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Dentistry for Kids at the Children's Dental Centre

Our Story

 

The Children’s Dental Centre was formed by husband and wife, paediatric dentists Tim and Sarah, to provide the highest quality dental care from infancy to adolescence.

A paediatric dentist is a specialist dentist that has undertaken additional University-based training. This is to help ensure that all children can get the best possible oral healthcare, taking into consideration their growth and development.

With a mix of experiences and an excellent and caring team, we strive to ensure that all aspects of paediatric dentistry are available for our patients. We aim to make the dental visit an enjoyable experience and help children overcome any fears and anxieties they may have about the dentist.

Having lived in regional areas throughout Australia and North America, our team knows the challenges of a big country. Patients should not have to travel to a capital city to get access to quality healthcare.

Our team is motivated to service regional areas in Queensland, particularly around the Sunshine Coast. We aim to service the area from Hervey Bay, to Kingaroy and down to Brisbane. We do however welcome patients from outside this area and aim to help overcome any distance-related issues that can come up.

 
 
 
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Our Team

 

DR SARAH DUMAIS PELLETIER
Specialist Paediatric Dentist

Dr. Sarah is a specialist paediatric dentist from Montreal in Canada. She graduated from Laval University with a doctorate in dental medicine in 2012 and completed a residency at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Her love of children brought her to complete a specialty degree in Paediatric Dentistry in 2016 at the University of Montreal. She continued her training as a Senior Dental Registrar at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.

She temporarily returned to Canada, where she worked as an associate professor at the University of Montreal and in private practice, but the Australian lifestyle and weather have drawn her back.

Dr. Sarah is trained to provide comprehensive dental treatment to children of all ages, as well as special needs and medically compromised patients. Dr Sarah can provide treatment using behavioural management techniques, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or general anaesthesia, She particularly enjoys treating dental trauma, complex dental cases, patients with a fear of the dentist and children with Autism spectrum disorder.

Dr. Sarah is currently a member of the Australian Dental Association, Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentists, Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentists and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in Paediatric Dentistry and is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

In her spare time, Dr Sarah enjoy spending her time with her two young daughters, travelling, skiing (a bit difficult in Australia) and trying new food. She also hopes that she can one day learn how to surf!

 

DR TIM KEYS
Specialist Paediatric Dentist

Dr Tim is a born and bred Queenslander. He graduated dental school at the University of Queensland in 2009 and joined the Royal Australian Airforce as a dental officer. This job meant he travelled around Australia for several years and also served on a humanitarian mission to Indonesia.

In 2012 Dr Tim left Townsville and the Air Force to work in Noosa. In 2018 Dr Tim completed his Paediatric dentistry training at the University of Melbourne and moved back to the Sunshine Coast to be with his wife and back at the beach!

Dr Tim loves providing dental care to children with special needs and dental anxieties. Dr Tim also provides care to children who have suffered trauma, are born without enough teeth, or too many teeth and other developmental anomalies.

Dr Tim is a member of the Australian Dental Association, Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentists, Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentists, European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Royal Australasian College of Dentists. He is a Major in the Army and is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Queensland.

Dr Tim loves spending time with his young daughters and any outdoor activities like triathlons, surfing, hiking and sailing.

 

DR JACQUELYN FECHNEY
Specialist Paediatric Dentist

Dr Jacqui graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Distinction from the University of Otago, after having grown up on a farm in the South Island of New Zealand. She then moved to Sydney and worked as a general dentist, prior to doing a residence year in Paediatric Dentistry and then completing her specialist training in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Sydney, through Westmead Centre for Oral Health and Westmead Childrens Hospital. 

She has worked in private practice in Sydney for over five years before making the move to sunny Queensland with her family this year. During her time in Sydney she also worked part time in public dentistry and held roles as a Staff Specialist at Sydney Dental Hospital and a visiting specialist paediatric dentist in the Hunter New England Local Health District. 

Jacqui is passionate about making the dental experience a positive one for children and their families. She has a special interest in dental anomalies and all aspects of comprehensive restorative care. 

Dr Jacqui is currently a member of The Australian Dental Association, Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry, Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the International Association of Dental Traumatology. 

Outside of dentistry, Jacqui enjoys all sport, particularly running, triathlons and waterskiing. She also enjoys travelling and spending time with her husband, toddler and Groodle ‘Frankie’.

 

DR ERICA RYAN
Registered General Dentist

Dr Erica is a registered general dentist with a special interest in paediatric dentistry. QLD born and raised, Dr Erica graduated from UQ with a Bachelor of Dentistry in 2010. After several years working in general practice Erica has joined out team and works closely with our specialists to extend on her passion for paediatric dentistry.  

Outside of work she loves spending time with her husband and two young boys, and mountain biking.

Lauren Atzeni

Dental Therapist

Lauren has recently joined CDC as one of our dental therapists, graduating from Curtin University WA in 2010, Lauren brings 25years experience having started out as a dental assistant.

Lauren has worked in both private and public sectors both here and in the UK and enjoys making children’s dental visits a positive experience.

Outside of work she spends her time enjoying the outdoors or traveling with her family.

JULIE LUHRS
Oral Health Therapist

Julie is our oral health therapist working closely with our paediatric dentists to offer the absolute best in preventative dental care for our patients.  Julie brings with her over 20years experience as an Oral health Therapist working in multiple areas all over Australia including over 10years in Cape York.

Over the years she has also had specialist interests in community and humanitarian aid, working with both orphanages in India & local Indigenous communities treating and promoting dental care.

Time away from the practice she enjoys getting outside with her husband and two young boys.

 
 
 

HOLLY
Reception

After a number of years in the dental industry, Holly transitioned to paediatric dental a few years ago in Brisbane and hasn’t looked back. And while you can find her on our front desk most days, she brings a great deal of paeds experience chairside.

While not in the practice she enjoys going to the gym & spending time with her family.

 

RANI
Practice Manager

Having grown up on the Sunshine Coast, Rani has spent the past 20years working as a dental assistant at a few local practices. After becoming a mother herself she made the transition into paediatric practice’s. She has now taken a step back from assisting to be our practice manager.

When not at the practice, you can find her somewhere outdoors, at the beach, hiking or escaping to the snow with her husband and children.

 

KAITLIN
Reception / Dental Assistant

Kaitlin joined the practice as a dental assistant after starting out in a general dental practice however these days you will find her at our desk as one of our receptionists. On occasion you can still spot her chairside in clinic and helping out in theatre.

In her free time, she enjoys camping and being outside with family.

 

Tori

Dental Assistant.


Tori is a Sunshine Coast local, and joined CDC in the last 12mths and recently completed her certificate in dental assisting. She brings a calm and organised approach to the role which makes her a great fit working chairside to our specialists.

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Sophie

Dental Assistant

Amy

Dental Assistant

Amy brings extensive experience as a dental assistant having worked on the Sunshine Coast and the NT. She spent many of those years in general dental and you can now find her chairside with our OHT Julie.

Outside of work she likes to get away camping with her boys and husband.

Having previously worked in general dental Sophie joined our practice a few years ago. Sophies knowledge in many areas of dental has her often assisting a number of our providers and training new staff. If you visit us in Hervey Bay, she will be your friendly face there to help.

In her spare time Sophie enjoys surfing, camping and almost any outdoor activity.

 

Our Facility

The Children’s Dental Centre was built in 2019 in Minyama, Sunshine Coast. The practice has been specially designed with children in mind. There are large rooms with plenty of space and a well-appointed waiting room to keep your children entertained.

We have created a SOCIAL STORY to help anxious or special needs children learn what will happen at their dental visit. You can find the PDF below, or please contact us to send it via post or email.