The Team

John grew up in Birmingham and graduated from Guys Dental School in London in 1996. He worked in Beckenham before joining Crescent Lodge Dental Practice in 1998. In May 2004, he co-bought the practice and in 2007, became the sole owner.

John specialises in cosmetic dentistry, interested in porcelain veneers, occlusion & cosmetic restorative treatments, dermal fillers and wrinkle reduction treatments. He believes all patients should receive the standard of dentistry that he would expect to receive himself.

In his spare time, John enjoys keeping fit, travelling, arts and the theatre.

I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2017 (BDS) and then continued with further postgraduate studies to complete membership examinations with the Royal College of Surgeons in 2019 (MFDS) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education (PGCert) in 2020.

I have worked in both a general dental practice and various dental hospitals with postgraduate training across a range of specialities including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorative Dentistry and Paediatrics. I regularly undertake courses to upgrade my knowledge and skills so that I can provide my patients with the newest techniques and innovations in dentistry.

I feel strongly about the importance of listening carefully to my patients, their issues or concerns and what they would like to achieve so that we can work together to reach their goals. I have always believed in a compassionate approach to dentistry, helping both children and adults suffering from dental anxiety to gain confidence by making them feel at ease and ensuring their visits to the dentist are a positive experience.

I really enjoy building trusted relationships with my regular patients and maintaining their dental health in a relaxed and welcoming environment. I also recognise that some patients wish to enhance their smile further through cosmetic treatments and I love that the treatments I provide can make such a difference to self-confidence! I am happy to discuss options for treatments such as tooth whitening, Invisalign and composite bonding. I also have a passion for skin care and I am delighted to provide facial aesthetic treatment including anti-wrinkle injectables and prescription of medical-grade skincare with Zo Obagi.

When I’m not looking after my lovely patients, I tend to spend my weekends busy socialising with friends which usually involves discovering new restaurants and coffee spots. As much as I love the bustle of London, I also love cycling, skiing and trips home to visit my family in Ireland, where we have adopted the trend of cold water swimming in the Irish Sea!

I received my BDS from the Queen’s University of Belfast. Since then, I’ve worked in several clinics where I’ve had the opportunity to hone my skills by caring for a variety of patients. I also continued my postgraduate studies and completed the exams for Membership in the Faculty of Dental Surgeons (MFDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2022.

I have undergone a variety of composite bonding courses and am a Comprehensive Provider for Invisalign. Even though I am interested in dentistry as a whole, I find restorative and aesthetic dentistry to be the most interesting. I enjoy offering my patients Align-Bleach-Bond procedures. With this technique, We first straighten out all of the teeth into their proper place. Then, we whiten them to enhance that natural colour, and finally improve their dental aesthetics with a variety of composite or ceramic veneers to create the perfect smile.

At work, I carefully listen to my patients’ worries and issues before performing a comprehensive clinical examination and radiographs to get a complete picture of all issues and problems that are now present. This enables me to give my patients an easy-to-understand explanation of those findings as well as several viable solutions. I believe that effective communication is essential to producing the finest work.

I love watching and playing football, and when the weather permits, I go paddle boarding. Every week I visit new eateries and coffee shops in London. I enjoy all physical activities, especially hiking, and I almost always have something planned for the near future. My relationships with family and friends are what matter to me most, and spending time with them gives me energy.

I graduated from Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry in 2014. I then trained further for an MSc in Restorative Dentistry at the prestigious Eastman Dental Institute, which has enabled a deeper understanding and grasp of clinical dentistry.

I am privileged to be doing what I love and take great pride in the treatment I provide, right from the examination stage through to post-treatment review to ensure my patients receive the best possible care.

I believe in a minimally invasive approach to dental treatment to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible where appropriate, promote prevention and emulating nature when restoring smiles.

My approach to patient care is simple- take time to listen and understand their needs and concerns. This in return allows me to plan, tailor and deliver the best possible treatment for them.

Away from the clinic and the research journals I enjoy going to the gym, exploring the outdoors (on foot and my bicycle), travelling and watching football.

Thank you for reading my bio, I look forward to meeting you at Crescent Lodge 🙂

I graduated from King’s College London and over the years I have enjoyed working in all areas of dentistry as well as facial aesthetics. My passion is the treatment and management of gum disease.

Before my dental degree, I gained a master’s degree in Dental Technology at Barts and The London and a Biomedical Sciences bachelor’s degree at the Queen Mary University of London. They all reinforced my desire to provide care for patients.

My top priority has always been to provide patient-centred care and ensure that my patients have the most comfortable and positively memorable experience. My strategies and treatment plans are tailored for patients to achieve optimum outcomes, aesthetics, and patient satisfaction.

In my free time, I love to travel and explore the world, spend time with my family and friends and participate in outdoor sports/ activities. Another love of mine is cars and whenever I can I enjoy watching or attending the Formula 1 races.

Dr Alexander Aresdahl graduated from the prestigious Karolinska Institutet in dentistry in 2012. Since then he has worked as a dentist in Kristiansand, Norway, London, England, and Stockholm, Sweden. During his academic career, Alexander has trained in aesthetic dentistry by participating in advanced dental courses in countries such as Japan, the USA, Germany and England.

Moreover, Alexander has also trained in facial aesthetics in the field of non-surgical medical aesthetics. This includes Botox ™ treatments, filler treatments and non-surgical thread lifts (PDO thread lifts). The transition into continuing education in facial aesthetics felt natural to Alexander since aesthetic dentistry has its foundations in facial aesthetics. By combining non-surgical medical aesthetic treatments, and general and aesthetic dentistry, we can achieve treatment results in both the face and the oral cavity that would otherwise have been impossible.

Alexander’s passion for dentistry and facial aesthetics is based on the versatility of the treatments. There are two professional areas that require extensive medical education and knowledge of the head/neck area. The broad spectrum of the dental profession and the appreciation he gets from his patients are what Alexander loves about his profession. In order to ensure that his patients are as satisfied as possible with their treatments, Alexander always makes sure to be well-prepared, structured and pedagogical. He looks to the totality of every treatment and always strives to combine a perfect smile design, optimal bite function and modern treatment methods so that his patients can smile at moments of life.

Alexander Aresdahl is a member of the BACD and the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry).

“It is the opportunity to use the full spectrum of my medical education and my artistic side that makes me passionate about my job. The best thing about my job is THE moment, after a finished treatment, when I, as a practitioner, experience and see that my patients dare to smile big again, love their new smiles and love their treatment results!”

I graduated from King’s College London where I was awarded the Geoffrey Forman Prize in Oral Medicine. I worked as a general dentist in South London for six years before joining Crescent Lodge in 2019.

I absolutely love my job and am passionate about providing the highest quality care for my patients and this is my top priority. I frequently attend post-graduate courses to enhance my practical skills and theoretical knowledge and always aim for the highest standards.

My approach comprises the use of clinical photographs and X-rays to explain findings to my patients. This ensures that they fully understand all diagnoses and we can discuss treatment options together. This is incredibly important as my patients have no questions left unanswered and their needs and worries can be fully discussed prior to treatment.
I like to deliver dentistry in a relaxed and respectful manner, many of my patients even go as far as saying that they now look forward to their visits to the dentist!

As an associate member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, I am fluent in aesthetic procedures: I enjoy teeth whitening, I provide Invisalign orthodontics and I am particularly keen on naturally shaped fillings and crowns.
I have a special interest in rebuilding damaged teeth so my patients can keep their own teeth for longer (nothing beats your own teeth!). I recently travelled to Seattle to train with Dr John Kois to learn the latest methods in rehabilitating complex cases.

I especially appreciate the use of adhesive dental materials and dental bonding, which allows me to perform less invasive procedures which maintain the natural tooth structure. In addition, I like to restore worn teeth with composite bonding rather than more invasive options wherever possible (see case below).

I am experienced in alleviating patients with facial pain and bite problems and have trained with the British Society of Occlusal Studies to learn the most current modalities of treating jaw pain and protecting teeth. This ranges from tailored bite splints or SCi devices (sleep clench inhibitors) depending on the cause and type of pain.

As an alternative to dental implants, I provide lifelike dentures and construct precise-fitting cast chrome dentures. I have trained with specialist prosthodontists in this field and use the most up-to-date materials and methods to accurately match the appearance of natural-looking gums and teeth. This approach results in high-quality dentures which are both extremely comfortable and secure.

Outside of work, I enjoy travelling (Pre-COVID!), hiking and keeping fit. I am a big motorsport enthusiast and race karts competitively around the UK.

I graduated from Donetsk National Medical University in Ukraine where I earned my dental degree and developed a strong foundation in both general and restorative dentistry. With over 10 years of experience in the field, I have gained a deep understanding of the latest dental techniques and technologies, and I am committed to staying up-to-date through ongoing education and training.

As a highly skilled and personable dentist, I prioritize connecting with my patients and building strong relationships with them. By actively listening and creating a warm and welcoming environment, I ensure that my patients feel heard, understood, and supported throughout their dental journey.

I am dedicated to lifelong learning and attend dental courses and conferences regularly to expand my knowledge and offer my patients the most advanced and effective treatments available. My recent postgraduate certificate in restorative dentistry is a testament to my commitment to continuing education.

I base my approach to patient care on evidence-based research and take the time to explain procedures clearly and concisely. Dentistry is not just a job for me, it’s my passion. By combining my warm and convivial personality with my deep knowledge of dental care, I am able to provide patients with a unique and highly-effective service and experience.

I qualified from Barts and The London and over the years I have worked in practices around Brighton, Surrey and London.

The world of dentistry is forever evolving so I am constantly updating my skillsets in order to practice the latest and newest techniques. This way I can be confident that my patients are getting the best and most concurrent treatment from me.
I am currently studying for a Diploma in Aesthetics and Restorative Dentistry. Prior to this, I completed a Post Graduate Certificate and The Royal College of Surgeons’ prestigious MJDF exam.

I care about my patients first and foremost and want to make their experience positive, comfortable and pain-free – so they always leave the practice smiling (even if it is behind a mask)!

I am great with children and anxious patients in particular. I have developed a lot of relaxation and calming techniques through practising yoga and meditation myself, and I have found these to work very well in reducing stress and anxiety in the dental chair.

I am very enthusiastic about dentistry; I genuinely love my job! If you were to ask me where my interests lie, I would probably have to say composite bonding, tooth whitening, smile makeovers and minimal preparation veneers. I want my patients to be able to smile with confidence and feel good about their teeth. I enjoy creating natural smiles for my patients however there is something to be said for the wow factor a ‘Hollywood’ smile can give.

Another area where my passion lies is biomimetic dentistry, this is where materials are layered to mimic the natural structure of a tooth. I always try to save teeth which are very broken down or decayed using deep-margin elevation techniques which you can see in my cases below.

I love keeping busy and sometimes struggle to sit still. I love helping people and volunteering. During Covid, I helped out with the NHS 111 service and set up a cooked meal charity for vulnerable people isolated. I otherwise enjoy painting, mixed martial arts, fencing and Spanish guitar. I also love animals and I have two cats called Gato and Azul.

I have always wanted to be a dentist mainly because it combines some of the best qualities, I believe I possess such as a caring and empathetic nature and also the ability to have creativity and an artistic flare. It has been a lifelong dream and I feel fortunate to be able to translate this passion and positivity of being a dentist into the work I carry out on my patients on a daily basis.
I aim to inspire confidence in people by creating beautiful smiles in a holistic way.
This passion has been reflected in the journey I have taken over the last decade to improve and progress as a dentist professionally so I can strive and give the best to all my patients that they deserve.
I qualified from Kings College London dental institute in 2011 with Honors and Distinction.
I then completed the Diploma of Membership of the joint dental faculties at the royal college of surgeons.
I then spent two subsequent years training in general practice and in various hospitals. I completed my Dental Core Training in Restorative Dentistry, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Paediatric Dentistry/Sedation/ Oral medicine at Barts the Royal London hospital.
During my time at the hospital, I was also able to give back and was involved in teaching Restorative dentistry to younger, prospective dentists with the London Deanery and providing advanced skills training for wider dental care professionals on behalf of Health Education England.

I then went on to work in a variety of dental practices whilst expanding my facet of skills by completing my Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry from the University of Manchester in 2017.

I have always been extremely passionate about dentistry and have always aspired to keep up to date with relevant developments within dentistry by attending yearly continued professional development courses.
I have invested time into my career to develop myself and gain as much experience as possible. I take pride and time in ensuring all of my patients feel at ease when visiting the practice and allow for all options to be explored and discussed to provide tailored treatment plans for my patients.

I particularly enjoy providing aesthetic and restorative solutions to patients, making sure a minimally-invasive approach is provided. I also like treating nervous patients to help put them at ease in a reassured and calm manner and also enjoy treating children!
.
Outside of dentistry, I enjoy travelling, tennis, baking, spending time with my family and socialising with friends. I look forward to meeting you all and starting this new journey with you.

Dr Zahra Ahmed’s Cases

Examples of direct composite bonding

Neel graduated from King’s College London in 2010, studying at Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals. With over 10 years of experience as a general dentist in Brighton and Surrey, Neel has practised almost all aspects of dentistry.

He is currently completing a postgraduate diploma in Aesthetic and Restorative dentistry in London with the prestigious Freshdental Institute.

Neel takes great pride in his all-around ability as a general dentist, from reducing anxiety in dental-phobic patients, and working with children to all other aspects of restorative and prosthetic dentistry. However, his passions lie within Invisalign, whitening, smile design and makeover techniques utilising composite bonding and porcelain veneers. He is constantly upgrading his knowledge, regularly undertaking study days and courses looking at cutting-edge innovations in dentistry such as 3D scanning and digital smile design.

When he isn’t focussing on dentistry you would find him sampling London’s newest and quirkiest restaurants. Neel is an avid Manchester United supporter who enjoys travelling the world, skiing and developing his photography skills.

Danielle graduated with a BDS degree from the University of Manchester. In 2018 she completed an advanced course in aesthetic and restorative dentistry.

Danielle is passionate about providing cosmetic minimally invasive dentistry. This includes highly aesthetic composite and ceramic restorations, teeth whitening and Invisalign.

She is committed to providing outstanding patient care. She takes the time to understand the personal needs and concerns of her patients to build bespoke treatment plans that suit them as an individual with a focus on minimally invasive dentistry.

When not practising dentistry, Danielle enjoys practising yoga, keeping fit, travelling the world and painting.

Andreas Jahnigen comes from a long line of dentists and physicians. He currently holds a Diploma in Implantology, a Master’s in Oral Implantology and a Master’s in Oral Implantology and Periodontology from the prestigious German Association of Implantology (DGI, Germany), which is the largest implantology organisation in the world. He received his degree in dentistry from the Medical University of Hanover in Germany in 2001. He then practised with his father, Dr Lutz Jahnigen, a renowned dental implant surgeon (who also had a background in medicine) and had the good fortune to observe his father at work.

Andreas went on to become a partner at Medeco, one of the leading implant practices in Postdamer Platz – known as the Kensington of Berlin. While there, Andreas expanded his medical qualifications by obtaining the officially recognized German Heilpraktiker degree, a three-year program which qualified him as a holistic practitioner in natural medicine.

Andreas came in 2005 to London with a focus on dental implantology. He co-founded the Camden Dental Implant Centre alongside Dr Martin Gilbert and Dr Danny Temkin, his mentor. He has been placing implants there on weekends since 2005 and will continue to do so.

He worked alongside Dr Stanley Kay at the Harley Street Dental Practice and Prof. Nikolaos Donos, Head & Chair of Periodontology at the UCL- Eastman Dental Institute at the Harley Street Oral Reconstruction Centre.

Andreas recently was employed as an implantologist for the prestigious Institut European du Visage in Paris from 2010 to 2016, run by Frances’ leading implantologist Dr Anne Benhamou, whilst still maintaining his practice in London.

Andreas’ postgraduate implant training includes the Certificate in Advanced Surgical and Prosthodontic Implantology from Boston USA. Andreas has also received specialised training in major sinus lifts under the auspices of Dr Ziv Masur. In addition, he has participated in the IMCI 2008 International Masters’ Course on Implantology in Paris, France. He is currently placing implants principally from Straumann, Xive (Dentsply) and Alpha-Bio (Nobel Biocare).

Andreas is a great lover of aesthetics and carries within his practice a highly sensitive approach to all of his clients. He strives to bring his patients the most cutting-edge dental knowledge in a caring, safe and professional environment.

Andreas is also an accomplished pianist and tennis player. He speaks fluent English, German and French. He is passionate about understanding the ideology and art of other cultures.

A specialist in Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Dr Kourkouta followed her undergraduate studies at The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, with her Master of Medical Science in Restorative Dentistry at The University of Sheffield, where her thesis was on gingival response to porcelain veneers.

Dr Kourkouta then worked and trained in a combination of university and National Health Service positions at general and dental hospitals throughout the UK in the fields of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Restorative Dentistry (Periodontology, fixed and removable Prosthodontics and Endodontics).

In 2000, she became a Fellow and Member of The Royal College of Surgeons of England and entered the General Dental Council Specialist Register in Periodontics and Prosthodontics. She completed her training in Restorative Dentistry at The Eastman Dental Hospital, London as a Specialist Registrar/Honorary Lecturer (2000-06), and entered The Restorative and Endodontic Specialist Register in 2006. She received the George Cross Fellowship Award through The British Society of Periodontology for her elective study on Implant Therapy In Compromised Sites at The University of Southern California and the University of California in Los Angeles, USA (2006).

Dr Kourkouta successfully completed the ITI research scholarship programme, awarded through The International Team for Implantology at The University of North Carolina, USA (2006-07), where she investigated the dimensions of soft and hard tissues in relation to the presence of papillae between implants in the aesthetic zone and patient satisfaction. She is a member of the British Society of Periodontology, British Dental Association and American Academy of Osseointegration.

In 2008, Dr Kourkouta joined Crescent Lodge as a Specialist Periodontist. Based on her high standard of periodontal services in the practice and excellent clinical outcomes, she won the “Highly Commended” Award in the category Best Periodontic Practice at the Private Dentistry Awards (London, 2012).

Dino grew up in Dinslaken, Germany and graduated with a PhD in dentistry at Rostock University in 1999. He then worked in private practice in Munich for 5 years before moving to London in 2005, where he joined the Crescent Lodge Dental Practice.

With a particular interest in early functional orthopaedic treatment for children and fixed orthodontic treatment for teenagers and adults, Dino is a qualified Invisalign practitioner and has been awarded silver status by Invisalign in the past. He now works alongside John in facial aesthetics, offering wrinkle reduction treatments and dermal fillers.

Dino is an active member of the International Association for Orthodontics (IAO) and the International Functional Association (IFUNA) and is continuing further education in orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, focusing on early orthodontic and functional orthopaedic treatment, Damon and Social Six (lingual) braces, Invisalign Therapy, and Cosmetic Dentistry. He has also undertaken comprehensive training with world-renowned dentists and orthodontists from the UK, the USA and Australia in the areas of orthopaedics, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, and recently graduated from the Derek Mahony Orthodontic UK residency.

In his spare time, Dino enjoys travelling, sports and good food.

With a passion for minimally invasive dentistry and Endodontics (root canal treatment), Joanna strives to convince her patients that dentistry is not supposed to be scary. Her friendly and relaxed manner puts patients at ease from the outset.

Joanna graduated in 2004 from the Medical University of Warsaw. In 2015, she completed a two-year post-graduate Diploma in Endodontic Practice with merit from the world-renowned Eastman Dental Institute, University College London.

Committed to continuous education, in 2018 Joanna has completed a course in advanced treatment planning and occlusal management, run by one of the UK’s most prominent cosmetic dentists: Dr Christopher Orr.

In her free time, Joanna enjoys travelling, skiing and ice skating, and is currently pursuing the Skate UK Programme.

Over the last 10 years, Edyta has worked in the world of dentistry. Her career has progressed from working as a dental nurse, which as the years progressed, enhanced to working with experts in the fields of implantology, endodontics…

oral surgery and finally periodontology – study and specialist in gum disease.

This led to her present status of following a career as a hygienist.

She qualified as a hygienist in 2009 and has since based her working philosophy on:

– Continual professional development
– Optimum patient care
– Empathetic approach to patient management
– Effective and comprehensible communication

These are the four pillars that lay the foundation on which she hopes to build her career. Having experienced a variety of dental treatments herself, she feels she can empathise with anxious patients with sensitive teeth. She works with a smile for a smile, which is bright, clean and healthy.

Kasia was born in Poland, where she completed her dental hygienist degree and worked for 5 years in a reputable clinic in her home town. During this time, she also graduated with a master’s in finance and banking – but dentistry has always been in her heart.

In 2005, Kasia moved to the UK and built on her experience in places such as Norwich and Eline Orthodontist Practice in Harley Street. In 2006, she joined Crescent Lodge and since then, has continued to upgrade her skills and knowledge with courses both in the UK and Poland, as well as by attending regular conferences.

In her spare time, she travels, reads cooks and enjoys Pilates.

I have extensive experience in dentistry, working 10 years as a dental nurse in Ireland and the UK gaining experience in community, private and NHS care. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Honours degree from the University of Central Lancashire in 2022. I have furthered my education with post-graduate courses in dental photography, dental whitening, and guided biofilm techniques.

Here to help you smile! My greatest passion in dentistry is periodontology. I am committed to providing that London smile using professional mechanical plaque removal and prophylaxis during your scale and polish. I have the dedication to help the patients’ needs by using a sensitive approach to treatment and care.

When not practising I enjoy volunteering with Dentaid, smoking cessation campaigns and attending the British Museum of art and history.

Born in Spain, Maria graduated from IES Ramon y Cajal in Murcia, in 2000. She joined Crescent Lodge in 2005 after working in both Spain and England.

A member of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, Maria continues to upgrade her skill set by taking courses in the UK and Spain.

In her spare time, she is a freelance photographer and photojournalist and enjoys the arts, travelling, cooking and more.