Meet The Team

I was born, raised and educated in north-east Cheshire, subsequently graduating from Turner Dental School, Manchester, England. After working for a year and a half in the UK, I immigrated to Australia, and commenced work in Airport West in August 1978, in the professional suites in Westfield Shopping Centre; we moved to our current rooms in 1998.

I have raised a couple of children, who are now young independent adults. Needless to say, they have great teeth; both, however, required considerable orthodontic treatment, and as luck would have it, they had almost opposite problems. Between them, they were pivotal to my decision to study orthodontics mid-career.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoy my profession, I do have a life outside my chosen vocation! As many of you will know, my interests include, in no particular order of preference, music of most genres, motorcycling, photography, architecture, art, high altitude trekking and mountains in general, cookery and dining, travel. I walk as often as I am able, something I find particularly relaxing and enjoyable, whether in the bush, along the banks of the Maribyrnong or Yarra Rivers, in our glorious parks and gardens, or within the inner city.

Proudly born, raised and schooled in Melbourne and subsequently studying Dentistry in New Zealand, I first practised in Broken Hill and Geelong, and then on my return to Melbourne began practise with David in 1988.

Using the many skills honed over many years of continued and vigorous study, enables us to provide our patients with an informed range of options that allow them to decide on the treatment plan that suits them best to produce the beautiful smiles we all desire. Offering the vast array of dental treatments that we do, most commonly means that patients do not require referral to other specialties, thus making us more of a one stop shop. We cater for the entire range of dental services including whitening, smile makeovers, dental implants, gum and periodontal treatment.

A laser user since 2010, I am able to complete most restorative dentistry with little to no anaesthetic, perform single visit root fillings, non-surgical periodontal treatments and treat snoring with the unique NightLase laser snoring procedure.

I am an educator and International speaker and train local and overseas dentists in the use of the lasers for dental treatments.

I have completed over 200 hours of laser training at the prestigious Laser Aesthetic & Health Academy in Slovenia and I am undertaking an International Masters degree in Laser Dentistry at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma to be finished later this year.

Member of:

Australian Dental Association Member (www.ada.org.au)

Australian Society of Endodontology Member

Australian Prosthodontic Society Member

International Team for Implantology Member

Australian Society for Occlusal Studies Member

Australasian Sleep Association

Married to Meri, I am the proud father of three daughters.

When not at work, I enjoy nothing more than being in the hills on my motorcycle, out cycling with the family, watching my daughters playing soccer through the winter season, or following my passion for rugby union

I am very much a local, having been raised in Keilor East. After my senior schooling at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar, I commenced a degree in Pharmacology at Latrobe University Bendigo Campus; I made the transition to Dentistry a year later and haven’t looked back since, earning several prestigious awards during my time of study both for dentistry, and voluntary community work within Australia and overseas.

Outside of dentistry, I enjoy spending time at the beach and keeping fit, with a particular interest in powerlifting. I’m is also an avid traveller, with my active lifestyle influencing my travels. I would consider my recent dental volunteering trip and trek to Everest Base Camp to be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of my life so far.

Footnote from Philip and especially David

We are delighted to have James on board with us at our practice, as he appears to have a focus on his career similar to that which we have always nurtured, and indeed has helped keep us together: James has a passion for the delivery of excellence in all aspects of our chosen profession, and also brings with him a more youthful approach, along with some fresh ideas about a dental career. We see in him just so much of ourselves in the early years of our own professional lives! Ah, to be young again!

This year, due to David’s catastrophic motorcycle accident just before Christmas, and his subsequent inability to work all year, James has stepped up to be with us full time in order that there is continuity: David’s patients are seen and given all the attention they deserve. Probably a bigger undertaking than he might have been expecting when he commenced working with us a while back, however he has risen admirably to the challenge, and we are all very grateful for his efforts; we gather those of you who have seen him are too!

I am originally from Adelaide, SA where I graduated in 1998, with a Diploma of Dental Hygiene.

I initially worked in general private practice and a specialised unit within the Adelaide Dental Hospital which included treating periodontal disease, systemic disease and associated pathology, and with a facility to treat patients with special needs.

My time there encouraged my holistic focus and approach to dentistry. I was continually challenged to think more broadly about the situations that were presenting, adapt my clinical skills, and improve my means of communication to be more effective.

I then travelled, working and living in Switzerland. My work in private practice further refined my communication skills with both a new language and way of life to adapt to, before returning to Australia and moving to Melbourne in 2007.

After marriage, a couple of marathons and a couple of children, I found myself still loving working in my field. I’m an enthusiastic and empathetic person who will always try and look for answers. I enjoy my role in equipping people with the necessary skills and information that empowers them to make changes to improve themselves, and to take ownership of their own health.

I’ve more recently embarked on further study in Oro-facial Myology which is further educating me in a more holistic approach and understanding of how the different areas of our body operate and interact. Stay tuned!