The team at Gentle Dental look forward to welcoming you to our practice. We’re a small and friendly Salisbury dentist team, so you’ll be seeing the same faces every time you visit.
All of our team are knowledgeable, and have years of experience putting our clients at ease and calming any nerves people may have about visiting the dentist.
Rob is our dentist; he qualified in 1984 at the Birmingham Dental School and since then has worked in various practices around the south before setting up Gentle Dental with his wife Niamh in 2004. Gentle Dental is renowned for being patient, calm and caring dentists in Salisbury. On top of dental health reviews, (routine dental check-ups), and general dentistry. Rob has dedicated a lot of his time to learning everything he can and has become a leading cosmetic dentist in Salisbury.
Rob’s sense of humour and calm, friendly manner will instantly put you at ease, and he always takes the time to talk through your dental health and treatments in plain English.
Rob has a special interest in the appearance of teeth and how they fit together (the ‘bite’). His desire to continually improve the quality of his work this has led to him regularly attending dental courses in the US where many of the latest treatments originate from, studying under the best tutors like Larry Rosenthal, with John Kois at the Kois centre in Seattle and other top cosmetic dentists.
There are always new cosmetic dentistry techniques coming out and Rob works hard to make sure he is always offering what he believes are the best and most up to date treatments.
You know that Rob’s work will always look great as he carefully mixes the colour for each filling and details every veneer and crown so they perfectly match your natural teeth. His attention to detail also means that he will ensure that your bite is perfect, so you won't damage your teeth or be uncomfortable.
This attention to detail also extends to the laboratories we use, we hand pick only the ones we feel are the very best dental laboratories from across the globe, so we can be sure of the results.
GDC Registration Number 59980
Niamh is our dental hygienist, she qualified in 1989, working in other practices before founding Gentle Dental, a Salisbury dentist practice, with her husband Rob.
With years of experience Niamh can often flag dental issues early, meaning that you can get treatment before it becomes a more serious problem.
Niamh works hard to stay up to date with all the latest oral hygiene practices and techniques to ensure that Gentle Dental offer you a high quality service.
Our appointments are 40-60 minutes long, twice as long as a typical NHS hygienist. This isn't so we can prod you for longer, but so we can be more gentle and use slower more pleasant treatments such as airflow.
Niamh is deeply passionate about dental hygiene and for many years was a member of the executive board of the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy a national association for dental hygienists and therapists. She has helped to bring younger members onto the executive committee and having passed on her wealth of knowledge has now stepped down to allow younger minds to help to shape the future of the society and the world of dental hygiene.
GDC Registration Number 3745
Jodie did her work experience with us in 2013 when she was just 16 and followed that up with training as a dental nurse. Sadly not with us as we were not looking to take on staff at that time. A decision I certainly regretted. Thankfully she eventually found her way back to us in 2019 having gained a wealth of knowledge from working in different dentist practices.
Rachael is joined the practice in October 2021. She previously worked as a dental nurse and having worked in an office decided she missed the contact with people so returned to her roots at our Salisbury dentist practice.
Taryn is a trainee with us having moved to the area recently. Her background is in hospitality but she felt it was time to do something where there was the possibility of qualifications and potential to progress. She will be completing her qualification alongside Anu.
Laura, joined the Gentle Dental team in November 2024, bringing with her a calm, compassionate approach and a strong commitment to client care. Her journey into dentistry began in a slightly unusual way—with a degree in Zoology. After discovering limited career opportunities in that field, she worked in banking before realising she wanted a role with more personal interaction.
She decided to pursue dentistry and, while waiting to start dental school, gained valuable experience working as a dental nurse. Laura went on to qualify from Aberdeen Dental School in 2017 and spent the following years building her skills as a dentist.
Dedicated to continual learning, she recently completed a year-long course in Cosmetic Dentistry and Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry, which has significantly enhanced her clinical practice. Laura has a special interest in minimally invasive aesthetic dentistry, an approach that focuses on preserving as much of the natural tooth structure as possible.
She is especially skilled at putting anxious clients at ease and her gentle manner fits perfectly with the ethos at Gentle Dental.
Laura is mum to two daughters, Olivia and Sophie. When she’s not in the clinic, she enjoys countryside walks and baking— though the latter may be a challenge for the waistlines of the team!
Shilpa joined Gentle Dental in June 2024 as a dental hygienist. Originally trained as a dentist in India, she moved to the UK with her young family and decided to pursue a new path within dentistry. Recognising the differences in practice between the UK and India, and balancing family life, Shilpa chose to qualify as a dental hygienist.
While waiting for her registration, she trained and worked as a dental nurse and became registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). She’s already a familiar face to many of the team, having met several of us at various training days and she’s quickly become a popular and valued member of the practice. We’re all thrilled to have her on board.
Outside of work, Shilpa enjoys cooking and sharing her traditional home recipes, something the team is especially grateful for!