Dentist Near Me
Looking for a Dentist near me? Our team at L&R Dental clinic provide exceptional dental care that is both compassionate and uses the latest treatment techniques to ensure all our patients have access to quality oral health.
The concept for L&R Dental began with the dream of two dentists, Dr Leanne Welsh and Dr Rachael Milford, who wanted to invest their professional skills in an area with a strong local identity and a sense of community. During their time at university, they planned their dream dental clinic located in Toowoomba.
Both Dr Welsh and Dr Milford continually invest in their patients by implementing the latest technology to give Toowoomba families leading-edge dental care. Dr Phoebe Fernando found this idealistic approach to dentistry refreshing and joined our team, fully embracing life and work in Toowoomba.
At L&R Dental, we are patient-focused and gentle. Each member of our team became interested in dentistry because of the opportunity it provides to change people's lives by making them feel great about their smiles.
We are committed to delivering the finest dentistry in a warm and friendly environment. This makes taking care of your smile an easy, and even enjoyable, experience. You can learn a little more about our team by reading through our biographies. We can't wait to welcome you to L&R Dental.
Leanne Welsh
Principal Dentist
Dr Leanne Welsh grew up in Toowoomba and completed her secondary education at St Ursula’s College. With family ties in the area, her goal was always to study at University, then return to serve in a professional capacity in Toowoomba.
Dr Welsh graduated from the University of Queensland in 2008, with a Bachelor of Dental Science. In partnership with Dr Rachael Milford, a fellow graduate of the UQ Dental School, Dr Welsh formed L&R Dental in 2012 to fulfil her aspiration of running her own practice.
Dr Welsh is passionate about dentistry and regularly attends courses to stay current on new techniques and materials. With a focus on prevention, Dr Welsh works closely with our hygienist to help her patients maintain optimal oral health. Dr Welsh has a special interest in restorative and cosmetic dentistry and the construction of oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea.
Outside of work, Dr Welsh is involved in the sport of Equestrian and spends her weekends competing in showjumping competitions throughout Queensland.
Dr Rachael Milford
Principal Dentist
Dr Rachael Milford stayed close to her hometown for her education, completing a Bachelor of Dental Science Degree in 2008 at the University of Queensland Dental School in Brisbane.
Dr Milford fell in love with Toowoomba, where she ultimately decided to work. She is passionate about community involvement and regularly participates in both dental and non-dental events community-wide.
She and Dr Leanne Welsh started L&R Dental in 2012, and Dr Milford has developed a sincere appreciation for the team they continue to develop. She often notes that the L&R Dental team works hard and always gives their very best.
As a people person, Dr Milford truly enjoys getting to know the Toowoomba families that trust L&R Dental with their dentistry. She especially enjoys the feeling of helping patients regain confidence with a beautiful smile.
When she is not working in the dental practice, you will often find Dr Milford gardening or getting fit at a local gym. She enjoys learning something new and the adventure of travelling.
Dr Phoebe Fernando
Dentist
Dr Phoebe Fernando graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2000, from the University of Otago in New Zealand. She has worked as a general dental practitioner for many years in various practices throughout New Zealand and Australia. her interest in general dentistry varies from oral surgery, endodontics, restorative therapy as well as educating patients in maintaining their oral health for a life time. All of theses interest are supported with continuing professional development to deliver the best care for all of our patients.
When Phoebe is not busy running around after her children, she loves to read, travel, cook and stay fit. She looks forward to welcoming new patients and continuing care for our regular patients at L&R Dental.
Emma Lorensin
Dental Hygienist
Our dental hygienist, Emma was born in Melbourne and attended primary and secondary school in Bundaberg before heading off to Brisbane for university. At The University of Queensland, Emma bolstered her clinical knowledge, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Oral Health in 2001.
Emma joined our team in 2017 and has settled right in with developing a rapport with patients while she gives their teeth and gums that clean, fresh feeling our patients expect after a visit to L&R Dental.
Our dental hygienist, Emma, not only cleans teeth but also educates patients about best practices and the latest products to help them keep their oral health in excellent condition.
Emma shared that her favourite aspect of being a part of the L&R Dental team is making patients feel comfortable and informed.
When away from the clinic, you will find Emma with her beloved whippet, Beans, and enjoying the company of her family and friends.
Priyanka Vanama
Oral Health Therapist
Priyanka is an Oral Health Therapist that completed her bachelor’s degree at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton. She was originally raised in New Zealand and did both her primary and secondary schooling there, before moving to Australia.
After studying some psychology at Griffith University, she realized that her interests lay somewhere else and that’s when she decided to pursue a career in the dental industry as an Oral health therapist.
Her passion is to work with children and adults in reducing their fear of coming to the dental clinic and ensuring that they leave with the thought of visiting again. Prevention has always been her main focus, identifying and dealing with the underlying problem before it gets worse.
Joining the L & R dental team was an easy decision as everyone shares similar values and strive for patient comfort. When she isn’t working with teeth, Priyanka loves to bake, binge watch Netflix shows, sew and explore the parks in Toowoomba.
Kelly
Front Office Coordinator
Originally from Redlands City, Kelly moved to Toowoomba in 2019. She joined the L&R Dental team in January 2020 as a Front Office Co-Ordinator.
Kelly is new to the Dental industry and is loving it. She is passionate about learning all aspects of dentistry and looking after our patients. What Kelly enjoys about being a part of the L&R Dental team is the kindness and empathy that every member of the team shows towards each other and our patients.
When Kelly is away from the clinic you can find her spending time with her husband and son, visiting family in Brisbane and renovating her house.
Maddy
Front Office Coordinator
Maddy is one of the bright faces you will see when arriving at our practice. She started as a Front Office Coordinator this year, while expanding her knowledge into a sterilisation assistant. With a broad range of experience in administration and a Certificate 3 in Business, Maddy loves being able to assist our patients as first point of contact and make them feel relaxed for a calming experience with us.
While Maddy was born in Brisbane, she moved to Toowoomba at a young age. She decided to live abroad for a few years to gain further life experience. After returning home last year she decided to make a change into the dental healthcare industry. Working with the whole team and the patients at L&R Dental has been really grounding for Maddy and fulfils her want to help people.
When she is outside of the practice she enjoys exercising, spending time with her family and working on side projects.
Kristy
Administration and Dental Assistant
Having moved to Toowoomba from Newcastle NSW, Kristy joined our team in 2018, coming from a medical administrative background.
Kristy is now in the process of obtaining her Certificate III in Dental Assisting.
As an Administration and Dental Assistant, Kristy works across all areas of the practice and enjoys the variety in her work day.
She loves working with the close-knit team at L&R Dental and believes their shared values help everyone work toward L&R’s philosophy of quality healthcare with compassion and understanding.
Kristy spends her weekends exploring the parks of Toowoomba with her family, sampling the brunch menu of local cafes, and is determined to master the ability of making pasta from scratch.
Kym
Senior Dental Assistant
Hailing from Toowoomba, Kym began her career in dental assisting in 1994 and joined the L&R Dental team in 2017. She has completed her Certificate III in Dental assisting and consistently expands her skills through the full range of procedures we perform.
Throughout her career, Kym has worked with a number of dental teams, and truly enjoys the culture of L&R Dental because it is such a vibrant, patient-focused practice.
When she is away from the clinic, you can find Kym spending time with her family camping and adventuring on day trips.
Tanya
Dental Assistant
Born and raised in Millmerran, Tanya joined the L&R team in 2018 as a talkative Dental Assistant.
Tanya came to our practice new to the dental industry and has accrued a wealth of dental knowledge since. The harmonious atmosphere and building good patient rapport are what Tanya finds most enjoyable about working at L&R.
When away from the practice, Tanya enjoys staying fit by exercising and being involved in multiple sports including basketball and touch. She also values spending time with her family and friends and wishes to continue travelling abroad.