Lara joined the team in September 2023 as a trainee dental nurse, in her words "I always wanted a profession in the care industry and Dental Nursing really intrigued me'
Lara is doing really well in her studies and works mostly with the Hygiene/Therapy team. She also gets valuable surgery time working alongside the dentists to enhance her practical knowledge which is vital for her course work.
She is keen on travel and visiting new places and loves spending time in the outdoors walking her dog Harley. She plays loves playing Netball and Football.
After nearly 20 years working in Optics, Sarah has changed 'eyes' for 'teeth' and joined the Practice in February this year. Sarah has a wealth of experience in customer care and is a familiar friendly face at the Practice to welcome you. She deals with all the day to day reception administration and goes out of her way to ensure your experience is pleasant and relaxed.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys long walks and is keen to chase a fell top sunrise or sunset to get the perfect photo! Sarah also loves to travel, enjoying the adventure of exploring new and exciting places as often as she can.
Sue joined us recently having had years of experience cleaning large establishments around Carlisle. She is responsible for ensuring all the non clinical areas of the Practice are spotlessly clean and welcoming to all our patients. Outside of work, Sue loves meeting up with friends & family and regularly goes to the Gym.
Ella joined the practice as a trainee Dental Nurse in January 2023. She has been really keen to learn and splits her week working with the Dentists and the Hygiene/Therapy team. Ella is making really good progress studying for her Nursing qualifications and gets to assist in all aspects of General Dentistry within the Practice.
In her spare time, Ella spends time with friends & family and often takes spontaneous trips away!
Lesley joined the Practice in July this year as our Decontamination Nurse. Her role involves decontamination, preparing and sterilising of all instruments and equipment in the Practice according to protocol. This role requires a calm and organised approach and as Lesley previously worked as a pharmacy technician for over 20 years in a busy dispensary, she has fitted into this role seamlessly!
In her free time she enjoys walking her Cockerpoo, Winnie and spending time with her brothers.
Iona joined the Practice in July 2021 as a Trainee Dental Nurse, and achieved her qualification in July 2023. Iona splits her time working between Phil Harrison and the Hygiene/Therapy Team. Iona also spends time learning Reception and the front of house aspect of the Practice.
In her spare time she enjoys going out for lunch with her Mum & Granny, visiting her Dad in the Highlands and spending time socialising with her friends.
Tyra joined as a qualified dental nurse in May 2022 and bring a calm, gentleness to the team. She splits her days working with all the clinicians assisting in all areas of routine dentistry carried out at the Practice. Tyra also works alongside Sally Walker, our visiting Consultant Orthondontist.
In her spare time, Tyra enjoys weekends away with her family and friends. She has many dogs in the family and is currently training her new addition, Woody, 'a naughty cocker spaniel' puppy (her words!)
June was a founder member of staff when Spedding Dental Clinic was formed in 2000, and she now manages the day to day administration of the practice. Her calmness and diligence ensure that efficiency and harmony are evident on a daily basis; not easy when you are managing five surgeries and 22 staff!
Practice inspections and regulation have become an integral part of the governance of a dental practice in recent times, and June has ensured that the practice achieves excellent results when Denplan Excel carry out their annual inspection.
Eilidh joined Spedding Dental Clinic as a trainee Dental Nurse in 2017, as a trainee dental nurse and achieved her Dental Nursing Qualification in June 2020.
Eilidh splits her week working alongside Katie and Ewen. She and Tyra jointly support Sally our in house Orthodontist. Eilidh manages all Sally's waiting list and liases with her referrals from local Clinicians to the Practice. Eilidh is currently studying for her Orthodontic Nursing Exam
In her spare time, Eilidh enjoys holidays and nights out with family and friends. She is a keen horse rider and last year went wild swimming for the first time!
Louise joined Spedding Dental Clinic as a trainee nurse in 2015 and qualified in 2017. She expanded her dental knowledge by further training to gain her Implant Nurse Certificate in September 2020 and now assists both Jack & Michael in the surgical placement & restoration of Dental Implants.
Louise is also responsible for all the Emergency protocols in the Practice and is also one of our First Aiders. Her organised, methodical manner makes her perfect for this responsible position.
Away from work, Louise loves to walk her dog Finn, bake goodies (which we all love in the staff room!) and spend time with her family. She also loves a good romance novel.
Abi joined us having worked in Carlisle for the past 13 years. She has been a qualified and registered Dental Nurse for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Team here at Spedding Dental Clinic.
Outside of work Abi enjoys spending time with her husband and young family and loves days out exploring the beautiful Fells.
Emily joined the practice in 2012, as a trainee dental nurse and subsequently passed her dental nursing exams in 2014. She also gained her Oral Health Educator Certificate the same year and takes that knowledge to local Primary Schools to promote positive Oral Hygiene to children outside of the Practice.
As an experienced Dental Nurse, Emily spends her time working alongside all the Clinicians supporting them in surgery and more recently has been assisting Jack Soedding during Implant placements. Emily is very proficient in IT and assists the admin & marketing team with projects.
In her spare time, Emily likes to spend time with her husband and young family enjoying long walks with her toy Poodle, Willow.
Claire joined Spedding Dental Clinic as a trainee in 2004, and qualified the following year. She has a wealth of knowledge and has additional training in Dental Radiography and Conscious Sedation. As one of two Senior Nurse's at the Practice, Claire oversees the day to day clinical management of the surgeries.
In addition, Claire is responsible for co-ordinating and assisting Jack with dental implant treatments at the practice. She also manages, all clinical referrals from local Dentist in the area. Claire also carries out Dental Radiographs in the Practice under the prescription of our Clinicians and also assist with CBCT scans for Jack.
In her spare time she walks the Fells, bakes, batch-cooks and enjoys watching all 3 soaps. Her most recent achievement is walking all 214 Wainwrights! Next time you see her, ask her which one was her favourite!
Jane is a familiar, friendly face here at Spedding Dental Clinic and one of our original members of staff who joined the Practice back in 2000 after qualifying in 1998.
Jane is one of our two senior dental nurses in the Practice, she is responsibility for managing all the stock and equipment purchasing for the practice along with coordinating staff rotas. She is integral at managing and supervising the smooth running of the five surgeries.
As well as obtaining her Dental Nursing Qualification in April 1998, Jane has a wealth of knowledge and additional Qualifications in Dental Sedation & Dental Radiography. She assists Gary Bell, our visiting specialist Oral Surgeon, with his surgical and sedation procedures and manages his referrals from Dentists in the area.
Jane carries out Dental Radiographs in the Practice under the prescription of our Clinicians and also assist with CBCT scans.
Outside of work, Jane enjoys spending time with her mum & Husband going out for nice meals at her local pub. She also loves the 'Theatre by the Lake' in Keswick to watch live shows.
Sarah-Jane joined Spedding Dental Clinic in 2015, adding another dimension to the dental services we can offer at the practice. In addition to all the tasks usually completed by a hygienist, a dental therapist can also do fillings, and extractions of deciduous (baby) teeth.
Sarah-Jane puts even the most anxious patients at ease. Her gentle manner and her relaxed style is popular with adults and children alike.
Kim joined Spedding Dental Clinic as a dental nurse in 2001, and then having completed her Diploma in Dental Hygiene returned as a Hygienist in 2007. Kim is popular with her patients, achieving excellent results whilst maintaining a relaxed atmosphere in her surgery.
Kim has many interests outside of work. She loves football, baking, cooking and planning UK City breaks with her family. She also spends her time walking her dog Theo on the Cumbrian Fells.
Gary is an experienced hospital oral surgeon, who, in addition to his NHS commitments, has had a private list at Spedding Dental Clinic since 2003. Gary is available for all surgical and complex extractions, including wisdom teeth and buried roots.
Sally is an Orthodontic Consultant at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, and we are delighted that she has joined our team at Spedding Dental Clinic to provide orthodontics. Sally is happy to provide all types of tooth straightening, and is able to offer cosmetic options for patients who wish to wear more discrete braces.
All treatment is on a private basis, for both adults and children. If a patient would like to have a no obligation consultation appointment to assess viability of treatment, this can be arranged by a simple referral to us by your own dentist.
Ali qualified from Newcastle Dental Hospital in 1993 and initially worked in Stockton & Sunderland before moving to Carlisle in 2000. Ali and her husband Jack, purchased the Practice from the original owner Keith Plumber when it then became Spedding Dental Clinic.
After almost 30 years in General Dentistry, Ali decided recently to move to a new role within the Practice. This role involves a more managerial position overseeing the smooth running of the Practice and patient experience within our ever-expanding Clinic.
Ali’s calm and approachable manner along with extensive knowledge of the dental world, enables her to take on this role with the same passion she had for her previous clinical role. She is happy to deal with any query, comments and feedback that you may have.
Jack qualified from Newcastle University in 1995 and worked in general practice in the north-east for five years. Jack and Ali share the same vision for how a dental practice should operate, and in 2000 they established Spedding Dental Clinic from an existing single-handed practice, building it up to be a flourishing five surgery private practice.
We are proud of the services we provide at Spedding Dental Clinic, and Nicola’s job is to spread the word! Nicola understands dentistry inside out, as she is a qualified dental nurse with over 30 years of experience both running and marketing dental practices.
She is responsible for all our internal and external marketing, our social media output, and the organisation of the postgraduate training day provided by the dentists at Spedding Dental Clinic. Nicola is often also seen on main Reception joining Sarah & June.
In her spare time, Nicola is a mad keen Mountain Biker and recently fulfilled a lifetime dream of cycling in Vietnam. She loves a simple family life at home and in the garden.
Katie is originally from York and qualified from Newcastle Dental School in 2016. She worked in the South of Scotland for 5 years before joining Spedding Dental Clinic.
Katie is currently studying for a Post Graduate Certificate in Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment) to improve her skills.
Away from work she enjoys walking and paddle boarding in the Lakes, and visiting family back in Yorkshire.
Ewen grew up in North Cumbria, and after graduating from Cardiff Dental School he returned to work in Cumbria.
Ewen is currently busy studying for a Master’s degree, to broaden and improve his clinical skills, and is an excellent addition to our team of dentists.
Outside of work Ewen enjoys all that living in the Lake District brings. He is a keen fell walker, mountain biker and is regularly out in his kayak.
Michael graduated from Bristol Dental School in 1996, and having worked in several practices in north Cumbria, he joined Spedding Dental Clinic in August 2011. Prior to moving to Cumbria with his wife, Michael was a Dental Officer in the RAF.
Michael loves to learn and is in the final stages of completing his Masters Degree in Restorative Dentistry at Birmingham University.
Outside of work Michael is a great gardener and spends many hours 'unwinding' there. He is also a keen Mountain Biker and although has visited some breathtaking places around the world, his favourite place to ride his bike is in the Cumbrian Fells!
Phil graduated from Cardiff Dental School in 1991 and joined Spedding Dental Clinic in 2001 when he re-located with his family to Cumbria. Phil is a highly experienced and conscientious dentist, committed to providing his patients with excellent general practice dentistry.
Phil is a keen photographer and tennis player, and also a gourmet cook, when time allows!