Meet Our Team

Ben graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1997. He spent two years working in Dunedin and then Christchurch hospital after graduation before heading to work in London. After nine years away from Christchurch practicing dentistry in London and Auckland, Ben returned home to Christchurch in 2007, having just completed his Fellowship in Sydney, Australia.

Ben has been on the Lumino clinical board since 2011 and is an active member of the NZ Dental Association and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

Ben has always strived to achieve excellence in his work and stay at the forefront of technical advancements in dentistry. He performs general and cosmetic dentistry using the latest equipment, materials and methods including digital scanning and digital smile design. He is driven to give his patients the best care and experience possible. He regularly attends lectures and courses from minimal intervention to advanced procedures such as root canal therapy and Implant restoration.

Ben has an interest in reconstructing worn mouths and the prevention of dental disease. He enjoys developing and implementing a long term plan which future proofs someone’s mouth, with the goal of leaving the patient in a maintenance program with peace of mind that their teeth are disease-free and optimally restored.

Ben grew up on a farm in North Canterbury and brings exceptional skills, experience and clear no-fuss communication to the team. Outside of dentistry Ben has a passion for health and fitness and can either be found at the gym, spending time with his young family or thinking about going back to the gym.

William appreciates that as dentists, they get the chance to spend time and get to know so many good people from all walks of life without ever leaving the workplace! He hopes to ensure all his patients are well-educated about their oral health, so their appointments are proactive and routine rather than reactive and worrisome.

His dental interests lie in general and cosmetic dentistry with a focus on placing and restoring dental implants.

William trained in the U.S. where he received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology followed by a Doctor of Dental Surgery from The Ohio State University. After graduating, he completed a General Practice Residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, in order to learn more advanced prosthetic and surgical techniques. William then worked in private practice in the Chicago CBD before moving to Christchurch.

William firmly believes that education doesn’t stop after graduation. He frequently attends local study groups and is an avid learner, regularly attending regional conferences and courses. "Education an essential part of being a dentist, especially with technologies rapidly advancing and requiring us to keep on top of the latest techniques."

Outside of the practice, William enjoys wine tasting, running, drawing, and spending time with family and friends. He's also a passionate pizza maker and can create a wide variety of styles from scratch, from deep-dish to hand-tossed New York-style pizza.

Fionnuala graduated from University College Cork in Ireland with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2010. In 2011 she gained an MFDS from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians, Glasgow.

After graduating, Fionnuala worked in Australia, the Torres Strait Islands and spent several years in the North East of England working in both an Oral Surgery and a Facial Trauma Department. A move to New Zealand in 2017 brought her to Wellington where she worked in a busy city practice until her recent move to Christchurch. 

Fionnuala’s area of expertise is difficult extractions, including wisdom teeth, and treating nervous patients with IV sedation. She is passionate about working with patients to help them feel comfortable and empowered about their dental treatment. After training through the Global Institute for Dental Education in Los Angeles, she also provides dental implant treatment for patients who have missing teeth. 

Outside of work Fionnuala and her husband are keen trail runners and will no doubt be kept very busy with all that the South Island has to offer.

Ashley is a dual-qualified dentist and dental technician. She graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and a Bachelor of Dental Technology with honours. Before joining North Avon Dental Christchurch Lumino, she worked in private practices in Napier and Taradale, where she honed her dentistry skills and gained training in the latest technology and techniques.

Ashley’s goal is to deliver a wide range of clinical treatments that consistently meet exceptional standards of care, while ensuring that every patient has an enjoyable, stress-free experience. She truly believes the foundation of a positive dental experience is good communication, so she focuses on connecting with her patients, listening to their needs, treating them with dignity and respect, and involving them in all decisions about their health. Ashley is also proud of having an eye for detail and pays a great deal of attention to aesthetics, which she incorporates into her work.

Ashley enjoys providing all aspects of general and cosmetic dentistry, ranging from smile make-overs, treating gum disease and toothache, through to teeth replacements. Committed to staying at the forefront of technology and advancements in the dental field and learning innovative approaches to patient care, she focuses on providing the highest quality dental care in her community by utilising the latest technology, including dental lasers, air abrasions, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), rotary endodontics, CEREC crowns/veneers, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Additionally, she is a certified provider of Invisalign (clear aligners), Botox (muscle relaxants) and dermal filler injections, as well as IV and oral sedation for patients who may be particularly anxious about dental visits.

Ashley is an active member of several dental organisations, including the New Zealand Dental Association, New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the New Zealand Institute of Dental Technology.

“The best part of my job is giving people the chance to smile again, improving their quality of life, and boosting their self-esteem and self-confidence” Dr Ashley Yunling Yang

In addition, Ashley is a multilingual speaking dentist, fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Outside of dentistry, Ashley is an avid foodie, cook and traveller, and enjoys spending time with her family.

Elliot started her career as a dental assistant in her home town of Dunedin in 2006. She completed her BDS, graduating with Distinction from Otago in 2013, and has worked in Dunedin, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch.

In addition to providing all aspects of general dentistry, fillings, implants, crowns, bridges, extractions and dentures, she has an interest in providing gentle dentistry for those patients who are nervous about a visit to the dentist or have not had a positive experience in the past. She offers both oral and intravenous sedation allowing "sleep dentistry" to make the experience more pleasant.

She is a member of the New Zealand Dental Association, the New Zealand Sedation Society and the Forensic Dental Association

Elliot loves her job as a dentist. She really enjoys helping people improve their dental health, listening to each individual about what they would like for their mouth and working with them to tailor a treatment plan to their specific needs.

Elliot has worked for Lumino for seven years and takes pride in being part of a team that provides excellent dentistry, a high standard of care and customer service and strives to make the experience as comfortable as possible for new and existing patients.

David Lai graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health in 2016 from the University of Otago. He also has a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) degree from the University of Otago.

David worked as a Dental Therapist in 2017 for the Southern District Health Board, based in Dunedin; primarily examining and treating children from age zero up until the age of 13.

His main interests and focus is in the prevention of gum disease. David says he believes in “good oral health for all, for life” and he will seek to help his patients maintain or improve their oral health through regular examinations, cleaning, education and motivation.

David says he endeavors to get to know each and every patient as individuals and seek to tailor treatment plans to suit each patient’s needs.

Outside of work, he enjoys reading, travelling, sketching and running.