Meet Our Team

Billy has enjoyed being a dental surgeon for almost 40 years, working in both the UK and for the past 15 years in New Zealand. Originally from Scotland, Billy was educated partly in Scotland & received secondary education in Africa. On returning to Scotland in his late teens, Billy worked in electronics (Motorola Inc) for a short time, before embarking on his dental training after being accepted by the University of Edinburgh. Billy has also completed a MSc (Restorative Dentistry) with the University of Birmingham, graduating with Distinction.

Billy’s love of clinical dentistry and aiming for excellence are his prime motivators. His fields of special interest are, obviously, all aspects of Restorative Dentistry, including root canal treatment, prosthodontics, periodontics and the management of dental trauma cases. After more than 3 decades in general practice he feels competent facing any clinical situation. Billy sets very high standards for himself and realise that patients respect and value my care.

Away from dentistry, Billy enjoys meeting new people, is a keen runner, enjoys reading political magazines and non-fiction. Billy is fortunate to have been married to Liz for more than 40 years and they have 3 adult sons. Billy and his wife enjoy travelling and experiencing new destinations. But supremely, they value their friendships and are grateful for the way they have been embraced by the Palmerston North community since our arrival in 2006. This is a truly wonderful city with a warm heart.

Deepika Samal graduated with Distinction from the University of Otago in 2011. She was born and raised here in Palmerston North, and spent one year living and studying overseas during her high school years before heading to Dunedin to study Dentistry.

Deepika has been a part of Main Street Dental Centre (now Lumino Main Street) for over 10 years and has enjoyed building strong relationships and rapport with her patients. Preventative and restorative dentistry are her areas of interest and she strives to provide a safe, friendly, and comfortable environment for everyone who attends the practice.

Deepika has been an active member of the Central Districts Dental Association as President in 2022, and Secretary in 2020 and 2021. Deepika has also has training with the NZ Dental Association Mentorship Programme and is currently a mentor to a new graduate dentist.

Outside of work, Deepika loves to travel, reading, and watching movies. She is a real foodie and enjoys wining and dining. You may see her around Palmy exploring local walking trails with her Labrador named Biscuit

Alicia was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. After finishing school, she took a gap year to travel through Canada and came back to study dentistry at the University of Pretoria where she graduated in 2007.

After completing her studies, she worked as a locum dentist and bought her own practice in 2013. The following year she met Stephan her husband. On a visit to New Zealand in 2017 it was love at first sight and they decided to call this amazing country their home.

Alicia has a passion for restorative dentistry and has a keen interest in new techniques and technology. In her spare time Alicia enjoys trail and road running, horse riding and recently started pottery as a hobby.

Mary was born and raised in rural South Canterbury. While attending secondary school at Craighead in Timaru, Mary decided she wanted to become a dentist. Mary graduated with her BDS at the University of Otago in 2018 and has since been practicing general dentistry. She enjoys providing a range of oral healthcare, alongside the hands-on nature of dentistry and the opportunities for ongoing education. Mary moved to the Manawatū in 2022 from Gisborne and is looking forward to joining the awesome team at Lumino Main Street.

Over the summer of 2020/21, Mary walked Te Araroa (a trail that runs the length of New Zealand) – a life-changing experience. In her out-of-office time, Mary enjoys being involved in volunteer roles, anything outdoors, reading, and of course time with her partner, family, and friends.

Dusty is an experienced oral health therapist, providing modern and holistic dental hygiene care. Dusty has worked for District Health Boards in and outside the Manawatu, providing preventative and restorative care for children, and in private practice in both Palmerston North and Feilding.  

Dusty is passionate about patient education, particularly enjoying introducing patients to hygiene. With a background in treating children, including many who struggle with their dental visits, Dusty enjoys providing a calm and reassuring environment. As an oral health therapist, Dusty is able to administer local anaesthetic to provide pain-free care. Dusty also works in conjunction with specialist periodontists to manage more severe periodontal (gum) disease. 

Dusty is a founding member of the New Zealand Oral Health Association, and a member of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists. Dusty has served on the New Zealand Dental Students' Association, the Bupa Dental Care Clinical Advisory Panel - helping to influence clinical practice in over 200 clinics across Australia and New Zealand, and the Lumino Health and Safety Committee. Dusty is also a past board member of the Manawatu Young Professionals Network. 

Dusty has been a guest speaker for Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service continuing education and for dental podcast The Whole Tooth. Dusty has been nominated for Oral Health Therapist of the Year, the Hon. Annette King Award for Excellence and Leadership in Oral Health, and the People's Choice Award. 

Holly was lucky enough to join the wonderful Main Street team in 2019. She graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Oral Health in 2013. Previously, Holly worked as a hygienist for the NZ Defence Force, based at Linton, Ohakea and Waiouru for 5 years. She served a total of nearly 10 years in uniform in the Royal New Zealand Dental Corps. Prior to this, Holly worked as a veterinary nurse in her previous home town of Wellington.

Although with Holly's degree, she is dual-trained in dental therapy and dental hygiene, her passion has always been in hygiene and prevention. She likes to meet new people and enjoys working with you collaboratively to improve your oral health outcomes. We are so fortunate here at Main Street to have Airflow technology, which is a game changer for hygiene treatments, making them more efficient and more comfortable than traditional methods. Holly's hope for you is that you will leave here feeling empowered and completely informed about your current oral health.

Outside of work, Holly is a mum to two gorgeous boys, has a wonderful husband and an amazing group of friends. They love living in Manawatu with all it has to offer.

Meet Jay, a young and passionate oral health therapist who is dedicated to improving the oral health of her patients. Jay has always been fascinated by the human body and how it functions, particularly when it comes to the mouth and teeth. She knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in dentistry and ultimately decided to become an oral health therapist. Jay has a gentle touch and a friendly demeanor that helps put her patients at ease. She is always eager to share her knowledge and educate her patients on the importance of good oral hygiene practices.

As a young oral health therapist, Jay is constantly seeking to improve her skills and knowledge. She attends continuing education courses and keeps up-to-date with the latest research and technology in the field. Jay is also a strong advocate for preventive dental care, and she works closely with her patients to develop personalized oral health plans that promote healthy teeth and gums.

In her free time, Jay enjoys long walks, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She is excited about the future of oral health care and looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of her patients.