MEET THE TEAM AT BEDLINGTONSHIRE DENTAL PRACTICE

At Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice our aim is to provide high quality dental care and treatment in a caring, relaxed, comfortable and safe environment. We aim to provide a professional service with exceptional patient care to meet your individual requirements. Here are the people that make it all happen.

Dr Joanne Duggan

Principal Dentist and Practice Owner

BChD, Dip con Sed

Joanne qualified from Leeds in 1995 with distinctions and undergraduate prizes in restorative dentistry, orthodontics, periodontology and research.

Joanne has the initials BChD after her name as this is specific for a degree in dentistry from Leeds University as opposed to BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) used from all other UK Universities. She enjoys all aspects of dentistry and therefore has stayed in general practice throughout her career, working as an associate, and also providing the dental service to a local prison for 9 years, before becoming practice owner and the principal dentist of Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice in June 2014, where she still continues to love dentistry.

Joanne has gained some additional post graduate qualifications throughout her career, a brief run down as follows. After being commended by the judges for her passion and enthusiasm as a finalist in the good practice awards, Joanne was invited as the only dentist to participate in a yearlong management and leadership course for health care professionals with Northumberland Care Trust. Following on from this course Joanne went on to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation and

Improving Performance in Health and Social Care from the University of Teesside in 2007.

Joanne has a special interest in helping really anxious patients cope with their dental journey and gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Conscious Sedation from Newcastle University in 2009.

She also attained a postgraduate certificate with distinction in Teaching and Learning in Professional Practice from the University of Central Lancashire in 2012. Joanne utilised this qualification becoming a foundation dentist trainer, a supervisory and mentorship role, for newly qualified dentists in general dental practice. She also delivered lectures to foundation dentists on providing sedation in general dental practice.

Joanne continues to be enthusiastic about dentistry and wants to learn and improve her skills further; she more recently completed a year long course in implant dentistry.

She strives for continuous improvement in the practice at all times and enjoys leading and supporting her fantastic team; she is proud of the practice achieving the BDA good practice accolade and for being identified as a notable practice following our CQC inspection in 2020, "where patient’s general health and well-being was at the heart of the service and staff go above and beyond to help persons who may be vulnerable due to medical, physical or social reasons." Joanne’s aim is for everyone at the practice to achieve their best, striving always to improve and continue their professional development.

Outside of work, Joanne loves sport and the outdoors.

Dr Andrew Cartner

Dental Associate

BDS

Andy qualified in Sheffield in 2018 with honours and a number of prizes in restorative, orthodontic, paediatrics and dental presentation of a case study for his work as an undergraduate student. He then came back to his native North East to Dental Practice. Andy enjoys living an active outdoor life with his wife Katie and Golden Retriever Barney.

He spent a year as a senior house officer on the Oral and Maxillofacial surgery department at the RVI which involved working as part of a large team treating facial trauma, dental infections and head and neck cancers. Andy is a general dentist who is committed to providing high quality, ethical dental care. He also offers clear aligners for straightening teeth and cosmetic treatments for patients who want to improve their smiles. Andy started training in dental implants in 2022 and is now able to offer these at the practice.

Dr Robbie Farrimond

Dental Associate BDS

Robbie qualified from Newcastle Dental School in 2016 with a Distinction in Clinical Dentistry. In 2018 he gained Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh where he also received the John Smith Medal for outstanding performance.

Robbie splits his time between Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice and James Cook University Hospital where he works as a Speciality Doctor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His work in hospital combines oral surgery with the management of facial trauma and conditions of the head and neck. Outside of work Robbie likes spending time with his young family. He is a keen runner and golfer and enjoys exploring Northumberland with his dog Frank.

Dr David Ford

David lived and went to school in Bedlington until 2013 when he attended Newcastle University, qualifying there in 2018. He finds all areas of general dentistry fascinating. Currently, David is pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative Dentistry which provides him with the latest techniques to restore teeth. David is also passionate about education and is currently studying for a Certificate in Medical Education. When not at work, he is a devoted Newcastle United football supporter and enjoys spending time outdoors engaging in activities such as golfing, hiking, and kayaking. David feels privileged to be able to use his skills in dentistry to support the local people of his childhood home of Bedlington.

Mr Robert Banks

Visiting Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon BDS, MBBS, FDSRCS(ENG), FRCPS(Glas), FRCS(OMFS)(Ed)

Rob graduated from Newcastle Dental School in 1992 before completing a degree in medicine from Newcastle Medical School in 1999, after which he completed his surgical training. In 2009 Rob became consultant in Sunderland General Hospital specialising in oral and maxillofacial surgery with interests in orthognathic (jaw) surgery, sialendoscopy (procedure that is used to examine the ducts of the salivary glands using a microendoscope), oral surgery and implant rehabilitation. To become a consultant in this speciality, you need to be a qualified dentist, and medical doctor, plus years of surgical training.

Rob has been involved in all aspects of implant dentistry for over 20 years including training, education, scientific publications, and lecturing. Rob provides all aspects of implant dentistry as well as bone augmentation (increasing the amount of bone available for implant placement using bone grafts), and sinus lifting. He has a particular interest in immediate loading of implants and zygomatic dental implants (implants in your mouth are fixed into your cheek bone). These interests have come together in the provision of ‘All-on-4® Treatment Concept’.

Rob brings invaluable specialist dental, medical and surgical skills to our team and accepts referrals for implant placement and other minor oral surgical procedures at Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice.

Dr Sarah Kime

Visiting

Specialist in Special Care Dentistry

BDS, MFDS, Dip con Sed, MSCD

Sarah qualified from Bristol in 2000, completing General Professional Training in Newcastle and gaining her MFDS qualification in 2002. She then spent a year in Australia, working in a range of environments. On returning to the UK, she started working in the community dental service in Gateshead, where she developed an interest in sedation and special care dentistry. She completed the Diploma in Conscious Sedation at Newcastle University in 2005, and gained her Membership in Special Care Dentistry in 2010. Sarah is also on the specialist list for special care dentistry. She has previously worked in NHS general dental practice and has also been involved in teaching students at Newcastle Dental Hospital. Sarah has joined our team to help with treatment of patients with sedation. She spends the rest of her working week in the community dental services, providing care for patients with additional needs, including providing treatment under sedation and also general anaesthetic, and also leads in house training of staff in sedation.

DR ANDREW B. RATSEY

Visiting Dentist with Keen Interest in Endodontics

BDS, MSc Endo, MFGDP

Andy qualified from Newcastle Dental School in 2006. Andy joined our team to help specifically with endodontic, (root filling) treatments. Andy is particularly passionate about root fillings and has completed a postgraduate diploma in endodontics, and has been awarded a distinction in his MSc in Endodontics. Andy is also very involved in teaching endodontics. He regularly delivers evening seminars and runs 2 day hands on events to teach everything from diagnosis to restoring the endodontically treated tooth. When he is not working he enjoys cycling and walking with his wife and 3 children and his new puppy in Northumberland.

KATHRYN ARMSTRONG Dental Therapist and Hygienist

Kathryn is a qualified dental therapist with over 25 years experience as a clinician. Kathryn started her career as a dental nurse in the RAF. She gained her Diploma in dental hygiene in 1997 (and won the tutor’s award for her clinical skills) but decided she wanted to further her career and gained a Diploma in Dental Therapy at the University of Bristol in 2016. This additional qualification allows Kathryn to perform fillings on both adults and children and also to extract baby teeth. Kathryn is a very enthusiastic clinician and splits her time between practices across the North East.

Kathryn is also a qualified fitness and spinning instructor. Outside of work she is always on the go at the gym, playing badminton, DIY and working in her allotment.

CLARE RANKIN Clinical Dental Technician (CDT)

Clare attended the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and qualified as a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) at the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh in 2019. She had previously been a Dental Technician for 20 years before pursuing her dream of becoming a CDT.

Clare worked in several private dental laboratories in the North East and worked along side Alan Forest (CDT) as her mentor during her training at UCLan, giving her valuable experience working with one of the North East’s leading CDTs, before joining Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice once Alan retired.

Our clinicians are supported by a brilliant team of experienced and knowledgeable dental nurses:

• Ally started her dental nursing career in 1990 and qualified in 2006. She has additional qualifications in dental sedation nursing, oral health education and fluoride varnish application.

• Lisa qualified in 1996 and has additional qualifications in Dental sedation nursing and fluoride varnish application.

• Rachel qualified in 2019 and has additional qualifications in Dental Radiography and fluoride varnish application.

• Natalie qualified in 2016 and has an additional qualification in fluoride varnish application and is working towards her qualification in dental implant nursing.

• Sally is our trainee dental nurse and is working towards her diploma in dental nursing.

• Ruth qualified in 2008 and has additional qualifications in dental sedation nursing, fluoride varnish application. She is also the practice manager and the noisy one of the practice!

At Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice we have a fantastic team, every member bringing their own special contribution to make this a great place both to be a patient but also to work.

If you are seeking treatment or advice, or looking to register with our dental practice, do please contact us on 01670 828 402.

Olivia Priest has a BSc and MSc in Sports Injury Management. Her treatment approach involves a consultation and detailed care plan that uses various effective techniques to help you recover, manage and heal from a wide range of injuries and conditions.