Meet the Team

Our practice principal, Sharmilla, graduated from Guy’s Dental School, London, in 1995 with a distinction in Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine. She is a member of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners UK, and has been awarded a diploma in general dental practice.

Sharmilla is dedicated to furthering her skills and knowledge in order to provide the very best care, and has achieved her postgraduate certificate in medical and dental education from Oxford Brookes University. In 2018, she attained a postgraduate diploma in dental implantology from The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) England. Until recently, Sharmilla was a foundation dentist trainer, providing guidance and support to young dentists.

Sharmilla has a special interest in dental implants and is a member of the Association of Dental Implantologists UK.

She is very passionate about her work, and highly experienced in the replacement of missing teeth, the restoration of natural-looking teeth, and in both complicated and simple restorations. Sharmilla has a gentle and caring approach, and believes that developing a good rapport with each patient helps her provide treatment to the highest standards in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

Nikos graduated from the University of Timisoara, Romania, in 2001, and lived and worked in Athens, Greece, until 2006, when he relocated to the UK. He has been a member of the team at The Croft Dental Centre since 2009.

Nikos is always happy to listen and eager to help. He greets every patient with a warm smile, and loves helping them rediscover their confidence in their own smiles too. Cosmetic dentistry and smile design are a large part of his clinical work, and his continuing professional development efforts reflect this.

Nikos is married to Rodica, also a dentist at The Croft Dental Centre.

Rodica graduated from the University of Timisoara, Romania, in 2001. She lived and worked in Orsova, Romania, and Athens, Greece, until 2006, when she relocated to the UK. Rodica joined the team at The Croft Dental Centre in 2009.

Rodica has a kind and gentle approach, and greatly enjoys helping nervous patients regain their confidence in both their smiles and visiting the practice. She is particularly interested in cosmetic dentistry, and has completed numerous smile makeover cases for her delighted patients. Rodica is also a certified Gold Invisalign provider, helping her patients achieve straighter smiles with clear and removable aligners.

Rodica is married to Nikos, who is also a dentist at The Croft Dental Centre.

Rajpal graduated from King’s College London in 2011. After completing his foundation year, he gained valuable surgical experience as a SHO in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. He joined the team at The Croft Dental Centre in 2015.

Since returning to general practice, Rajpal has successfully achieved a Master’s degree in Primary Dental Care. He has also been awarded a diploma in implantology from the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London.

As well as being dedicated to his postgraduate development, Rajpal strongly believes dentistry should be both predictable and pain-free. He finds it truly rewarding to help anxious patients overcome their fears and aims to improve their confidence and quality of life. Rajpal is also a qualified Invisalign treatment provider.

Outside of dentistry, Rajpal enjoys travelling, catching up with friends, and playing basketball to keep fit.

Rishi graduated from Guy’s Dental School, London, in 2005, and joined The Croft Dental Centre in 2019. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Dental Implantology from the Cambridge Academy of Dental Implantology.

Over the years, Rishi has gained considerable experience in general practice. He has a particular interest in cosmetic dentistry, and is a Gold Invisalign provider.

Rishi has a calm and confident chairside manner, which is especially popular with nervous patients. He ensures his patients receive optimal dental care, and uses the most advanced techniques in modern dentistry to achieve this. He has a non-invasive and minimal intervention approach to patient care and management, and uses his attention to detail and ability to prioritise patient needs and expectations to achieve successful outcomes even in the most challenging of situations.

Kavi qualified as a dentist from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Dental School, London, in 2005, and joined The Croft Dental Centre in 2019. She is also a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Kavi gained valuable surgical experience while working as a senior house officer in the Oral & Maxillofacial Department of Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford. She then went on to work as a community dental officer, where she treated medically compromised and extremely anxious patients. The skills she developed in these roles have made her an experienced, caring and approachable dental professional.

Kavi also has an interest in aesthetic dentistry, using crowns, veneers and teeth straightening to give her patients a more confident smile. She is a fully certified Invisalign treatment provider and sedation trained.

In her free time, Kavi enjoys swimming and yoga.

Jake studied at King’s College London, graduating with his Bachelor of Dental Surgery. He then completed a postgraduate certificate in Primary Dental Care. He then completed his Master’s degree at the University of Kent with distinction, authoring a pilot study into the effects of smoking/vaporisers on gums. He has gained full Membership of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners. Jake has been awarded the Diploma of Primary Care Dentistry by the Royal College of Surgery (Ireland), and he is a Foundation Member of The College of General Dentistry, before achieving Associate Fellowship status.

Through the College and RASA Academy, he completed with distinction a postgraduate degree in non-surgical facial aesthetics. He then undertook training in fixed braces, clear aligners, and alternative functional appliances with IAS Academy with the aim of being able to offer non-specialist orthodontic opinions and treatment.

Most recently, in 2024, Jake trained with Bond Solon to aim to become an expert witness, gaining certification with Cardiff University. He has acted as a guest speaker for working in dentistry at the Royal Grammar School Guildford, as well as for trainee dentists for the NHS.

Jake loves spending time with his patients, talking them through their options and, with the more anxious, putting them and their minds at ease. He aims to provide a calm and caring service with every patient and especially enjoys treating children and getting them used to the experience of dental check-ups.

In his free time, Jake is an avid reader, drawer, and ceramics enthusiast, as well as someone who enjoys simply catching up with friends.

Aidan graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019. Following his foundation training, he joined the Oral and Maxillofacial Department of Ipswich Hospital in August 2020. He completed his postgraduate diploma for Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery with the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2021.

Aidan has the right blend of competency, efficiency and compassion needed for an excellent dentist, and makes a special effort to ease the anxieties of those in his care. He has a special interest in surgical extractions and dental trauma, including under sedation.

Aidan enjoys playing badminton, cycling and running. He also has a passion for photography and music.

Komal graduated from Lahore Medical & Dental College, Pakistan, in 2008. She relocated to the UK after getting married, passed her ORE exam and received her GDC registration. Komal is also a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Komal joined the team at Croft Dental Centre in August 2023. She mainly provides general dentistry but is also interested in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Komal treats all her patients in a calm and caring manner, and in particular finds treating children and anxious patients hugely rewarding. She strives to provide high quality treatment for every patient, addressing all their concerns in a friendly way, and making sure she discusses all aspects of any treatment clearly before proceeding.

Outside of dentistry, Komal enjoys spending time with her three children, cooking, baking and enjoying good food. She also loves travelling and socialising with her friends and family.

Mina qualified as a dentist from Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Dental School in 1999 with honours. In 2016, she completed a diploma in Endodontic Practice at the Eastman Dental Institute, UCL. This means she has the knowledge and enhanced skills to treat more complex cases of root canal work.

Mina has a wealth of experience and has worked in a variety of general practices, Perth Dental School in Australia and at the Ministry of Defence, UK. She has a keen interest in endodontics and periodontology and is passionate about the provision of high quality dental care in a personal, caring and friendly manner. She can even provide hypnotherapy for anxious patients.

In her spare time, Mina enjoys spending time with her daughter, travelling, yoga and is a keen artist.

Alina qualified as a dentist from Ecological University in Bucharest, Romania. She has lived and worked in the UK since 2006, mainly in private practice.

Alina’s special interest in endodontics (root canal treatments) dates back to 2002 when she was privileged to work alongside specialists in this field. She has used an operating microscope for the last 14 years, enhancing her ability to treat very complex cases. This led to her completing a Master of Science Degree at King’s College London in 2020.

In her spare time, Alina enjoys travelling, running, yoga and qigong.

Rahul graduated from the University of Oxford in 2024 with a first-class BA in Medical Sciences and a degree in Clinical Medicine (BMBCh). He achieved merits in his modules in psychiatry, biochemistry and medical genetics. He was awarded a position as an anatomy demonstrator at Oxford Medical School in his final year.

Rahul completed his foundation training in Dorset, working at Bournemouth and Poole hospitals, and completing rotations in geriatrics, general surgery, psychiatry, maxillofacial surgery, acute medicine and the emergency department. During his foundation training, Rahul passed his membership exams to the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS). He also presented his research on cervical lymph node metastasis in oral cancer at an international conference and finished his basic surgical skills training.

Rahul completed a course at the Dr Bob Khanna Training Institute on Botulinum Toxin and dermal filler treatments. He is currently studying at King’s College London Dental School on the path towards becoming a maxillofacial surgeon.

Joanna qualified as a dental hygienist and therapist from King’s College London in 2016. For the past 10 years, she has helped patients achieve healthy, confident smiles. Dedicated, highly motivated and passionate about her work, Joanna is known for her gentle approach and ability to put patients at ease. She is especially committed to patient education and takes a holistic approach to oral health.

Joanna cares for patients of all ages and, as a therapist, provides preventative and restorative treatments for both adults and children. She is also qualified in Airflow (GBT) treatments and teeth whitening, and has recently completed training in Facial Aesthetics, enabling her to advise on skin-rejuvenating treatments.

Outside work, Joanna enjoys spending time with her two girls and her dog, and loves cooking, travelling and photography.

Joanne qualified as a dental hygienist from the Military School of Dental Hygiene, Aldershot in 1994. She served there for 13 years and had the pleasure to work all over the world. Since leaving the military she has worked in mixed NHS and private general practices in the UK.

Joanne has a passion to ensure that all her patients receive the highest level of hygiene treatment and is committed to promoting the best oral health treatments and education. She has been particularly active in providing dental education to school children, sharing her knowledge and importance of good oral hygiene to this important age group. Joanne has a special interest in periodontology and is qualified in teeth whitening and airflow procedures.

Outside of work, Joanne is a keen equestrian, skier and swimmer.

Ela is a dedicated dental hygienist with over 17 years of experience in the dental field. After completing her studies at the renowned Eastman Dental Hospital, she quickly developed a deep passion for educating patients about the importance of oral health.

With a focus on preventative care, Ela not only helps maintain healthy smiles but also empowers patients with the knowledge to take charge of their oral hygiene.

Known for her compassionate and calming approach, Ela has a special talent for working with anxious patients. She provides a supportive and comfortable environment to ensure their dental visits, whether for periodontal treatment or complex implant maintenance, are as stress-free as possible.

Through patient education and hands-on care, Ela is committed to making a positive impact on her patients’ well-being, one smile at a time.

Rekha joined Croft Dental Centre in 2018 as a dental nurse and subsequently secured a place at the University of Essex in 2021 to pursue an FdSc in Oral Health Science.

She qualified as a dental hygienist in 2023 and has since been practising in this role at Croft Dental Centre. Rekha is deeply committed to advancing oral health education and motivating patients to achieve and maintain optimal oral health.