About Us
Dr Matt Ross and Hygienist Kim Begbie pride themselves on offering a service where their patients leave with a positive experience, feeling that they have been treated with the utmost respect and professionalism.
They also believe in a hygiene-focused practice, where patients become highly motivated and well informed by the comprehensive care they receive.
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Their aim is to provide their patients with a beautiful smile, an effective and comfortable bite and excellent oral health for life.
Our Friendly Team
Dr Matt Ross
Dentist
Dental Implantologist
BDS (Otago), DipImpDentRCSEd
Matt is extremely passionate about dentistry. His work combines the technical skills of an engineer, the flair of an artist, and the empathy and knowledge of a doctor.
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Matt loves learning and has embraced opportunities to travel (pre-Covid) and upskill all over the world. He has invested heavily in professional development over his 25 years' in the dental industry. This has helped him develop a unique skill set that complements his experience and friendly chairside manner. Matt has a way of explaining things clearly, so that patients come away feeling well-informed and reassured about the next step in their oral health journey.
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In October 2015, Matt became one of the first in Australasia to gain the prestigious qualification of a Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, Scotland. This examination assessed Matt’s knowledge of all things related to Implantology, Oral Medicine and General Dentistry.
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Offering IV Sedation means Matt can help nervous patients control their fears and feel confident visiting the dentist again. Matt’s sensitive and caring chairside manner is very reassuring to these patients.
Matt also has a special interest in Invisalign Orthodontics, Botox, and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) therapy.
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Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and mentoring new graduates. His interests include rugby, fishing, gardening and cooking. Matt is married with three children who all enjoy the beauty and outdoor lifestyle that Northland offers.
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Qualifications
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Diploma in Implant Dentistry Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
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Member of the NZDA Member of the Australian Society of Implant Dentistry
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Member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
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Member of the NZ Society of Conscious Sedation
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Member of Australasian Academy of Dento-Facial Aesthetics
Kim Begbie
Dental Hygienist
DipDentHyg (Otago)
Kim is dedicated to helping people improve their oral health. She is a highly experienced dental hygienist with a reputation for being thorough and caring. She enjoys meeting people from all walks of life. Kim has worked with Matt for over 17 years at two other practices in Whangarei. Together, they make a highly effective oral health team. This holistic philosophy and strong communication leads to a greater level of care and a better patient experience.
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In her spare time Kim and her husband enjoy fishing in the Far North and keeping fit.
Serena Ross
Business Manager
Serena, wife of Matt and Mum to their 3 children, is new to the dental industry. She is a primary school teacher by trade, sharing her time between teaching at a local Catholic school and being business manager at Tikipunga Dental Centre. She is enjoying the challenge of learning a whole new set of skills and welcomes the opportunity to work alongside other staff.
As a new business owner, Serena has two main priorities. One is to ensure staff feel valued and validated. She understands the importance of creating a team environment, where staff are supported, respected and appreciated. The second is to strive for a positive and professional experience for all patients.
Outside of school and work life, Serena enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing tennis, doing Pilates, travelling and being involved in
pre-marriage education through the Catholic parish.
Fiona Cowlishaw
Practice Coordinator
Fiona is passionate about empowering people to make good health choices and has come from a background in public health, completing her Public Health certificate through Massey University in 2019. Fiona also has a background in beauty therapy and is a qualified aesthetician. More recently Fiona has completed her Dental Assistant course and IV Sedation Monitoring Course.
Fiona believes oral health is an important part of people's health and wellness journey, and is looking forward to providing a warm, caring and friendly environment to the patients at Tikipunga Dental Centre.
Fiona will be working closely with Matt, Kim and the team, ensuring the day to day running of the practice is smooth and efficient.
In her spare time Fiona enjoys participating in Crossfit, and spending time with family and friends.
Lana Keatley
Dental Assistant
Lana is dedicated to providing exceptional support to Matt and our patients and ensuring their comfort during every visit. Lana believes oral health is incredibly important for overall well-being.
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Lana is passionate about both her work and personal life and plans on completing the NZDA course in the near future and is looking forward to helping our patients on their dental journey.
When Lana is not assisting in the Practice you will find her on the hockey field, enjoying the beautiful Northland beaches and making memories with her niece and nephew.