Welcome to Adel Dental Practice in Leeds
DENTAL CLINICIANS
Palbir Grewal
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With over 30 years of experience in family dentistry, Mrs. Palbir Grewal has proudly cared for
the smiles of North Leeds and the wider community with compassion, expertise, and a
modern approach to oral health.
A graduate of the University of Leeds, Palbir has spent more than three decades honing her
skills and delivering exceptional dental care. As the owner and principal dentist of Adel
Dental Practice for over 20 years, she has built a reputation for creating a welcoming,
friendly environment where patients of all ages feel comfortable and confident. Her
philosophy is simple: combine professional excellence and great teamwork with genuine
care.
Whether it's a child's very first visit or a complete smile transformation, Palbir and her
dedicated team ensure every experience is positive, personalised, and as comfortable as
possible.
Outside of work, Palbir loves going to concerts, live music, long walks, supporting her team
Manchester Utd and spending quality time with family and friends.
"At Adel Dental Practice, you're not just a patient — you're part of the family."
Dominic O'Hooley
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Dr. Dominic O’Hooley is an experienced Implant Dentist based in Menston, near Leeds, with
over 33 years in practice. A graduate of the University of Liverpool, he holds multiple
postgraduate qualifications, including MFDS RCS (Eng), FCGDent, and MAGDS RCS
(Edinburgh). With expertise in implants and advanced oral surgery, Dr. O’Hooley is
committed to delivering the highest standard of patient care with a simple philosophy —
“Give my best, always.” He serves as a board member for the Primary Dental Care Board of
RCS Edinburgh, an examiner for MAGDS, and a Senior Fellow of the Royal Society of
Medicine.
Outside of dentistry, he enjoys trail running, writing, and exploring military history — and
once learned to parachute during his time with the Territorial Army.
Ioan Smith
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Dr Ioan Smith is a highly experienced general dentist with over 23 years in practice. He
graduated from the University of Leeds in 2002 and holds the MFGDP(UK) qualification from
the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Originally from Holyhead in North Wales, Dr
Smith is known for his calm and relaxed approach to patient care, creating a welcoming
environment where patients feel comfortable and confident in their dental treatment. His
philosophy centres on building trust and forming lasting relationships with patients while
delivering high-quality general dentistry for all ages.
Dr Smith enjoys the teamwork and collaboration that come with providing excellent dental
care and is committed to maintaining the highest standards in his practice. Outside of
dentistry, he leads an active lifestyle and enjoys spending time at the gym, supporting
Liverpool FC, and following Formula 1 racing. A fun fact about Dr Smith is that his first name,
Ioan, is the Welsh form of “John,” reflecting his proud Welsh heritage
Catherine Lightowler
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Dr Catherine Lightowler joined us in 2018 and is a Leeds-trained general dentist with over 20
years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Conscious Sedation from Newcastle University
and advanced qualifications in restorative and aesthetic dentistry. An accredited Invisalign
provider, Catherine is passionate about delivering high-quality, comfortable care. With a
special interest in helping anxious patients, she focuses on calm, reassuring communication
and a gentle approach to ensure every visit is a positive experience.
Known for her friendly and empathetic manner, Catherine is dedicated to helping patients
achieve healthy, confident smiles. Originally from Calverley, she now lives in West Park with
her family. Outside of dentistry, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and
supporting her children’s sports — and few people know she used to be a hockey
goalkeeper!
dental hygienist and therapist
Nicola Dominique
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Nicola joined the team in November 2024 as a Dental Therapist. She began her
career as a dental nurse, gaining 12 years of valuable experience before deciding to
train as a Dental Hygiene Therapist. Nicola graduated from Manchester Dental
School in 2012 and has since worked in and around Leeds in both private and NHS
practices.
Throughout her career, Nicola has developed extensive experience supporting
paediatric specialists and caring for anxious and complex patients. She is passionate
about helping nervous patients feel calm and comfortable during their visits, ensuring
a positive dental experience for all.
Nicola takes great pride in educating patients about oral hygiene and finds it deeply
rewarding to see the positive changes they can make at home with simple
adjustments to their daily routine.
Outside of work, Nicola enjoys spending time with her family and her young son, who
keeps her happily busy. She loves cooking, taking long walks, and relaxing on sunny
holidays.
Ilona Lep
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Ilona joined the team in January 2025 as one of our lovely hygienists who is compassionate
and brings a gentle touch and genuine passion for patient care to every appointment.
Originally from Poland, she began her dental career in 2018 and has been proudly serving
patients in the United Kingdom for the past two years.
She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Vocational College in Lublin, Poland, along
with additional qualifications in Dental Nursing, Pedagogy, and Dental Technology. Ilona also
completed her NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing in the UK, giving her a strong foundation
in both clinical practice and patient care.
Known for her kind, empathetic, and attentive approach, Ilona ensures every patient feels
comfortable and well cared for. Her goal is to help patients achieve healthier smiles while
building lasting confidence in their oral health.
Outside of work, Ilona enjoys travelling and has a playful love for singing—despite claiming
she “can’t!” She also has a creative side, having earned 3rd place in a national art
competition as a child.
Poppy Irvine
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Poppy joined us in 2019 as a dedicated, caring dental therapist and is a valued
member of our team. She specialises in helping nervous and anxious patients feel at
ease and enjoys making every visit as comfortable as possible. Poppy graduated
from Leeds Dental School and also holds an MSc in Public Health with a focus on
Health Promotion.
She believes that every patient is unique, and she tailors her care to suit each
individual. Poppy’s dedication has earned her recognition as “Best Hygienist” in 2021
and 2023, with high commendations in 2022 and 2024. She’s also an active member
of BSDHT and BADT.
Outside the clinic, Poppy loves giving back, volunteering with local food and hygiene
banks, and spending time with her beautiful son, Freddie. She has a lifelong love of
animals and a few surprising skills too—she can drive a tractor and a 7.5-ton lorry. A
fun fact: she once gave CPR to a squirrel that ended up living with her family over
the summer!
Friendly, caring, and full of energy, Poppy makes every patient feel welcome and
well cared for.
PRACTICE MANAGER & TREATMENT COORDINATOR
Leigh-Anna Kellegher
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Leigh-Anna joined our practice in November 2021 and brings over five years of
experience as a self-taught practice manager. She expertly oversees the day-to-day
running of the practice, supporting the dental team, ensuring smooth operations, and
continuously improving patient care and experience. Her leadership is thoughtful,
organized, and people-focused, creating a welcoming environment where both staff
and patients feel valued. Alongside her management role, Leigh-Anna draws on over
a decade of experience as a qualified dental nurse to maintain a hands-on
understanding of clinical care.
She began her journey in dentistry as an apprentice at a young age, qualifying after
just one year. While her focus is on practice management, Leigh-Anna continues to
stay hands-on with clinical work, particularly in dental implants and oral surgery. She
is a qualified sedation nurse and holds additional qualifications in leadership and
management. Passionate about the future of dentistry, she actively trains and
mentors upcoming dental nurses in all aspects of dental treatments, helping them
develop their skills, confidence, and professional growth.
Her approach to patient care is friendly, calm, and attentive. Leigh-Anna is
thoughtful, kind, warm, and always up for a good laugh. She believes that laughter is
the best medicine and strives to create a welcoming environment where patients feel
truly listened to, cared for, and supported in achieving the smile they deserve. She
values building strong, caring relationships with both patients and her team,
describing her colleagues as not just coworkers but friends.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her beautiful
daughter Madelyn, enjoying new adventures, fun activities, and making lasting
memories together.
Sharon Jones
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Sharon has been part of the dental world for over 25 years and joined our team in
November 2020. With her wealth of experience and caring nature, she’s dedicated to
making every patient feel comfortable, listened to, and well looked after.
As our Treatment Coordinator, Sharon loves supporting patients through every step
of their dental journey — from the very first conversation to the moment they achieve
their dream smile. Whether you need a listening ear, some friendly reassurance, or
even just a good laugh, Sharon will be there to make you feel at ease and bring a
smile to your face along the way. She’s especially interested in Invisalign and
implant treatments and enjoys expanding her knowledge in these areas.
Sharon is naturally a warm, friendly, and helpful person who believes in sharing
kindness and finding a reason to smile every day. Outside of work, she enjoys being
outdoors walking, exploring new places, and spending quality time with her family,
friends, and grandchildren — who always keep her smiling!
Sharon looks forward to welcoming you into the practice and helping you feel right at
home from the moment you arrive.
Gaynor Smith
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Since joining our practice in May 2025, Gaynor has quickly become a valued
member of our front-desk team, greeting every patient with warmth and
professionalism.
Her approach to patient care is grounded in compassion and understanding. Gaynor
focuses fully on each patient’s needs, listens attentively, and offers reassurance to
make every visit as comfortable as possible.
Friendly, caring, and approachable, she is known for her thoughtful nature and
motivated attitude. Outside of work, Gaynor enjoys running, keeping fit, and
spending time with her grandchildren.
DENTAL NURSES
Sruthi Baiju
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Eni joined our practice in 2023 as an apprentice dental nurse and qualified in
September 2025. With a genuine passion for dentistry, she is committed to gaining
further qualifications and expanding her hands-on experience in the dental field.
Eni is detail-oriented, gentle, and understanding, particularly when caring for anxious
patients. Her calm and supportive approach ensures every patient feels comfortable
and well cared for.
Known for her bubbly personality, Eni brings warmth and positivity to the practice.
Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, spending time with friends,
and cheering on her favourite football team – a proud supporter of the red team
starting with A, who she claims never loses… well at least in her dreams.
Taniya Chandok
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Taniya Chandok recently joined the practice as a trainee dental nurse, following her
qualification as a dental technician from the University of Greater Manchester. With a
strong foundation in both the technical and clinical aspects of dentistry, Taniya brings
a comprehensive understanding of patient care and dental procedures. She is
dedicated to providing calm, caring, and reassuring support, ensuring every patient
feels comfortable and confident throughout their treatment.
Taniya is passionate about delivering care with empathy and clear communication,
particularly for patients who may feel anxious. She is also committed to further
developing her skills in radiography and infection control to continually enhance the
quality of patient care.
Outside of work, Taniya enjoys creative pursuits and staying informed on the latest
advancements in dentistry.
Sandie Johnston
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Sandie joined our team in June 2025 as an apprentice dental nurse, bringing with
her previous experience from the Leeds Dental Institute. She is still training and
thoroughly enjoying every part of her journey in dentistry. Sandie hopes to progress
into sedation nursing in the future, further expanding her skills and expertise.
She is known for her calm and reassuring approach, always prioritising patient
comfort and delivering attentive, detail-oriented care. Friendly and focused, Sandie
builds a positive and supportive environment for every patient she meets.
Outside of work, Sandie loves spending time with her dog Dottie, enjoys bingo, and
often participates in karaoke sessions with her sisters—hitting every note perfectly!