Principal Dentist and Practice Owner
Dr Sara Lonergan has a Bachelor of Medical Science from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney. After qualifying, she practised around Sydney’s Northern Beaches, in rural areas and at Sydney Dental Hospital.
In 2008, Sara took over the practice from Dr Clements, who had run the practice for 40 years, and it was then that her vision for Tooth Sparkler came to life.
Sara is a firm believer in finding the right answers for her patients and won’t quit until she does just that! Following a holistic approach, she presents the best solutions in all areas of dentistry and works directly with patients to achieve their oral health goals.
With five children, Sara is a self-proclaimed ‘kid wrangler’ and is known for her success in treating children and her knack for making each visit a positive experience. Outside of the practice, she spends time with her family and enjoys reading, bushwalking, gardening, and ‘attempting’ to maintain some household order.
Oral Health Therapists have a strong focus on prevention and oral health promotion providing high quality dental treatment including examination, treatment and prevention of dental decay and gum disease.
They perform your routine scale and clean, fluoride treatment, x-rays and oral hygiene instructions, they can also provide treatment of gums disease and perform simple fillings for all ages.
Sarraa was born in Iraq and migrated to Australia at the age of two. She completed a Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Sydney in 2015, giving her the skills to maintain healthy smiles for patients of all ages. She is super passionate about oral health awareness to improve the overall well-being of all her patients. Sarraa has experience working in periodontics in private practices around Sydney. Since joining the Tooth Sparkler family in 2017, her treatments predominantly involve maintaining healthy gums, diagnosing and treating gum disease, paediatric dentistry, Invisalign and tooth whitening. Her contagious smile and gentle nature always help to put patients at ease. In 2019, she resumed her studies at the University of Sydney to broaden her professional skills in adult restorative treatment planning and procedures.
Moe Iwasawa is an Oral Health Therapist (Adult Scope). She was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and completed her Bachelor of Oral Health degree from the University of Sydney. Moe believes that the patient's needs and comfort should always come first and strives to provide the highest quality of care. Her passion for delivering a pain-free dental experience stems from her desire to empower patients of all ages to maintain good oral health and hygiene in the long term. In her free time, Moe has a creative side and enjoys exploring her artistic talents. She loves painting, visiting art museums, and discovering new cafes.
Jemma graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Syndey in 2022.
She is passionate about providing excellent care to every patient with a gentle approach.
She has a special interest in orthodontics and periodontal disease. In her free time Jemma enjoys fishing and candle making.
Jemma speaks Tagalog and English
Hygienists have a strong focus on prevention and oral health promotion providing high quality dental treatment including examination, treatment and prevention of gum disease.
They perform your routine scale and clean, fluoride treatment, x-rays and oral hygiene instructions, they can also provide treatment of gums disease.
Originally qualified in Japan, Hiromi because certified to practice Dental Hygiene in NSW in 2004 and has been a Northern Beaches local since.
She has extensive experience across a broad range of areas including general dentistry, implant care, cosmetic dentistry and periodontics.
Hiromi is passionate about delivering the best experience to her patients and prides herself on her gentle but effective cleaning.
In her spare time she can be found ocean swimming, patrolling as a surf life saver or just hanging with her family at the beach.
Hiromi speaks Japanese and English
Mae joined the Tooth Sparkler team in 2021 and has been the perfect addition to the team. Her buzzing energy is contagious and makes the whole practice smile whenever she is around. With a family of her own, Mae is wonderful with kids who come into the practice. Whether young or old, she makes coming to the dentist an enjoyable experience for all patients.
Jonny is a dental assistant who helped out at Tooth Sparkler for work experience in year 10 (2020) and during the school holidays in high school. Now that he has finished high school, he will be working a few days per week as part of the team! You might see him in the treatment room as a dental assistant or on the front desk as a receptionist. Jonny is hoping to one day stop dental assisting and become an Oral Health Therapist.
Kris is a true Northern Beaches local, embracing the sun and surf that define this coastal haven. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our practise, constantly staying updated on the latest advancements in dental technology.
Having just graduated from school Macy has joined our team whilst also studying toward a degree in Medical Science at Sydney University and ultimately Medicine. Always keen to learn new things Macy is one of the “young pocket rockets” in the practice.
School Holiday Helper
Amy has just finished school and pitches in at the practice during the school holidays.
Patient Liaison
Tanya moved to Australia from the Ukraine in 2014. In 2020 she returned to the Ukraine where she has been working in Customer Service and Administration at a Private School. She has previously worked as Dental Assistant and is patient about working in the Dental Industry and loves meeting and chatting to our patients.
She has now settled back in Australia with her family. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her family, her husband and her 13 and 11 year old.
Breed: Cobberdog/ labradoodle
Colour: Gold
Coat: hypoallergenic and non-shedding
Date of birth: 7/8/2021
Characteristics: friendly, happy, kind, loving, intelligent, playful
Things he likes to do:
- Eating
- Sleeping
- Destroying his toys
- Long walks
- Playing with his brother Loki
Zeus is available to give cuddles to patients, both young and old or to sit with nervous patients during treatment. As an accredited dental practice with the ADA we have strict hygiene standards in place to ensure that he complies with infection control standards. This includes ensuring he is a non- shedding, hypoallergenic dog that is only allowed in certain areas of the practice.
Zeus is in the process of being certified through Therapy Dogs Australia. He also has an experienced and qualified dog trainer, Tara Thomas, who is a certified behavioural dog trainer.
https://www.dogcando.com.au/about
FAQ
-What is a dental therapy dog?
Dental therapy dogs provide comfort, affection and support especially in stressful situations.
Anyone that is a little nervous about visiting the dentist should experience the comfort that our therapy dog Zeus, can provide.
-Why does Zeus wear a harness?
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The reason for Zeus wearing a harness is to let him know he is in 'work mode'.
'Work mode' means Zeus needs to behave in a certain way in a certain environment. Once the harness comes off, Zeus knows he can go back to being a regular dog.
-Where does Zeus live when he isn't 'working'?
Zeus lives with the owner of the practice, Dr Sara and her family. Sara has 5 kids so Zeus is never short of entertainment. Zeus also has an brother dog named Loki who is a cavalier x pug.
-Can i pat Zeus?
Yes! Zeus loves a pat and a cuddle while you are waiting for your appointment. You will find him lying on his bed in Sara’s office having a snooze inbetween meeting lots for new and amazing people.
If you would like some extra attention during your appointment, you are more than welcome to take Zeus into the appointment with you.
What is a Cobberdog?
An Australian Cobberdog is a pure-breed Australian Labradoodle.
Cobberdog means 'dog-friend' in Aussie slang language which alludes to the breeds friendly nature.
The goal of the Australian Cobberdog breed is to carry out work and tasks for therapy and assistance.
Only approved breeders of Cobberdogs who are members of the MDBA can issue Australian Cobberdog pedigrees.
As a proud Accredited Denticare Provider, we’re excited to make dental treatment affordable to all our customers. Don’t keep putting dental treatment off.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Tooth Sparkler family Dental acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Gai-mariagal People. The spirit of the Gai-mariagal can be found across the region. We pay respect to elders past and present.
