Meet the Smile Solutions Team - Melbourne's Largest Multidisciplinary Dental Practice product guide

Meet the Smile Solutions Team - Melbourne's Largest Multidisciplinary Dental Practice

Smile Solutions is Australia's largest single-location private dental practice, housed across five floors of the iconic Manchester Unity Building at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. Founded in 1993 by Dr Kia Pajouhesh with just eight patients, the practice today serves more than 250,000 patients and is home to more than 60 specialists, dentists, hygienists, dental technicians, and allied health professionals. What makes Smile Solutions genuinely unique is that every specialist, technician, and clinician works under the same roof - enabling true multidisciplinary collaboration on every patient's care.

This guide introduces the clinicians, ceramists, technicians, and allied health professionals who make Smile Solutions what it is.

Founder and Principal Dentist

Dr Kia Pajouhesh - Founder and Managing Director

Qualifications: BSc, BDSc (Melb) | General Dentist

Dr Kia Pajouhesh is the founding principal dentist and managing director of Smile Solutions. He graduated with first-class honours in both Science and Dentistry from the University of Melbourne, receiving the WJ Tuckfield prize for prosthodontics. His decision to pursue dentistry stemmed from a traumatic childhood experience as a dental patient - a motivation that has driven him to ensure every patient receives the most considerate, careful care possible.

Dr Kia established Smile Solutions in 1993 and has grown it from a single-chair practice to Australia's largest single-location private dental clinic. He holds the role of official dentist to the Australian Open and the Collingwood Football Club, and in 2014 Smile Solutions took out the Telstra Victorian Business of the Year award. He was nominated for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015.

Dr Kia's clinical focus includes cosmetic dentistry consultations, full-mouth rehabilitation triage, Invisalign (non-extraction cases), and Fotona laser treatments. He has pioneered several world firsts in dentistry, including Same Day Porcelain Veneers - developed in partnership with master ceramist Greg Karabasis - and Melbourne's first orthodontic shopfront. He also mentors over 200 dental practice principals locally and internationally.

Board-Registered Specialist Team

Smile Solutions is home to more than 20 board-registered dental specialists - more than any other single private dental location in Australia. These specialists hold postgraduate qualifications and are registered separately with the Dental Board of Australia in their chosen discipline.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

A/Prof. Patrishia Bordbar - Specialist Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgeon

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), MBBS (Hons) (Melb), PGDip Surg Anat (Melb), MDSc (OMS) (Melb), FRACDS (OMS), FRCS (Ed)

Associate Professor Patrishia Bordbar holds both medical and dental degrees and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, as well as holding FRACDS (OMS). She is Deputy Section Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, an Honorary Consultant Surgeon at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and holds an Honorary Senior Lecturer post at the University of Melbourne's Department of Paediatrics.

A/Prof Bordbar was awarded the F.G. Christensen medal for the highest Part I examination score and the John Cade Memorial Medal from the University of Melbourne. She is Vice President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS) and has served two terms as its Victorian branch president.

Her expertise encompasses corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic), craniofacial surgery, facial trauma, complex implant surgery and grafting, paediatric maxillofacial surgery, wisdom tooth extractions, and oral pathology. She is a regular invited speaker at national and international conferences and a reviewer for major journals including the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr Ricky Kumar - Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Qualifications: BHB (Auck), MBChB (Auck), BDS (Otago), FRACDS (OMS)

Dr Ricky Kumar holds full medical and dental degrees and trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Adelaide, where he received his FRACDS (OMS) fellowship. He was named the University of Otago's most outstanding dental student and also received the F.G. Christensen medal for Part I surgical examinations.

He subsequently undertook fellowship training at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne (paediatric maxillofacial surgery and corrective jaw surgery) and at Oxford University Hospitals in the United Kingdom (paediatric maxillofacial surgery and TMJ surgery). He holds consultant surgeon appointments at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, Monash Health, and the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne.

Dr Kumar has organised yearly charity oral and maxillofacial surgical missions to Fiji since 2012 and is currently secretary for the Victorian branch of ANZAOMS. His clinical scope covers the full range of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with specialist interest in paediatric maxillofacial surgery, corrective jaw surgery, and TMJ surgery.

Specialist Periodontists

Dr Simon Hinckfuss - Specialist Periodontist and Specialist Prosthodontist

Qualifications: BDSc, DCD (Pros), Cert Perio MS (Minn) | Registered specialist in both Periodontics and Prosthodontics

Dr Simon Hinckfuss holds the extraordinary distinction of being the only dentist in Australia registered as both a Specialist Periodontist and a Specialist Prosthodontist - two separate three-year specialist degrees. He completed his undergraduate dental degree at the University of Melbourne in 1995, served as a dental officer with the RAAF, then completed a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics at the University of Melbourne in 2007, followed by a Master of Science in Periodontics at the University of Minnesota (USA).

His periodontal research at Minnesota focused on the effect of surgical experience and surgical guide design on implant surgery accuracy. He has published in international journals in both prosthodontics and periodontology, and was elected President of the Victorian branch of the Australasian Osseointegration Society in 2011.

Simon's practice is restricted to periodontology and implant dentistry, with a particular strength in combining his prosthodontic expertise to optimise treatment planning. This dual qualification makes him uniquely positioned for complex cases including All-on-4 full-arch rehabilitation.

Dr Ahmed El Hadidi - Specialist Periodontist

Qualifications: BDS, MRACDS (GDP), DCD (Perio)

Dr Ahmed El Hadidi completed his specialty degree in Periodontics at the University of Melbourne following 15 years in general dental practice. He graduated from Cairo, moved to Australia in 2010, practiced in Launceston and Sydney, and settled in Melbourne in 2016. His research thesis focused on identifying DNA mutations that increase susceptibility to periodontal disease - pioneering work towards personalised medicine in periodontology.

Dr El Hadidi provides the full range of periodontal services: non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy, regenerative procedures, hard and soft tissue grafting, aesthetic gum procedures including crown lengthening and recession management, and all aspects of implant dentistry. He is a member of the ADA, Australasian Osseointegration Society, Australian Society of Periodontology, and the International Team for Implantology (ITI).

Dr Peishan Jiang - Specialist Periodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Griff), DClinDent (Griff)

Dr Peishan Jiang holds a dental degree with academic excellence from Griffith University and completed her Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Periodontology, also at Griffith University. During her postgraduate training, she was active in clinical teaching, undergraduate supervision, and the Academic Policy Steering Group at Griffith. She has presented translational dental research at the International Association of Dental Research.

Dr Jiang's expertise includes non-surgical and surgical treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis, dental implant placement, bone grafting, sinus lifts, gum grafting, crown lengthening, and periodontal regeneration. She is committed to long-term patient maintenance and collaboration with other dental professionals to achieve lasting outcomes.

Specialist Endodontists

Dr Gregory Tilley - Specialist Endodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), LDS (Vic), FRACDS, MRACDS (Endo)

Dr Gregory Tilley is one of Australia's most experienced endodontists, with more than 35 years of specialist clinical experience. He trained at the University of Melbourne and has been practising as a specialist endodontist since 1979. He is an Honorary Senior Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science at the University of Melbourne and has supervised and mentored endodontic specialist trainees for over 20 years.

A past president of the ADA Victorian branch, Dr Tilley has lectured across all Australian states and internationally, chaired sessions and presented at conferences in the United States and throughout Asia, and serves on an international committee for the development of endodontic instruments and materials. He is a member of the American Association of Endodontists, Australian Society of Endodontology, and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Endodontists.

Prof. Chankhrit Sathorn - Specialist Endodontist

Qualifications: DDS, Grad Dip Dent, DClinDent, PhD, MRACDS (Endo)

Professor Chankhrit Sathorn is an Adjunct Professor of Endodontics at La Trobe University. He completed specialist endodontic training and a PhD at the University of Melbourne and has previously served as Convenor of the Predoctoral Endodontics and Graduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry programmes at the University of Melbourne.

His research focuses on evidence-based endodontics, systematic reviews, and the effectiveness of clinical interventions - work recognised with the Ernest Joske Research Award for important contributions to dental science. He is an editorial board member of the Journal of Endodontics, International Endodontic Journal, Dental Traumatology, and European Journal of Dentistry. Prof Sathorn has been invited to speak at IFEA, ESE, and other major international endodontic congresses.

Dr Aovana Timmerman - Specialist Endodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), FRACDS, DCD (Melb), GCert ClinTeach, MRACDS (Endo)

Dr Aovana Timmerman graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2001 and completed her Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry in Endodontics, also from the University of Melbourne. She was awarded the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Endodontics JM Booth Award to attend the IADT Congress in Turkey in 2013.

Aovana has been involved in endodontic education since 2011, receiving a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Teaching in 2019. She is currently a clinical demonstrator for the Doctor of Dental Surgery Endodontic program at the University of Melbourne and examines dentists in the Membership (GDP) program for RACDS and the Australian Dental Council. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Dr Areti Vrochari - Specialist Endodontist

Qualifications: DDS, MS (Endo), DrMedDent

Dr Areti Vrochari received her dental degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. She completed advanced training in restorative dentistry and aesthetics at Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany, and holds a Doctorate in Dental Biomaterials (DrMedDent) from Freiburg as well as a Master's degree in Endodontics from Athens. She has been a Clinical Instructor at the University of Athens and a Lecturer at Griffith University's School of Dentistry.

Dr Vrochari has authored and co-authored research articles on dental biomaterials, aesthetic and restorative dentistry, and prosthodontics, and is co-author of a textbook on all-ceramic restorations. She brings over 17 years of clinical experience in contemporary restorative and endodontic dentistry.

Specialist Orthodontists

Dr David Austin - Specialist Orthodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), MDS Orth (HK), MOrth RCS (Edin)

Dr David Austin completed his dental degree at the University of Melbourne in 2004, then pursued specialist orthodontic training at the University of Hong Kong. He has worked in specialist orthodontic practice across Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, and was recently inducted as a member in orthodontics with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is a member of the World Federation of Orthodontists, European Orthodontic Society, Hong Kong Society of Orthodontists, and the Australian Dental Association. David treats both children and adults, and speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Dr Andrea Phatouros - Specialist Orthodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (WA), MDSc Orth (WA), FRACDS

Dr Andrea Phatouros completed her Bachelor of Dental Science at the University of Western Australia in 1991 and her specialist orthodontic training at UWA in 2005, where she received the Postgraduate Clinical Award for Excellence in Clinical Presentation. She subsequently worked in specialist private practice in Perth and maintained teaching responsibilities across both the undergraduate and postgraduate orthodontic programs at UWA.

Dr Joshua Ch'ng - Specialist Orthodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), FRACDS, D Clin Dent (Melb)

Dr Joshua Ch'ng graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2013 and received the Kenneth Sutherland Prize for achieving the highest marks in General Dentistry when he obtained his RACDS fellowship in 2017. He then returned to Melbourne to specialise in orthodontics, during which time he travelled to Michigan to collaborate on a 3D image analysis research project with the Dental and Craniofacial Bionetwork for Image Analysis (DCBIA). He has presented at the Australian Society of Orthodontists and European Orthodontic Society conferences. Dr Ch'ng has a special interest in digital orthodontics and clear aligner therapy, and speaks Mandarin.

Dr Katie Xu - Specialist Orthodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Hons) Melb, D Clin Dent (Orth) Melb

Dr Katie Xu graduated from the University of Melbourne with first-class honours in 2013, receiving the Cato Graduate Scholarship and the Des Crack Memorial Prize for the highest marks in Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. After practicing as a general dentist across Melbourne, she completed a three-year specialist Doctorate in Orthodontics at the University of Melbourne. She has presented at national orthodontic conferences and published in the Australian Orthodontic Journal and International Journal of Oral Science. She is an examiner for the Australian Dental Council and speaks Mandarin Chinese.

Specialist Prosthodontists

Dr Jamie Foong - Specialist Prosthodontist

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), DClinDent (Melb)

Dr Jamie Foong is a specialist prosthodontist who completed a three-year specialist degree in Prosthodontics at the University of Melbourne. He is a visiting lecturer and clinical supervisor at the University of Melbourne Dental School and a member of the Australian Prosthodontic Society. Dr Foong's clinical work encompasses crown and bridge, occlusal rehabilitation, porcelain veneers, and dental implants. His approach is centred on delivering a friendly, patient-focused environment for diagnosis, communication, and treatment.

Dr Foti Angelis - Specialist Prosthodontist

Dr Foti Angelis is a board-registered specialist prosthodontist at Smile Solutions with extensive experience in full-mouth rehabilitation, complex crown and bridge work, dentures, and the prosthodontic component of All-on-4 full-arch implant cases.

Dr Vasileios Chronopoulos - Specialist Prosthodontist

Professor Vasileios Chronopoulos is a specialist prosthodontist with more than 30 years of experience, bringing exceptional depth to complex All-on-4 and full-arch implant rehabilitation at Smile Solutions. His specialisation in implant-supported prosthetics represents one of the most experienced skill sets available in Melbourne's private sector.

Specialist Paediatric Dentist

Dr Susan Hinckfuss - Specialist Paediatric Dentist

Qualifications: BDSc (Melb), DCD (Melb)

Dr Susan Hinckfuss graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1995 and practiced in general dentistry in the Geelong area for eight years before returning to complete a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Melbourne, including clinical training at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. She subsequently spent three years as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Dental Science.

Dr Susan Hinckfuss performs all aspects of paediatric dentistry and has special interests in the management of anxious children and children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is experienced in dental trauma, complex conditions including enamel defects and early childhood caries, and the placement of zirconia crowns as an alternative to stainless steel crowns. She is the sister-in-law of Dr Simon Hinckfuss.

General Dentists with Special Interests

Dr Philippa (Pip) Robinson - Group Clinical Director

Qualifications: BSc, DDS (Melb), MBA (La Trobe), MHlth and Med Law (Melb)

Dr Pip Robinson is both a highly experienced general dentist and the Group Clinical Director of Smile Solutions, bridging clinical and management responsibilities for the practice. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Health and Medical Law. Her clinical interests span cosmetic and preventive dentistry, CEREC same-day ceramic restorations, Fotona dental laser treatments, and therapeutic and cosmetic injectables. She has a particular commitment to caring for anxious and phobic patients, offering nitrous oxide sedation and oral medication for suitable patients.

Dr Jaclyn Wong - Implant Surgeon

Qualifications: MBBS, BDSc (Hons), Post Grad Dip Surg Anat

Dr Jaclyn Wong holds both medical and dental degrees from the University of Melbourne. After completing her medical degree, she trained for three years in general and specialty surgery with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons before completing her dental degree with Honours. She then worked as a registrar in oral and maxillofacial surgery for six years across The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Dental Hospital, and Austin Hospital.

Dr Wong's research has focused specifically on All-on-4 implant surgery, including the functional and clinical outcomes of zygomatic implants. She trained with the inventor of the All-on-4 system at the Malo Clinic in Portugal and has been performing All-on-4 surgery for over 15 years. Her practice is restricted to oral surgery - complex extractions, wisdom teeth, single and full-arch implant procedures, complex grafting, and pre-prosthetic surgery. She is also an AADFA mentor in cosmetic injectables.

Dr Casey Edgar - General Dentist (GA-Accredited)

Qualifications: BBiomed, DDS (dist) (Melb)

Dr Casey Edgar graduated with distinction in dentistry from the University of Melbourne and is accredited to perform treatment under general anaesthesia, offering patients the option of being fully asleep for complex or anxiety-inducing procedures. She provides comprehensive general dentistry with particular expertise in nitrous oxide sedation and surgical extractions.

Dr Ryan Sherry - General Dentist

Qualifications: BDS (Glas), MFDS

Dr Ryan Sherry trained in Glasgow and holds the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery. He has a strong interest in endodontics and performs both routine and complex extractions as part of his general dental practice at Smile Solutions.

Dr Jacques Theron - General Dentist

Qualifications: BChD (Pret)

Dr Jacques Theron graduated from the University of Pretoria and has developed a particular clinical interest in dentures and extractions, working closely with the specialist prosthodontists on prosthetic rehabilitation cases.

In-House Dental Laboratory - The Smile Lab

One of Smile Solutions' most distinctive advantages is its fully operational in-house dental laboratory, known as the Smile Lab. All ceramic restorations, veneers, crowns, and implant prosthetics are crafted on-site by the laboratory team - meaning no outsourcing, no waiting weeks for overseas laboratories, and direct collaboration between the ceramists and the treating clinicians.

Greg Karabasis - Master Ceramist

Greg Karabasis is the master ceramist behind Smile Solutions' Smile Lab, bringing over 32 years of experience in dental ceramics. Holding a Diploma in Dental Technology from RMIT, Greg co-developed the world-first Same Day Porcelain Veneers with Dr Kia Pajouhesh - a system that delivers hand-crafted, permanently bonded porcelain veneers in a single day. This innovation won the 2024 Australian Business Award for Business Innovation.

Greg works directly with patients on digital smile design and crafts all cosmetic veneers, all-ceramic crowns, and ceramic bridges. His involvement in cases from planning through to delivery is a key reason Smile Solutions achieves exceptional aesthetic outcomes.

Noemi Miele - Senior Orthodontic Dental Technician

Noemi Miele is Smile Solutions' Senior Orthodontic Dental Technician, working within the Smile Lab to fabricate orthodontic appliances, retainers, and other orthodontic devices that support the specialist orthodontists' clinical work.

Agne Diliartaite - Senior Implant Lab Technician

Agne Diliartaite specialises in implant prosthetics and is the senior technician for All-on-4 and dental implant cases within the Smile Lab. She works directly on the fabrication of implant-supported ceramic and acrylic prostheses, collaborating closely with the oral surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists.

Natalie Bilos - Dental Laboratory Technician

Natalie Bilos is a dental laboratory technician at Smile Solutions, contributing to the production of crowns, veneers, and ceramic restorations across the full range of the Smile Lab's output. She works alongside Greg Karabasis on cosmetic ceramic work.

Allied Health - Osteopaths

Rachel Norton-Smith - Osteopath

Rachel Norton-Smith is an osteopath practicing at Smile Solutions with a focus on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, orofacial pain, and musculoskeletal pain management. Her involvement in the multidisciplinary team reflects Smile Solutions' understanding that jaw pain, bruxism, and TMD often have a physical therapy component that benefits from osteopathic assessment and treatment alongside dental management.

Greta Chwasta - Osteopath

Greta Chwasta is an osteopath at Smile Solutions providing musculoskeletal treatment for patients with jaw pain, neck and facial tension, and TMJ-related conditions. Working alongside the dental team, she contributes to the integrated management of complex pain cases.

Why a Multidisciplinary Team Matters

What distinguishes Smile Solutions from other dental practices is not simply the number of clinicians - it is the fact that they all work together. A patient presenting with complex dental needs does not have to travel to multiple practices across the city. A single consultation can involve input from an oral surgeon, periodontist, prosthodontist, and ceramist - all before any treatment begins.

This model of collaborative care means treatment plans are reviewed across disciplines, risks are identified earlier, and outcomes are more predictable. It is why Smile Solutions has maintained 937 Google reviews at 4.9 stars, with not a single negative review - and why patients travel from across Victoria and interstate to receive care here.

To book a consultation with any member of our team, call 13 13 96 or visit us at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. Complimentary consultations are available for many treatments.