About.

Natural Smile EastMed Dental is one of the oldest dental clinics in St Heliers and has been operating for over 25 years.

In May 2017, Dr Dave Richards acquired Natural Smile EastMed Dental, and immediately updated the practice and equipment, ensuring that patients are provided dental care with modern state of the art dental technology.

It’s great to meet you.

Our highly trained team pride ourselves on providing a gentle, patient-oriented, and minimally invasive approach to dental care.

  • My name is Dave Richards and I am an ex British Paratrooper. I left the British Army in 2004 and completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and was then accepted into Otago University where I completed a Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

    I have been practicing minimally invasive dentistry since I graduated and base my philosophy around Biomimetic Dentistry, with the aid of Cad Cam dentistry, saving as much of the tooth as possible.

    I am a member of the New Zealand Dental Association, the New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic dentistry, and the American Biomimetic’s society and a member of the Endodontics society and recently I have become the National Trainer in digital dentistry for CEREC.

    I am passionate about my work and enjoy travelling internationally to conferences where I can advance my dental knowledge. I thrive on sharing this knowledge with my patients and use this depth of knowledge, to provide my patients with longer lasting treatments.

    St Heliers is a beautiful community and I could not be happier with the people and the warm response that the community has show me so far. I hope to be here till the end of my career.

  • It’s my pleasure to introduce myself to you. I graduated from the University of Otago in 2014 with first class honours in Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Over the years I have enjoyed practicing a wide range of general dentistry with a core focus on a modern and minimally invasive approach.

    I pride myself on having a gentle, patient-oriented approach and enjoy working together with patients to achieve optimal solutions.

    As a member of the New Zealand Dental Association and the New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, I strive to keep my knowledge up to date through regular attendance of dental courses.

    Outside of dentistry, I have picked up a passion for drumming and hope to get involved with other musicians and gigs in the near future. In the weekends I also enjoy spending time with my wife and dog at the beaches and cafes.

    It’s a real privilege to join the highly qualified team at Natural Smile.

    General and Cosmetic Dentistry BDS (hons), Otago

  • It’s my pleasure to introduce myself to you. I’m a Clinical Dental Technician who proudly graduated from the University of Otago in 2012 with my Bachelor’s degree in Dental Technology followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology.

    At Natural Smile, I work independently alongside Dr Dave Richards in, restoring the qualifying patient’s dentition using either complete or partial dentures.

    I have always had a passion for the technical side of how things work and operate. Being able to apply this to the field of dentistry has been very exciting for me. The knowledge that I have gained over the years inspires me and I find it exciting to solve a denture problem and create a beautiful new comfortable set of teeth for my patients.

    “Now I have to learn how to smile again…” is a statement I quite often hear from my patients. I understand that having a problem with speech, appearance or difficulty in chewing can be devastating. Knowing you are the one who made it possible for a person to smile again is greatly rewarding and the reason why I love my job.

    Clinical Dental Technician (BDentTech) (PGDipCDTech) Otago

  • I really enjoy working with people, as I’m a caring and compassionate person and it gives me a buzz seeing a patient’s reaction when you change someone’s smile.

    Watching someone grow with confidence as you change their smile is why I love this job.

    I have worked in the dental industry for over twenty years and have seen dentistry evolve, for the better. The technology and science these days is coming together to ultimately lead to better treatment options and better care for people, and it’s fascinating to witness the changes.

  • I have been working as a Dental Assistant since 2018, when I moved to New Zealand from Brazil. I love ensuring everything runs smoothly during the appointment and patients feel as comfortable as they can be.

  • Ye has been involved in dentistry for 15 years, first working as a chair side assistant, she had worked in various dental practices, including Waitemata DHB Auckland Reginal dental service. Ye graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2018 with a Bachelor of Health Science Degree in Oral Health. During her degree, Ye gained the award for the best overall clinical and academic achievement in the final year of her study. Ye is passionate about her job, she would enable you to achieve optimal oral health and help by offering information and education tailored to your individual needs. Ye is a mother of two, she enjoys spending time with family outside of dentistry. She enjoys sketching and music as her hobbies.

  • Jodie has over 15 years’ background within the dental industry and ensures that Natural Smile runs smoothly and provides support to patients receiving dental treatment. She’s the first point of contact for everyone who comes to see us, and people love her kind, approachable nature.

    Jodie’s favourite part of her job is her relationships with our patients and her colleagues. Jodie loves getting to know everyone as individuals and seeing the confidence that comes from a transformed smile. She also enjoys working alongside the talented team that educates the community on the importance of oral health and regular dental check-ups to help prevent future damage.

  • Shelley has been in the dental industry for over 25 years after starting her career in 1997 as a dental assistant, Shelley realised she loved the close relationships that dentistry provided. “I felt a real desire to further my career with dental hygiene so I could continue helping patients gain and maintain overall oral health.”

    Shelley also finds it fulfilling to help patients gain and then maintain a disease-free mouth and help them understand how this goes hand in hand with their overall health and wellbeing. She feels it is important to make small gradual changes over long-term relationships.

    “The most rewarding aspect of being a dental hygienist is providing patients with confidence in a safe and supportive environment and empowering them to take control of their oral health.”

    Outside of work, Shelley enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage children; coaching and umpiring netball and spending time travelling; anywhere outdoors is where she loves to be.

  • Welcome to my corner of dental care! I'm Claire Vaevae, an Oral Health Therapist who graduated in 2011. My passion lies not only in maintaining oral health but also in ensuring my patients feel at ease throughout their dental experience. With every visit, my goal is to leave you not only with a healthier smile but also a happier one.

    Beyond the dental chair, you'll find me embracing the outdoors, staying active through sports, and exploring the art of upcycling furniture. I believe in living a balanced life, where caring for oneself extends beyond dental hygiene to encompass holistic well-being.

    Join me in prioritizing your oral health journey, where comfort and care are always at the forefront. Let's embark on a path to brighter, healthier smiles together.

Technology.

Modern dental technology enhances dental treatment, patient comfort, and overall outcomes. Dentistry has evolved in recent times with modern advanced dental technology helping us to create a better dental care experience for patients.

New tools and techniques allow us to offer tailor-made services that are unique to you and your needs. We embrace the best modern dental technology and techniques to offer our patients effective treatment in a more comfortable environment.

Modern technology, such as digital x-rays, same day crowns, and dental implants cut out extra visits to the dentist for more convenient, effective, and efficient treatment.

  • Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction

    Cerec has given us the ability to provide you with ceramic restorations (Crowns) all within one visit. The most efficient work flow for us also has great benefits for you. There is no need for mouthfuls of impression trays, no temporary crowns which you can’t eat on for a week or two and only one injection.

    How the all-in-one appointment works

    The appointment is approximately one and a half hours start to finish.

    Step 1: Scan

    Instead of taking a base line impression you will only have a to have some scans of your mouth taken with the CEREC Omnicam which is the size of an electric toothbrush. The CEREC Omnicam takes pictures and builds a precise 3D image.

    Step 2: Preparation

    We will numb the tooth and nearby area we are working on for your comfort. We then remove the existing filling and engineer your tooth to make room for the new restoration.

    Step 3: Design

    You now get a break from the dental chair. We will analyse the complete scan, and the CEREC software generates restoration proposals. We then digitally simulate a 3D image of your new restoration using the pre and post scans as a guide.

    Step 4: Produce

    The CEREC grinding and milling unit cuts your new restoration (outside of your mouth) to the specifications of the 3D image simulated on the CEREC software.

    Step 5: Glaze

    Depending on the particular type of Ceramic the dentist has selected to use for your restoration and the colours of the other teeth in your mouth we may decide to make minor adjustments to your restoration with Ceramic paints. Again this step is completed outside of your mouth. To set the paint the restoration is placed in the CEREC Speedfire which fires the restoration and sets the paint.

    Step 6: Cement

    The restoration is now ready to be cemented into your mouth.

  • Air abrasion is the use of compressed air mixed with a fine powder and works similar to a mini sand blaster spraying away dental decay.

    Air abrasion technology was initially developed in the 1940s by Dr. Robert Black, specifically, for dental cavity preparation. Unfortunately, the restorative techniques and materials available at that time involved the use of silver amalgam, gold or acrylic. These restorative materials did not lend themselves to the type and form of cavity preparation generated by air abrasion. This factor, combined with the introduction of the high speed turbine hand piece in the 1950s and no high velocity suction, essentially pushed air abrasion out of the limelight until its resurgence in the early 1990s. While the use of air abrasion in dentistry was fading in the late 1950s, applications for this unique technology were being developed in other disciplines, primarily industrial in nature. Today, with the development and refinement of composite (white filling) materials combined with the public demand for more conservative treatment options, dentists who want to practice minimally invasive dentistry recognize air abrasion to be absolutely essential in attaining the best results.

    How Air Abrasion works

    During air abrasion, a fine stream of powder is aimed at the stained or decayed portion of the tooth. This powder is made of silica, aluminium oxide, or a baking soda mixture and are propelled toward the tooth surface by compressed air or a gas that runs through the dental hand piece. Small particles of decay on the tooth surface are removed as the stream of particles strikes them. The particles of decay are then “suctioned” away through a thin tube.

    The benefits of Air Abrasion

    Removes decay without damage to healthy tooth structure.

    Fillings are small, invisible and sealed better than any other type of restoration.

    Fillings last longer than any other restoration in dentistry today.

    With Air Abrasion there is no heat, no smell, no vibration and no noise providing a more comfortable experience for you.

    Fillings have superior aesthetics, seal and longevity.

  • Root Canal Therapy with reciprocating files

    As part of Root Canal Therapy the chambers inside your tooth are measured for length and then cleaned and shaped with fine dental files. At Natural Smile eastMED Dental we use a reciprocating file system.

    Reciprocating files are made of a nickel-titanium alloy called M-wire that is created by an innovative thermal treatment process.

    The benefits of reciprocating files compared to rotating files

    More flexibility and resistance to cyclic fatigue – This means you are at less risk of experience a file break in your tooth.

    Files are single use which prevents potential cross contamination between and among patients.