County: Waterford
Dr. Alba Urdaneta
Dr. Alba Urdaneta graduated top of her class from Dentistry at the Catholic University of Valencia in 2016. In 2020, Alba completed her Implant and Periodontal training to Masters Degree level, furthering her knowledge and skills in the area of dental implants and treatment of gum disease. She has been working singularly in this field of dentistry since the completion of her advanced training. Alba is committed to providing exceptional patient care to her patients.
Dr. Alba regularly attends courses and lectures to expand her knowledge and skillset. She specialises in placing Straumann implants, an internationally renowned and trusted brand of dental implants.
Alba will be treating patients for Implant and Periodontal treatment in our state-of-the-art Newbridge practice and our Wexford locations.
Dr. Rashid Khalily
Dr. Khalily graduated from Khyber college of Dentistry, Pakistan in 2008. Following his graduation he completed 2 years post graduate training for his Membership with College Of Physician and Surgeons Pakistan in the specialty of Periodontology.
In December 2012, he was awarded Membership from Faculty of Dentistry Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (MFD-RCSI).
He has worked as a General Dental Practitioner in Pakistan at The Clinic of Esthetic Dentistry for several years. In July 2015, he passed the exam for registration with The Dental council of Ireland with the intention of moving to Ireland.
In order to pursue his career in Restorative and Esthetic Dentistry, in January 2017, he enrolled in a four year Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) program in the specialty of operative dentistry from Islamabad Pakistan.
Dr. Khalily’s objective is to learn and acquire valuable insight into latest clinical procedures. He attended numerous courses with special interest in the field of Restorative dentistry.
With his ability to learn fast, work hard with commitment, dedication to his patients and meticulous approach towards the clinical procedures and past experience, he joins our Pembroke Dental Team to embark on his professional career here in Ireland. We are delighted to welcome him.
Dr. Paulina Bodrug – Specialist Orthodontist
Dr. Paulina Bodrug is our friendly Orthodontist based in Pembroke Dental’s Waterford practice. Paulina currently offers free Orthodontic consultations for new and existing patients in Waterford.She provides a full range of orthodontic treatments to both children and adults.
Want to know more ? Let’s hear a personal insight from Dr. Paulina herself:
What is your background?
I was born and raised in Moldova, a small country nestled between Romania and Ukraine. My career in dentistry began in Romania, before travelling to Ireland to work with Pembroke Dental in 2021. I am really interested in continuing education in my field of dentistry ,orthodontics and my latest course interest is studying TMJ Disorders and Occlusion. I have also attended many lectures in Biomechanics & Aesthetics in Orthodontics.I really enjoy orthodontics and seeing the difference I can make to peoples lives by changing their smile with braces.
How do you spend your spare time?
Outside of dentistry, I enjoy the outdoors. Cycling and yoga are some of my favourite hobbies.
What are some changes that you have witnessed in dentistry since you qualified?
In the past 5-10 years, I have noticed significant changes in Orthodontics. Nowadays, people are increasingly aware of their oral health, not just for health reasons, but also for aesthetic and social reasons. It has become more popular among teenagers especially, as they are always eager to undergo Orthodontic treatment in order to have a beautiful smile. Also, with the advancements and recent developments in technology, braces have improved in size and quality. There are also more options, including metal or ceramic braces and clear aligners. This helps improve the speed of braces treatments and the outcome also.A win for everyone.
Dr. Teresa De Porras
My passion for dentistry can be traced back to a childhood interest in all things minute and detailed-so I am very suited to my chosen profession!
I like getting people excited about their dental health and how we, as dentists, can influence dental and overall health.
I was awarded my primary degree in dentistry in 2019 from the University of Grenada in Southern Spain and then gained valuable experience working in general practice in Malaga before joining Pembroke Dental in 2021. I love my job as a general dentist with the wide variety of skills involved in the provision of high quality dentistry.
Outside of my surgery hours, I am currently studying for my Masters Thesis in Dentistry. I am dedicated to my patients and studies and aim to provide a modern attitude to dental treatment coupled with best practice and a cheery outlook.
I lived in Ireland as a child and have returned to live the Irish way of life-the sea, the countryside and the people.
I love languages and different cultures and enjoy the everyday interactions with my patients.
My belief is that dentists should be approachable, inclusive and (yes) fun-and I put this into practice every day!
Dr. Raksha Batajoo
Five Minutes with Dr. Raksha Batajoo, Specialist Orthodontist
If you look up the word ‘passionate’ in the dictionary, you’ll probably see a picture of Dr. Raksha. She is passionate about everything she does from cooking to yoga and reading; but most of all, she is passionate about what she does here at Pembroke Orthodontics. Helping our patients and researching new solutions to dental problems are top priorities for Dr. Raksha. She joined the Specialist Orthodontist list of Ireland in 2022.
When not engaged in orthodontic pursuits, Dr. Raksha enjoys her spare time with her family and friends. In addition, she is very involved with her Nepali ex patriot community in Ireland. She is an avid fan of movies and the cinema. Travelling and exploring the Irish countryside is also a keen pastime.
A little-known fact about Dr. Raksha? Her first concert ever was Kutumba, a Nepali folk band! Not sure who they are? Or are you a fan of their music yourself? Ask her about it the next time you are in!
What Dr. Raksha likes best about her job here in Pembroke Dental? All of the great people she gets to meet and work with; parents, patients, co-workers and the nursing team as well as the wider dental community.
Let’s hear from Raksha herself:
1. Where did you start your dentistry career?
My dentistry career started as I took my first step inside the University in Romania as a Dental student in 2010. I graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, DMD. After completion I returned to my home city of Kathmandu in Nepal and practiced as a general dentist for about a year. My particular area of interest in dentistry has always been orthodontics so I followed my dream and completed my 3-year post graduation training on Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.I am now on the Specialist Orthodontist Register in Ireland.
2. What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?
I particularly enjoy meeting new people, communicating with them and getting to know their dental and health problems and helping to solve them if I can. I thrive on difficult cases and getting entangled with new methods and technologies.
I spend my spare time mostly travelling and watching movies. Some days I totally relax and I do nothing at all-I need time to totally unwind. I do always make sure to have time for my family.
3. What is the last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?
The last thing that I have done to improve my skills/ knowledge is to attend as many Invisalign seminars and webinars that I could possibly get my hands on-they are really educational and informative. I am also attending some online training programs. I have worked and assisted many renowned dentists and grabbed many helpful tips and knowledge from their experience. I am an avid reader and study as many scientific articles as I can related to dentistry and new innovative practice methods.
4. How do you suggest for nervous patients who needs to see a dentist but are too nervous?
For every patient we need to gain their trust first. To do so, we must ensure we acknowledge their problems and the history of their nervousness. A smile and an open friendly nature never hurt. Discussing our problems in a calm and open forum can help lessen fears which I welcome and can help in easing nervousness and make my patients feel relaxed.
5. What is your top tip for oral health?
First and foremost, attaining and maintaining dental health is our top priority. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease and can help you keep your teeth as you get older. Dental health is also interlinked with general health -so some simple tips are as follows. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque. Visit your Dentist at least twice a year for a dental health check. Cut down on the frequency of sweet acidic drinks and sweet foods to help both your dental and general health overall.
Dr Brenda Barrett
Five Minutes with Dr Brenda Barrett, Clinical Director
1.Where did you start your dentistry career?
I started my dental career at the tender age of seventeen in the Dublin Dental University Hospital in Trinity College, way back in the last century! After graduating as a dentist in 1988, I worked in the UK for a few years and also attended the world-renowned Eastman Dental Hospital to do a post-graduate diploma in General Dentistry.
I acquired Pembroke Dental in 1993, which had an excellent reputation in Carlow Town and I have been trying to build on that reputation since!
2.What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?
I enjoy meeting my patients on a daily basis-many of whom I now consider friends. I am humbled by their trust in my skills and in Pembroke Dental as a team. I also like the buzz of building a great specialist and general dental team around me and enjoy the camaraderie of a positive group of dental professionals.
One of the drawbacks of dentistry as a career is the sedentary nature of the job, so in my spare time, I like activity-walking my lovely dogs, horse riding, cycling and dancing. I have recently joined a choir and warble as best I can amongst friends.
3. What is that last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?
To prove that you can teach an old dog new tricks, I returned to Trinity College Dublin to complete a Masters in Clinical Dentistry in the Dublin Dental University Hospital in 2018. I am really proud of that achievement as it encompassed all the skills and knowledge I had slowly gathered over the years as a general dental practitioner.
4. You have won the Best Practice Irish Dentistry Awards won numerous occasions, explain as a winner what it took to win this award?
In a few words-Lots of hard work and dedication to our patients! We have worked hard over the years to build a great and dedicated team of dental professionals in Pembroke Dental who can offer the highest quality dentistry to our patients. We believe in giving the very best care, and attention to all who come to us and each member of the team is encouraged to give their utmost. That’s our motto- The patient’s best interest comes first!
5. How would you describe your team in Pembroke Dental?
The Pembroke Dental Team are special is so many ways- talented, dedicated to their patients, positive in their thinking and totally professional while being compassionate towards our patients. They really put the care of our patients first, and I am very proud to be part of this great team.