Hitesh Batavia B.D.S. STAT. EXAM

Hitesh graduated in 1983 from the Dental School at the University of Gujurat, Ahmedabad, with a BDS degree (Bachelor of Dental Science).

He came to the U.K. in 1985 and passed the qualifying exams enabling him to practice as a dentist in Britain.

Hitesh's first nine years as a working dentist were spent in a busy mixed NHS/Private Practice in Central London where he acquired a wealth of experience helping a wide range of patients. During this time he became aware of the contribution a dental practitioner can make to long term as well as short term dental health and overall wellbeing.

While at the Central London Practice, Hitesh attended courses of advanced study in specific dental techniques including implants and restorative treatments. Here he also developed an interest in homeopathy as a means of supplementing conventional treatments and enhancing patient care.

Having opened Ravenscourt Dental Practice in 1994, Hitesh undertook the government sponsored 'Investors In People' programme. This programme assisted him in a commitment to developing on-going staff training, together with his own personal development.

Since opening the Ravenscourt Dental Practice he has continued to extend his own professional skills. He has studied early interceptive orthodontics, aimed particularly at young children, and various aspects of "bite" and jaw problems. He has developed his interest in how "bite" and jaw relationships can both improve treatments and assist in preventing treatment failure.

In 2002 he was appointed a Licentiate in Dental Homeopathy.

Whilst treating all patients as individuals, Hitesh aims to incorporate all his experience and knowledge to offer patients the widest possible range of dental treatments and care, and where appropriate treatments can be supplemented by alternative homeopathic remedies.

Dr Luigi Nibali

Luigi qualified in dentistry at the University of Catania in Italy with a thesis on the relationship between Periodontology and Orthodontics. He started working in private practice whilst continuing his internship in the Department of Periodontology of the University of Catania.

Hhe moved to the UK thanks to a prestigious research fellowship by the Italian Society of Periodontology (SIdP). Since then, he has been involved in research and clinical activities at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute (EDI), where he also completed an MSc in Periodontology and a PhD on 'Genetic polymorphisms as risk factors for Aggressive Periodontitis'. His research, conducted which was conducted in collaboration with other staff in the Periodontology Unit and other Units at UCL, helped identify some of the candidate genetic factors predisposing to periodontitis in young individuals, and helped in establishing the connection between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Luigi has lectured and presented the findings of his research at several international meetings and was awarded the Sir Wilfred Fish prize by the British Society of Periodontology (BSP), the Muhlemann prize by the Swiss Society of Periodontology (SSP), the Goldman prize by the SIdP, and the IADR-Colgate Research in Prevention award by the International Association of Dental Research (IADR).

Luigi has experience in non-surgical and surgical treatment of periodontal disease including conventional periodontal surgery and regenerative surgery, with a special interest in early onset forms of periodontitis.

He is a registered UK specialist in Periodontics and is currently a clinical research fellow/ honorary lecturer involved in clinical research and postgraduate teaching activities at the EDI.

He has been a member of the 'Ravenscourt Dental Practice team' since 2005.

Dr Athyr Al-Killidar BDS (Guys)

Athyr graduated from United Medical & Dental Schools of Guy's & St Thomas' in 1996 and has been providing orthodontic treatment since 1999.

He is experienced with traditional types of of orthodontic appliances, but is especially interested in the more 'discrete' options such as Invisalign and lingual orthodontics. He has been awarded the status of Platinum Invisalign Doctor due to the number of cases he has now successfully treated.

Athyr has a holistic treatment philosophy. Treatment planning is based on facial profile, and the establishment of a healthy relationship between the teeth, joints and facial muscles.

Technology is an important part of the treatment planning process. Computerised assessments of the face and underlying skeletal structure, together with smile assessment and predictions of facial profile following treatment are all carried out to ensure the best possible results.

In addition to orthodontic treatment, Athyr diagnoses and treats many patients referred for jaw joint problems and the possibility of any associated problems including; headaches, neck aches, ear symptoms, excess tooth wear, tooth clenching and grinding.

Athyr is involved in research and has lectured to various groups. His professional memberships include the British Dental Association, British Orthodontic Society, ADAPT, and the British Society for the Study of Craniomandibular Disorders.

This combined with his caring and meticulous approach to treatment has earned him a great reputation amongst his professional colleagues and patients alike.

Dr Yvonna Szyszko

Yvonna graduated from Guy's and St Thomas' Dental school, and after completing her vocational training, worked in oral and maxillofacial surgery before taking up a lecturing post in oral surgery at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Following her return to the UK, Yvonna now works in the specialist field of oral surgery in hospital as well as in dental practice. Yvonna is on the GDC specialist list for oral surgery and is currently completing an MSc in implant dentistry.

In addition, with her wide knowledge of facial anatomy, Yvonna also provides anti-wrinkle treatments at the Practice.

Dr Barry Edwards

Barry Edwards graduated from Sydney University in 1963 where his interest in dental implants was ignited by Professor Cam Graham in the second year of dental college in 1959.

Barry moved to London shortly after graduating and became the owner of a practice in Bloomsbury in 1965. Having first studied the clinical application of implants under the expert guidance of Hans Orlay in London Barry then attended the Lariboisiere Hospital in Paris to study the clinical application of dental implants. He became a Fellow and Diplomat of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists in 1968.

He is Founder (1986), Honorary Chairman (1998) and Honorary Life Member 2003 of the Association of Dental Implantology which he started in the basement of the Bloomsbury practice with several colleagues. The ADI is now a thriving association with well over a thousand members (www.adi.org.uk ).

Since 1986 Barry has concentrated solely on dental implant treatments. He is the MD, Research Officer, Consultant and Lecturer for Intoss Dental Implant Systems Ltd.

Barry has published various research papers on different aspects of implants. Acknowledged as inventor of the angled internal hex-lock abutment that he patented in Oct 1986, he also designed an immediate implant, specialised implant drills and many other implant devices widely used today.

As a dedicated mentor, Barry teaches and passes on his wealth of knowledge and experience to his colleagues so that their patients may benefit. He has lectured internationally since 1968. He has a keen interest in defining the causes of tooth loss and the elimination of the causes before the teeth are restored to provide long term protection for the remaining teeth and the intended restorations.

Barry is very passionate about helping patients restore function and overall oral facial aesthetics due to missing teeth, in both simple and advanced cases.

Dr David jones

David gained his BDS with Commendation from the University of Glasgow in 2005, having already achieved a BSc(Hons) in Anatomical Science in 2003. David has worked in a broad range of Dental specialities and is a Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is also an active member of the British Endodontic Society and is studying for the MClinDent qualification at the Kings Dental Institute, London, where he is a Specialist Registrar in Endodontics. David has received extensive training in endodontics and limits his practice of dentistry to this field.

Anika Patel

Our Dental Hygienist and Therapist Anika qualified in June 2010 from the University of Sheffield and is enjoying working as part of the team at Ravenscourt Dental Practice.

As a therapist she is able to perform routine dental treatments such as fissure sealants, simple fillings on adults and children, together with teeth extractions on children.

Anika works alongside Hitesh and the Periodontist Luigi, to help improve and maintain the condition of our patients' mouth and gums. Her goal is to educate and provide information so that her patients can improve their oral health, thus contributing to the stability and wellbeing of both their general and dental health.

Anika's aim is to build a long term professional relationship with her patients and this ongoing relationship will help the patients achieve best oral health for each individual. She enjoys taking care of people, and likes to provide the best dental hygiene services in a relaxed, caring environment. She works hard to build trust and maintain hygiene programs tailored to each individual. She will thoroughly clean your teeth using a variety of pain free and comfortable techniques and discuss methods of tooth cleaning that she considers are best and most effective for you.

Children benefit greatly from seeing her – her calm, consistent and kind approach makes it easy for children to get the correct habits for life and so reduce the need for dental treatment in the future.

Anika has the ability to show patients oral hygiene techniques, and she can recommend professional dental care where appropriate. Her professional approach makes her ideal for putting nervous patients at ease.

Anika is a member of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy.

Katharine Chiu

BDS (London), MFDS RCS Eng, DipDSed, M Clin Dent (Distinction), MRD RCS Ed

Katharine trained at Guy's Hospital, London and qualified in 2001. She was awarded her Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2003 and a Diploma in Conscious Sedation from King's Dental Institute in 2006.

Katharine continued her links with Guy's Dental Hospital having specialized in Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry and conducting research in tooth wear whilst continuing her training in the latest techniques.

Katharine is a GDC registered Specialist in Prosthodontics (Distinction). As well as providing all aspects of general dentistry she reconstructs failing dentitions with crown and bridgework, dentures, dental implants, treats jaw and occlusal (bite) problems as well as aesthetic dentistry.

Following extensive training in Conscious Sedation, Katharine is able to use different techniques to provide treatments for the nervous patients who attend the practice.

She has worked and taught at a number of UK Dental Hospitals, and from these appointments has gained widespread experience in the fields of Oral Surgery, Periodontology (gums), Oral Medicine, as well as Restorative Dentistry.

Katharine is committed to providing the highest quality of care based upon sound scientific evidence and principles. She believes in pain free, aesthetic dentistry that addresses the needs of her patients.

In her spare time, Katharine enjoys to keep mind and body healthy; playing badminton and attending Ballet classes.