Perlan Specialist Dental Centre

BDS MSurgDent RCS Specialist in Oral SurgeryGDC Registration Number 60311Stephen qualified in 1985 from Guys Hospital, London. He underwent a period of postgraduate oral surgery and orthodontic training and is a GDC registered Specialist in Oral Surgery. Stephen has been established in Eastbourne for over 20 years and established Perlan Specialist Dental Centre in 2007. This specialist referral practice is well known for providing expertise in dealing with cases of all levels of complexity with a philosophy of comprehensive planning, combined with empathy to the patients needs. This prestigious clinic is designed to ensure that both the dental team and their patients will benefit from comprehensive facilities, supporting the range of services that we can provide for our patients.Stephen’s career advancement and experience in complex case management has been achieved through worldwide study, including advanced training at the Straumann Clinic, University of Bern. His expertise in bone grafting and implant surgery ensures a success rate in excess of 98% year on year.Stephen has been a mentor for the Straumann Dental Implant System for many years, teaching on seminars and courses. He is an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Periodontology at the Eastman Dental Institute in London.He is a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; a Fellow of the Straumann Clinic, University of Berne, Switzerland; a member of the Association of Dental Implantology; a member of the British Association of Oral Surgeons; and a member of the European Association of Osseointegration.Stephen is a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and is a past UK Section Chairman, where he was involved in the development of a comprehensive training program meeting the GDC guidelines for implant dentistry. He lectures nationally and internationally, and has presented at many major international conferences. His work is also published. He is actively involved in research projects in the field of dental implants and dental tissue regeneration.

BDS MS Specialist in Prosthodontics
GDC Registration Number 66168Michael Heffernan qualified from Guy’s Hospital in 1990. He subsequently spent two years in hospital training in maxillofacial surgery and went on to work in private general practice in London. In 1997 Michael enrolled in a three-year full-time Masters Degree Program at the University of Iowa (USA) in Fixed, Removable and Implant retained Prosthodontics. He performed valuable research into the Translucency of All-Ceramic Systems for which he won the prestigious John J. Sharry Prosthodontics Research Prize from the American College of Prosthodontists (2001). He was then awarded a scholarship at the University of Florida in a dedicated implant fellowship provided by the International Team of Oral Implantology (ITI).
Michael returned to the UK in 2002 and joined Perlan in 2007. He is registered as a Specialist Prosthodontist with the General Dental Council. He is a Fellow of International Team for Implantology (ITI), a member of the Association of Osseointegration, and a member of the British Dental Association.Michael lectures regularly on implant dentistry and is also actively involved in research with the Straumann Dental Implant system.

BDS MFDS RCS MClinDent (Pros) MRD RCS Specialist in Prosthodontics
GDC Registration number 81165Akit Patel graduated from Guy's Dental Institute in 2002. He then worked in general practice, following which he spent two years in hospital receiving training in oral and maxillofacial surgery, general medicine and dental specialties.Whilst in private practice, Akit completed the no.1 rated UK Prosthodontics specialist training programme at UCL Eastman Dental Hospital and Institute in London. He received his Masters degree in Clinical Dentistry in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics with distinction and an award for clinical and academic excellence in 2009.He is an experienced prosthodontist, focussing on more complex dental treatments including dental implants. He is a registered specialist in Prosthodontics with the General Dental Council. He is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) and of the International Team for Implantology (ITI). He also works at the Eastman Dental Institute as a Clinical Teaching Fellow, where he teaches on the Restorative Dentistry graduate courses.Akit provides specialist restorative care with special interests in preventive and minimal intervention dentistry, crown & bridgework, denture, implant and cosmetic rehabilitation i.e. to rebuild damaged teeth and replace missing teeth to proper function with a natural appearance.Akit has contributed to scientific journals and regularly gives workshops and lectures on restorative and implant dentistry to dentists throughout the UK.