Dr Britt Hakim

PRINCIPAL DENTIST & CO-FOUNDER
BDent (USyd) BAppSci. (UBC) BBiochem (UVic)

Dr Britt has earned herself a reputation as one of north west Sydney’s leading dentists with her honest, skilled and compassionate approach to dental care. From her childhood, Dr Britt knew that she wanted a career that would enable her to make a difference in people’s lives. Dentistry gave her the opportunity to combine her love and curiosity for the human body, with her creative and artistic talents, to make tangible, life changing transformations for her patients’ smiles. She has a particular interest in orthodontics, implant and cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers.

After studying dentistry at the University of Sydney, Dr Britt went on to complete a two-year program of comprehensive orthodontic training with Progessive Orthodontic Seminars (POS) and has completed advanced surgical and implant training with the International Academy of Advanced Dentistry (IAADent). Dr Britt is also an Australian-Certified Phlebotomist and has a special interest in regenerative dentistry involving the use of the human body’s own stem cells and anti-inflammatory cells, Concentrated Growth Factors (CGF), to improve treatment outcomes and healing over the use of synthetic materials.

Prior to pursing her career in dentistry, Dr Britt completed degrees in Biochemistry (University of Victoria, BC, Canada) and Applied Science (University of British Columbia, BC, Canada) and during this time she was actively engaged at the forefront of cancer and HIV/AIDS research at some of Canada’s leading research institutes. Her research gave her the opportunity to volunteer with some of the poorest and most marginalised communities in the world, including delivering health care in mud huts in Africa and working with homeless and indigenous groups on the roughest streets of Vancouver, where the rates of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are comparable to that in developing countries. These experiences have shaped Dr Britt to be an empathetic, attentive and caring practitioner who listens to her patients and seeks to provide personalised care in a comfortable and trusted environment.

Dr Britt and her family are local residents who value giving back to the community. Her husband Dr Jono is also a valued member of The Grove Dental family. And of course, she wouldn’t be complete without her three sons, her human sons Noah and Lucas, and her canine cavoodle son Gus – who is by far the most popular member of our team.

Dr Jonathan Hakim

PRACTICE MANAGER & CO-FOUNDER
BSc Adv Hons (USyd) PhD (USyd)

Dr Jono joined forces with his wife, our principal dentist Dr Britt, on a mission to bring modern, high-quality dentistry to our local community in north west Sydney.  In addition to being the practice manager at The Grove Dental overseeing our day to day operations, Dr Jono is an academic who teaches cranial & cervical (head & neck) anatomy at The University of Sydney to medical and dental students in the early years of their clinical training. Having completed his PhD in pain neurobiology & behavioural neuroscience, Dr Jono also understands the debilitating effects that pain (especially tooth pain!) and dental anxiety can have on one’s quality of life. His research interests include understanding the effect of hidden dietary sugars on one’s health – a topic that is very close to all dental professionals’ hearts – and he has published in this field. This unique combination of highly specialised training means Dr Jono offers a wealth of knowledge in the comprehensive care of our patients – especially when it comes to creating a relaxing, stress-free environment, educating patients about their treatment options, and guiding them towards achieving and maintaining optimal oral health.

Dr Pallavi Ganesh

ASSOCIATE DENTIST
BDSc (UMelb) GradDip (Digital Orthodontics)

Dr Pallavi is a gentle and caring dentist who strives to create a non-judgemental and comfortable environment for all her patients. She enjoys taking the time to listen to them and their dental concerns, and finds the greatest satisfaction in being able to deliver high-quality, long-term treatment outcomes. She is also passionate about educating her patients so that they are better equipped to care for their teeth and overall health. Having worked for almost fifteen years since completing her Bachelor of Dental Science from The University of Melbourne, Dr Pallavi is highly-skilled and proficient in all facets of general & cosmetic dentistry. She also has a particular interest in smile makeovers and being part of life-changing smile transformations. Her interest in orthodontics and clear aligner therapies lead her to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Orthodontics in 2019. Dr Pallavi is also an active member of the Australian Dental Association. Outside of work, Dr Pallavi loves spending time with her husband and two little girls, and when she can escape for some quite time, you’ll usually find her getting stuck into a good book.

Amy Mulet

ORAL HEALTH THERAPIST
BOH (USYD) 

Amy is a kind and bubbly clinician whose practice heavily focusses on the prevention of oral diseases and ensuring all her patients are motivated and educated on how to keep their smiles as healthy as they can be. Her love for this is what excited her to study a Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Sydney and graduate to become an Oral Health Therapist in 2018. Oral Health Therapists are dual qualified as Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists meaning they have a specific scope of practice dedicated to prevention of gum disease and dental decay as well as treatment of early manifestations of oral disease. Most importantly, Amy loves to educate her patients on the importance of upkeeping their general health in order to reduce the risk of oral manifestations of systemic diseases and provide a holistic approach to her patient care. She makes dentistry fun and engaging for patients of all ages, and has a particular penchant for helping her patients (children especially!) fall in love with their dental visits and oral care routines. Amy is also a Clinical Educator in the School of Dentistry at the University of Sydney where she teaches future Oral Health Therapists and stays up to date with the latest evidence and treatment protocols. Outside of the dental office you will find her hiking with her husband and treating herself to some yummy Japanese food!

Dr Ying Shi Chang

ORAL SURGEON
BDS GradDip ClinDent (Surgical Dentistry) (USYD) DClinDent Oral Surgery (USYD)

Dr Ying Shi Chang is passionate about patient-centric care and our patients love her warm and comforting nature. Dr Ying Shi believes in and is committed to open and honest communication, and collaborating with our patients, their carers, and other health practitioners to provide personalised, evidence-based care. Dr Ying Shi is a board registered Specialist Oral Surgeon, having obtained her specialist qualifications from the University of Sydney. Along with her private practice, Dr Chang works for NSW Health as an Oral Surgeon at the Nepean Centre for Oral Health. She has also previously held positions at the Sydney Dental Hospital, Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Orange Base Hospital, Dubbo Oral Health Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, and Charles Sturt University Clinics. Dr Ying Shi is also passionate about giving back to the dental profession by educating, training and mentoring future dentists and surgeons. For the past 10 years she has been involved in the oral surgery teaching programmes at both Charles Sturt University and the University of Sydney, and she is currently a Lecturer in Oral Surgery at the University of Sydney (School of Dentistry).

Stephanie

CLINICAL COORDINATOR

Stephanie has over ten years’ experience as a dental assistant and clinical coordinator. As a local herself, she is passionate about educating our local community about their oral health and ensuring that our patients understand every step of their dental treatment. Stephanie possesses a wonderful calm and warmth that puts our patients completely at ease, and she goes the extra mile to ensure our patients feel welcome and comfortable at every visit. During her time away from work she enjoys spending time with her two young children and partner.

Catherine

PRACTICE COORDINATOR

Augustus “Gus” Horatio Hakim

DENTAL THERAPY DOG
Puppy Pre-School (USyd) Puppy High-School (USyd)

Big name. Tiny dog. Gus is the star member of The Grove Dental Rouse Hill team. Having also graduated with honours from The University of Sydney, Gus has a special way of melting hearts within seconds (it’s called being ‘Cavoodled’!). When he’s around the clinic, Gus is the best little greeter there is and puts nervous or anxious patients immediately at ease. He hangs out at reception or in the kids play room, and what he doesn’t have in size and stature, he makes up for in love, kisses and cuddles. Gus was Dr Britt’s first canine patient and if you look carefully, you’ll find Gus’ puppy teeth on display. Yep, all carefully extracted by Dr Britt herself. Being the son of a dentist, Gus has picked up a few of his own dental party tricks and can conduct dental check ups on command.