Our Team
Dr. Gregory Chang
I graduated from The Dental School of Western Australia in 1993. My first work placement was in the Pilbara for 2.5 years prior to returning to the metropolitan area. Along my journey, I have worked in many private dental practices spanning from Joondalup to Gosnells.
In 2002, I started my own practice in Alexander Heights – The Heights Laser Dental Centre. That practice has grown over the past 20 years. We have long standing team members that enjoy where they work.
I truly believe a happy work environment creates happiness in your day. My focus has always been to deliver general dentistry that the patient wants. In the event that I am unable to provide the treatment, I have built up a specialist referral base to help my patients receive the right treatment. I believe effective communication to get a better understanding of what my patient wants is the key. Armed with that knowledge, radiographic and clinical imaging, it creates a good base to plan an outcome that is suitable for you.
I am quite active in the dental profession with numerous memberships including the oldest dental study group – The Dental Study Group of WA, which was established in 1954, and have served on the committee for several years and was honoured to be their president in 2012. Other memberships are Australian Dental Association, Dental awareness committee 2002-2005, Periodontal Society of WA (2000 – current), Prosthodontic Society of WA (2002- current) and, the prestigious ITI (implant) study group, West Perth Branch.
Aside from my now two practices, I have a loving partner of 15 years and four daughters. Our children attend the Duncraig campus of St Stephen’s School which is near the Hepburn Heights Dental Centre. Their extra-curricular activities keep us busy!!!
Dr. Aakash Patel
Dr Aakash Patel is a general dentist at The Heights Laser Dental Centre. He grew up in Perth and graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Science from the University of Western Australia in 2014, during which he spent time in both metropolitan and rural dental clinics. Since graduation, he has worked in private practice, joining the team at The Heights Laser Dental Centre in September 2015.
Dr Patel enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and enjoys spending time with his patient’s chair-side to ensure that patients feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. Dr Patel is a Registered Dentist with the Australian Dental Board, and a member of the ADA WA Branch. As a member, he enjoys attending continuing professional education events and seminars to refresh his knowledge and learn novel procedures to incorporate into everyday practice.
Outside of clinical practice, Dr Patel is a wine and coffee enthusiast who loves all things food related – especially brunch! He enjoys visiting cafés and wineries with friends and family, and going out for exploratory walks and to the beach. At home, you’ll find him cooking, watching the lifestyle channel on television, or spending some quality time with his piano.
Dr. Honey Mah
We are excited to introduce to you our newest member to our team at The Heights Laser Dental Centre, Dr Honey Mah. Dr. Mah graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2001 with honours. Since that time, she has worked as a family dentist with an emphasis on providing comprehensive dental care and patient education in a community setting. This has included working in under-serviced rural areas.
She has been described as a gentle, caring and attentive dentist to a wide base of patients from young families to busy professionals. She prides herself on good communication and an empathic approach to giving her patients a better dental care experience.
Dr Mah has a passion for teaching and has held a clinical teaching position at the University of Western Australia since 2013. Her philosophy has been that sharing her clinical experience encourages her to continually improve.
We are glad to have her on our team.
She will begin working at our practice one day a week: Wednesdays.
We look forward to introducing her to you.
Dr Poornima Jayawardana
Dr. Poornima or PJ as she is commonly known, graduated in 2010 from UWA.
PJ enjoys and practices all aspects of general dentistry with a focus on preventive and aesthetic dentistry. She believes in treating her patients holistically, providing education to her patients from diet to lifestyle choices. Believing dental health can impact ones psychological and overall health, PJ strives to provide the best dental care to provide an outcome that contributes to better function and overall well being and happiness.
PJ enjoys particularly working with children and anxious/nervous patients to help them overcome their fears and build a positive relationship with their dentist.
She enjoys getting to know each patient and strives to deliver treatment with kindness, gentleness and compassion. In her spare time she likes spending time with friends and family, reading, dancing, yoga and meditation. She has a big soft spot for animals and has volunteered at various animal agencies.
PJ will be joining us at Hepburn Heights Dental Centre on Tuesday’s from the 22nd of November 2022.
George Davies
George is an Oral Health Therapist who joined the team in early 2021.
Following a root canal treatment by our very own Dr Aakash Patel, and a visit with our dental hygienist Mary, George became interested and was encouraged into the dental field. He pursued that route at Curtin University to obtain his most recent degree in Oral Health Therapy.
George is dedicated to improving his patient’s oral health and loves to help out by always being friendly and down to earth with his patients.
He also has two other qualifications: Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Biomedical Science) and, Bachelor of Forensic Biology and Toxicology, both from Murdoch University. This placed him as a bone density technician with Osteoporosis Solutions Australia where patients loved his caring nature.
Outside of work George is an avid-relaxer, keen traveller, and general handyman around the house.
Amy Style
Amy graduated from the University of Western Australia and Curtin University in 2003.
She brings with her 18 years of experience as a Dental Hygienist. Amy has worked in various general dental practices from Joondalup to Bunbury. She also has had experience working in specialised Oral Medicine and Periodontal practices.
Amy is a member of the Dental Hygiene Association of Australia, nationally and locally. She attends numerous continuing professional development courses every year in order to keep broadening her knowledge of hygiene and preventive care.
Alongside this, Amy prides herself on her gentle approach and finds it incredibly rewarding to help those who feel anxious when visiting a dentist.
In her spare time, Amy enjoys swimming, water skiing and especially spending time with her two children.
Debbie Halleen
Debbie was born in Darwin, NT and moved to Perth at the age of seven. In 2002 she joined the City of Wanneroo Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade where she went on to complete 10 years of active firefighting. In 2003 she completed her Certificate II in Business and Administration and went on to work 12 years as an administration manager for a mercantile agent. In 2017 she had her son and after taking one year off to be a stay-at-home mum she went back to work in the retail industry to gain further experience in customer service. During her time in retail Debbie found she had a passion for great customer service but missed the office environment. In early 2021 she joined the team at The Heights Laser Dental Centre as Front Office Coordinator where she can continue to provide excellent customer service.
Debbie enjoys spending time with her husband, son, family and friends. She also has a passion for travelling, good food, wine and shopping.
Nikki Athienedes
Nikki is the Front Office Coordinator in Hepburn Heights Dental Centre, who joined the team late March 2021. Migrating from Johannesburg, South Africa mid 2004 with her family and settling into this beautiful part of the world, Perth, Australia.
Nikki has remained in a customer relations front office role in travel for the last 15 years until Covid-19 changed our world. She has decided a change in direction to do something that involved helping others within the community and “pay it forward” – it has been one of the most rewarding journeys so far for her. She is enjoying every moment and person that she meets.
Being with the team at Hepburn Heights Dental Centre, it is another exciting, rewarding, learning and a truly fantastic environment to work with and in.
“I thoroughly enjoy meeting everyone that walks in, and look forward to welcoming you as well.”
Nikki’s friends and family have a running joke that if they stand still for too long, she will paint them.
Recycling furniture, gardening, beach and walking are a few of the things that keep her busy when she is not at HHDC. Her other passions are lawn bowls with another group of amazing people.
Emma Skilton
Emma was born in Indonesia and immigrated to Australia in 2010 with her Australian husband and two kids. She is degree educated in the Hospitality Industry and multi-lingual, speaking Bahasa, Malay and English. She made a career change on arrival in Australia, obtaining a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting. Her first role was at The Heights Laser Dental Centre, joining in 2013. She attends infection control training annually and trains the other members of staff in the latest practices in the field. Emma is a coffee enthusiast and loves scuba diving, especially in tropical water in South East Asia – however Scuba Diving in the Red Sea in Egypt and The Caribbean are definitely on her bucket list.
Martha Oopong
Martha is from Sweden, a mother of two and of a Ghanaian descent. She is very fluent in Twi and the Swedish language. Martha has a diploma in Risk & Insurance and Financial Services (Sweden) and a Cert IV in Dental Nursing (Australia). She trained at The Heights Laser Dental Centre and joined the practice once her studies were completed.
Martha has a great passion for the dental industry with a great deal of compassion towards paediatric patients. My interests are sports, cooking, reading, sewing and outdoor living.
Nikki Tran
Nikki was born in Indonesia to Vietnamese parents and came to Australia when she was one. She has a Certificate III in Assisting in Nursing, and Certificate IV in Dental Assisting. Nikki did her work placement and training at The Heights Laser Dental Centre before joining the team in 2020. In her spare time she enjoys playing 10-pin bowling and badminton.
