and the ADI.

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Mina Patel BDS (London) 1999
Visiting dentist - Endodontic treatment.
GDC membership number 76554

Mina qualified as a dentist from Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Dental School in 1999 with honours. In 2016 she completed a Diploma in Endodontic Practice at the Eastman Dental Institute, UCL London. This means she has the knowledge and enhanced skills to treat more complex cases of root canal work. Mina has a wealth of experience and has worked in a variety of general practices, Perth Dental School in Australia and at the Ministry of Defence , UK. Mina has a keen interest in endodontics, and periodontology. She is passionate about the provision of high quality dental care in a personal, caring and friendly manner - for anxious patients she can provide hypnotherapy.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her daughter, travelling, yoga and is a keen artist.

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Alina Stapinoiu MD (Rom)  1998, Statutory Exam ( Lond )2006, MSc End  (Lond) 2020

Visiting Dentist - Endodontic Treatment

GDC membership number 102816

Alina qualified as dentist from Ecological University in Bucharest , Romania  and lived and worked in the UK since 2006 mainly in private settings .

Her special interest in endodotics  (Root Canal Treatments) dates back to 2002 when she was privileged to work alongside specialists in this field .Alina has used an operating microscope for the last 14 years  enhanced her ability to  treat very complex cases. This led to completing a Masters of Science Degree at King’s College London in 2020.

In her spare time she enjoys  travelling , running, yoga and qigong .

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Hygienists and Hygienist Therapists

Joanna Pilszak Dip Dental Hygiene and Therapy RCS (Eng) 2016
GDC No:216164

Joanna qualified as a Dental Hygienist and Therapist from Kings College London in 2016. She has a Master’s Degree in Biotechnology from the Agricultural University in Krakow, Poland. Joanna is a dedicated, highly motivated and a passionate hygienist with a gentle touch and is able to puts patients at ease. Joanna provides a full range of dental hygiene treatments and takes great care making sure that patient's oral health is her first priority. Joanna cares for smiles of all ages and as a therapist is able to provide preventative and restorative treatment for both adults and children.She is also qualified in providing teeth whitening procedures. Outside of work Joanna enjoys spending time with her two girls, loves cooking, travelling and photography.
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Joanne Bell Dip Dental Hygiene 1994.

GDC Membership No. 4589

Joanne qualified as a Dental Hygienist from the Military School of Dental Hygiene, Aldershot in 1994. She served there for 13 years and had the pleasure to work all over the world. Since leaving the military she has worked in mixed NHS and private general practices in the UK. Joanne has a passion to ensure that all her patients receive the highest level of hygiene treatment and is committed to promoting the best oral health treatments and education. She has been particularly active in providing dental education to school children, sharing her knowledge and importance of good oral hygiene, to this important age group. Joanne has a special interest in periodontology and is qualified in teeth whitening and airflow procedures.

Outside of work Joanne is a keen equestrian, skier and swimmer.

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As dental professionals, we are registered with the General Dental Council and meet their standards. There are nine principles that we follow:
1.Put patients’ interests first
2. Communicate effectively with patients
3. Obtain valid consent
4. Maintain and protect patients’ information
5. Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
6. Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients’ best interests
7. Maintain, develop and work within our professional knowledge and skills
8. Raise concerns if patients are at risk
9. Make sure our personal behaviour maintains confidence in us and the dental profession
Find out more at www.gdc-uk.org
All of our staff are fully trained, undergo regular audits and take an active role helping to evolve and improve the practice in addition to completing their annual continued professional development.