South West Dental Conference

Gurvinder works at Carriage Works Lostwithiel Dental, Cornwall. He completed his Masters in Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) in fixed and removable prosthodontics from King’s College London in 2018. His special interests lie in the prosthodontic aspect of implantology from a single tooth to a full arch restorations, the restorative management and rehabilitation of tooth-wear and minimal intervention cosmetic bonding.

He teaches and lectures on a national and international level on composite resin restorations, management of tooth-wear and dental photography.

He is on the scientific committee of BAAD British Association of Aesthetic Dentistry, and a member of the Bio Emulation group.

As a highly experienced specialist Oral Surgeon, Abdul has spent the last 13 years working in the Mid-Yorkshire hospitals’ Maxillofacial department. Over the years he has provided treatment for thousands of patients suffering from a variety of complex facial traumas and has also provided a variety of different surgical procedures including wisdom tooth removal and facial reconstructive surgery.

Alongside his hospital work, Abdul has spent the last 15 years providing oral surgery clinics throughout the Yorkshire area for Leeds NHS England and the Leeds Dental Institute. He has also participated in and contributed towards numerous dental and medical publications and research projects.

As the educational supervisor for the Maxillofacial surgery department he is heavily involved in the teaching and training of many clinicians, not only in oral surgery but also in implant placement techniques and he continues to share his expertise through the courses he runs here at the Yorkshire Dental Suite Training Academy.

As part of his passion for teaching Abdul us is also an examiner for the prestigious MJDF examinations administered by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, MFDS, MOMS, ORE and LDS administered by the General Dental Council. He provides tuition for the RCS England Certificate in Minor Oral Surgery and he is also a visiting Professor to Libya where he examines and teaches at various dental schools. Abdul also performs various maxillofacial surgical operations for charity during these visits.

Mahrukh Khwaja is a dentist, positive psychologist, accredited mindfulness teacher, and the founder of Mind Ninja, an award-winning wellness startup dedicated to improving mental health and resilience among dental professionals. With nothing of its kind currently available in the dental industry, she envisioned a system of support that, just like daily brushing and flossing, took a preventive maintenance approach to mental health. Drawing on the neuroscience of well-being, and positive psychology, she developed Mind Ninja as a solution that would help fellow dental professionals build mental resilience, foster connection and meaning, and thrive.

Mind Ninja’s comprehensive range of training, coaching, and wellness products, including the signature Mind Flossing Toolkit, have been implemented by a diverse range of organisations, including NHS Health England, Unilever, Colgate, King's College London, Acteon, British Dental Association, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. She is also the author of the book ‘Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals’, published by Wiley-Blackwell. Dr Khwaja has been featured as a well-being expert for The Sun, Daily Express, Marie Claire, Conde Nast Travel and iNews. Connect with her on Instagram @mindninja.wellbeing or email her on [email protected]

Sophie was one of the original members of Pearl’s International team outside of the US. She runs the European Team and, alongside her team, regularly attends dental events across Europe. Sophie and her team specialise in looking after individual practices and small chains. Her interests lie in enhancing dentistry through dental innovation and AI technology.

Kevin Shannon, a dentist with over a decade of experience in NHS, mixed, and private practice, is the founder of DigitalTCO, an innovative AI-powered solution transforming dental note-taking and practice management. Driven by his own frustrations with administrative burdens, Kevin developed a platform that empowers dentists to streamline workflows, reclaim time, and improve case acceptance.

With over 700 dentists already onboard, Kevin is committed to leveraging technology to reduce stress and enhance efficiency in dental practices globally.

Lee joined Henry Schein One in 2024, bringing a unique perspective from his years as a consultant in the hospitality industry, where he worked with well-known brands and Michelin-starred chefs. His experience in delivering tailored solutions and fostering excellence now supports dental practice owners and principal dentists in achieving their goals.

Lee focuses on guiding practices in adopting innovative technology to streamline operations and enhance patient care. Passionate about helping professionals focus on what matters most, he combines his diverse background with a forward-thinking approach to drive success and empower practices in an ever-evolving industry.