TORRINGTON DENTAL PRACTICE - Key Persons
Abbie joined TDP in January 2020 as a trainee dental nurse, having begun her training in 2018 with a different practice. She has since progressed to become a qualified dental nurse and in 2023 also gained her IACSD Certificate in Conscious Sedation. Abbie is also a member of our Implant Team. In her spare time, Abbie likes to play netball and spend time with friends and family.
Alia joined TDP in August 2020 and qualified in January 2023 for her NEBDN Dental nursing qualification. Alia is now working towards her certificate in Oral Health Education. In her free time she loves going to the gym, eating good food, listening to music and spending time in the sun.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TDP Admin Team
- Receptionist
Alison joined Torrington Dental Practice in December 2015, as part of the reception team.
Her varied career started as a cook manager in Wrafton until her desire to travel realised when she joined Gulf Air as an air stewardess based in Bahrain, followed by many years with British Airways. She then took a career break to bring up her son and on returning to work joined a busy doctor's practice in Barnstaple.
Job Titles:
- DENTAL THERAPIST / HYGIENIST
Having gained her National Diploma in Dental Nursing in 2012, Gemma Joined TDP in 2014 as qualified dental nurse, undertaking further training to qualify as an Oral Health Educator. Gemma then followed her dreams and left the practice to study Dental Hygiene and Therapy at Liverpool University. She qualified for her Diploma in 2018 and re- joined our team in her newly qualified role shortly afterwards. As a Dental Therapist she is certified to undertake additional treatments on top of those of a hygienist, including permanent fillings for both children and adults, and the extraction of children's teeth.
In her own time, she enjoys walking the Devon coastline and paddle boarding. She has also taken up running to get fit for her wedding in 2022!
Helen joined us in 2018 as receptionist, having spent many years working in local hospitality. Working as part of the reception team Helen became interested in dental nursing and in September 2020 started her training towards her NEBDN Dental Nursing certificate. She is busy combining her training alongside working and raising a young family. In her free time, Helen enjoys spending time with her family and keeping fit, especially running and has competed in many local races.
Helen joined us in 2018 as part of the reception team, having spent several years working as front of house in the hospitality business. Helen brings with her this experience to make sure our patients receive the welcome and care they expect. Helen has since qualified as a Dental Nurse after completing her training in 2021.
In her spare time Helen enjoys spending time with her young family and running, currently training for her first marathon.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TDP Admin Team
Since joining TDP in 2017, Helena has gained her SAAD Assessed Sedation Nurse Certificate to join her existing qualifications of NVQ L3 Oral Health Care: Dental Nursing, Certificate in Dental Radiography, Certification in Oral Health Education and Certificate in Fluoride Varnish Application. Having been a Dental Nurse since 2005 she likes to keep herself busy and further her knowledge.
Outside of work Helena continues to keep herself busy with her three dogs, two horses and a baby. Helena is keen horsewoman, having competed at various National Championships in Dressage over the years.
Ian Mills is a highly experienced implantologist who has been involved with dental implants since 1999. During that period, he has placed over two thousand five hundred implants and carries out all aspects of implant treatment, including advanced procedures such as bone grafting and sinus surgery.
Ian has undertaken extensive postgraduate training in implant dentistry and in 2008 was awarded the prestigious Diploma in Implant Dentistry and a higher certificate in Advanced Implant Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is one of only a handful of implantologists to hold this prestigious qualification, which is widely recognised as the Gold Standard award in implant dentistry in the UK.
Ian has also been awarded the Fellowship of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and a Fellowship of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He was previously an examiner at the Royal College of Surgeons of England for the FFDGP (UK) and in 2018 had the immense honour of being elected to the position of Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK). Ian is the 10 th Dean of the Faculty, and the first to be elected from the South West. He is a Trustee of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and sits on the Board of the newly established College of General Dentistry.
Ian is also actively involved in research within primary care and has recently completed a doctoral thesis in Health Services Research at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. He was subsequently awarded his PhD for research into "Person-Centred Care in General Dental Practice", which has led to multiple publications within international journals.
Ian teaches and lectures regularly on the subject of implantology, and is a mentor for the Straumann Implant Company. He is a member of the International Team of Implantologists and is an Honorary Associate Professor at Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. Ian is also a member of the Association of Dental Implantology and has previously been awarded a Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy in recognition of his contribution to education in dentistry.
Izzy qualified as a dental nurse in June 2023. She has enjoying learning all aspects of dentistry. She particularly enjoys communicating with patients to improve their overall experience, in turn helping to reduce their anxieties. As an avid baker in the making, she enjoys cake decorating, going to festivals and spending time with friends. In her spare time, she enjoys playing badminton to keep fit.
Jess joined the practice in Dec 2020 and is an integral part of the team, working within the Sterilisation room. During her spare time Jess enjoys walking, socialising with friends and family, reading and crafts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TDP Admin Team
Leanne became a qualified dental nurse in January 2023. She is loving every aspect of the job, particularly getting to know our patients and supporting them through their treatment. Leanne is now working towards her certificate in conscious sedation. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Lisa has worked with TDP founder and partner Ian Mills since 1998 and helped to develop the Implant Clinic at Torrington from its inception.
She is a qualified, highly experienced implant nurse and regularly attends postgraduate courses on the subject. Lisa coordinates all aspects of the treatment within the implant clinic and, as team leader, she is the point of contact for our implant patients.
Outside of work, Lisa enjoys being with her family and granddaughter, socialising with friends and trying to keep fit!
Job Titles:
- DENTAL THERAPIST / HYGIENIST
Molly qualified from Plymouth University/Peninsula Dental School in 2022 with a BSc (with distinction) in Dental Hygiene and Therapy. She was also awarded the BADT Professionalism Award, and the BSDHT Dean's Award for overall excellence throughout the course.
Since qualifying, Molly has undertaken a Dental Therapy Foundation Year, whereby she has been able to carry out her full scope of practice, including carrying out fillings on adults and children, extraction of children's teeth, and placing stainless steel crowns on children's teeth.
In her spare time, Molly enjoys playing in the local netball league. She also enjoys going to the gym, swimming in the sea, and painting.
Job Titles:
- Dental Implant Nurse / Orthodontic Team Leader
Neah joined the practice in 2008 as a trainee dental nurse and has since gained her NEBDN Certificate in Dental Nursing and Dental Implant Nursing. She has been a member of the implant team since 2014 and is also responsible for leading the orthodontic clinic at Torrington Dental Practice.
Neah works closely with Lisa in all clinical duties and, as an integral part of the Implant Team, regularly attends implant courses and conferences to update and enhance her skills. Outside of dentistry she enjoys walking and yoga and relaxing with her family and friends.
Nicole joined the practice in 2022, having gained her dental nurse qualification in 2020 at another practice. At the end of 2022 Nicole also completed her qualification in Oral Health Education which means she can now enjoy working with patients to help them understand the importance of Oral Health. Nicole is also part of the domiciliary team which she finds very rewarding being able to go out into the community to help those who may not be able to attend the practice. In 2023, Nicole began working towards her certificate in Conscious Sedation. Outside of work Nicole enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, running and going to the gym.
Primrose joined the practice in 2019 and has since gained her dental nursing qualifications. She works alongside Rhys Gabe to help provide our patients with a wide range of services including restorative dentistry, implants, complex treatment, and anxious patients. She is also part of our sedation team, completing a course in inhalation and intravenous sedation. When she's not working she loves to keep fit.
Job Titles:
- DENTAL HYGIENIST
- Member of the British Society of Dental Hygienists
Sabina trained and qualified as a dental nurse in Kent before going on to study at the Eastman Dental Hospital in London where she qualified in 1993 as a Dental Hygienist and received the DENTSPLY Award for Clinical Excellence.
Sabina joined the team at Torrington Dental Practice in 1999 after moving to Devon with her husband. She is resolute in improving the oral health of her patients and the wider community, treating everyone as an individual, with a tailored treatment plan following the latest guidance from The British Society of Periodontology.
Sabina is an active member of the British Society of Dental Hygienists and Therapists, for which she is regional group representative for the South West Peninsula. In 2015 she completed the British Dental Association Radiography course for which she was awarded a distinction.
Outside of dentistry Sabina has adopted a plant based and holistic lifestyle and enjoys being outside in the open spaces of Exmoor and Dartmoor, whatever the weather brings.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TDP Admin Team
Sarah is an experienced dental nurse, qualifying in 2001, and has gained the NEBDN radiography certificate as well as being competent in impression taking. She joined TDP in 2019 having previously worked for general and orthodontic practices in Barnstable. Sarah is a member of the dental implant team and also assists with general dentistry. She enjoys being with family and friends and walking her dogs. She is also learning to surf and ski and is a keen runner.
Job Titles:
- Admin
- Member of the TDP Admin Team