Meet the team in Totnes

Claire is our clinical lead at Dart Vale Dental Care. She offers private dentistry in a modern, friendly and comfortable environment offering the highest level of patient care. Claire qualified in 2004 from the University of Manchester, gaining honours in her final examinations. In 2010 Claire and her family relocated to Devon and she started her position at Dart Vale. Claire has always had a love for working in general practice and sets her standards high. She likes to use minimally invasive techniques in line with current theory. This includes teeth whitening and the direct building up and shaping of teeth using the latest materials. Claire’s other passion is the dental care of children. She has three young children of her own and this has helped give her a real ability to make dental visits for children a fun and positive experience. Outside dentistry, Claire’s time is largely spent having fun with her family and raising her three children Emily, Harriet and Edward.

Emma graduated from Newcastle in 2018 with a merit in clinical dentistry. She has a special interest in oral surgery. In her spare time Emma enjoys playing Netball.

Bruce qualified in London in 1974 and joined the team at Dart Vale Dental Care in 2020. Bruce is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren. His spare time is spent playing golf, watching tennis and F1. He likes nothing more than walking the moors with his dogs, Gracie and Ronald and spending time with friends and family.

Dr Guru Bangari graduated from India in 2003, where he worked within general practice, hospital and community dental clinics honing his skills in Oral Surgery before moving to the UK in 2007. Guru went on to complete his Masters in Public Health from Anglia Ruskin, Essex in 2010. During this time he also completed his Overseas Registration Exams (ORE) and registered with the General Dental Council where he then worked in London until he moved to the beautiful West Country in 2013.

In 2019, Guru successfully achieved his Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons, London. He is also an active member of Association of Dental Implantology and attends various courses and conferences to keep himself abreast with the latest dental techniques. Guru is passionate about the positive impact of dental implants on patients’ quality of life. He also has a special interest in surgical extractions.

Guru now lives in South Devon with his wife, two sons and their dog, Archie. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, socialising, exploring the beautiful coasts of Devon and Cornwall with his family and going on long walks with Archie. He is also a keen gardener who enjoys growing Indian vegetables in UK.

James qualified from the University of Manchester in 2003 and has worked here at Pure Dental Care since relocating to Devon in 2010. James loves his job and enjoys the constant challenges that he faces. James is keen on expanding his knowledge within the field of dentistry and he has recently completed a 2 year course in advanced restorative dentistry (British Academy of Restorative Dentistry). James is also interested in the field of forensics and am a member of the British Association of Forensic Odontology. He hopes to pursue this and eventually become qualified to work in criminal investigations. Outside of dentistry, James likes to keep active and has many hobbies. He enjoys mountain biking and walking and has recently taken up fencing. James is also a keen snowboarder and tries to hit the slopes each winter.

Greg O’Brien qualified in 1984 at Melbourne University in his native Australia and has been living in the West Country for a number of years. Greg regularly attends post graduate meetings and is also a member of the British Dental Association and he has recently completed a year long aesthetic dentistry diploma with prestigious Paul Tipton Training in St Annes Square, Manchester. Greg’s hobbies are walking on Dartmoor, Photography, and Greg is currently “trying” to learn German.

Dr Holly Skypala qualified from Cardiff University in 2019 and has gained experience working in dental practices across Bristol, London and, most recently, Sydney, Australia. This clinical background has enabled her to develop a skill set across all aspects of general dentistry while treating patients from a wide range of backgrounds.

During her time in Australia, Holly provided emergency dental care to a rural community, further developing her oral surgery skills and gaining valuable experience managing a variety of dental conditions in challenging environments.

Holly enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and aims to deliver patient-centred care. She has a particular interest in minimally invasive dentistry, focusing on preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible to support long-term oral health. She is a certified Invisalign provider and completed a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Restorative Dentistry while practising in London.

Known for her friendly and approachable manner, Holly takes time to understand each patient's individual needs and strives to help nervous patients feel comfortable throughout their treatment.

Outside of dentistry, Holly enjoys keeping active and regularly takes part in endurance events. She is currently training for her second triathlon and enjoys embracing new sporting challenges in her spare time.