Portman Smile Clinic Bicester

Fiona Leahy

Specialist Orthodontist

Fiona qualified as a dentist in 1989. She then gained postgraduate experience working in the Dublin Dental Hospital and was awarded a Fellowship in Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1992. After further work experience in general dental practice and the Community Dental Service, she embarked on her orthodontic training at the University of Wales. She graduated with a Master of Dental Science in Orthodontics and a Membership of Orthodontics (MOrth) from the Royal College of Surgeons in 2000.

Since qualifying as an orthodontist Fiona has worked exclusively in specialist practice and has now gained 19 years of experience. For the last 16 and a half years she has worked at a large mixed specialist orthodontics practice in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. Here, she has gained extensive experience treating a large number of patients with a diverse range of appliances. She continues to be excited about orthodontics and ensures she keeps up to date with new developments, technology and techniques.

Fiona considers herself to be a caring and conscientious practitioner who is focused on providing the highest quality treatment and service to all her patients. She strives to understand each patient's needs so she can tailor treatment to every individual. Her ultimate practice goal is to be able to relate to her patient's concerns and to give these patients great results that will make them happy.

GDC Number: 64541

MScD (Wales) 2000
MOrtho RCS (Edin) 2000
FDSFD RCS (Ire) 1992
BDS NU (Ire) 1989

Kirsty Allen

Orthodontic Therapist

Kirsty started her career as a Dental Nurse in general practice in 2009 and was awarded the National Certificate in Dental Nursing (NEBDN) in 2011. She then went on to gain her Certificate in Dental Radiography in 2012.

After gaining valuable experience within general practice Kirsty then went on to work in a large mixed specialist orthodontic practice in Kidlington. After two years as an Orthodontic Nurse she decided to further her career and started to study as an Orthodontic Therapist.

After one year of training, Kirsty qualified from the University of Bristol Dental Hospital in 2014. Over the last few years she has continued to work within the same practice and has developed a reputation as a kind and compassionate clinician. Her main focus is on patient care and working alongside specialist orthodontists in order to deliver the highest quality treatment possible.

In her spare time Kirsty enjoys going to the gym, practising yoga and travelling to different parts of the world.

GDC Number 218671

Dip Ortho Ther RCSEd 2014
RDN 2011, CertRAD 2012

Sharmi Patel

Dentist with Specialist Interest in Orthodontics

Sharmi graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2004. She is at the cutting edge of the profession and highly trained in the latest dental developments and techniques. She has undertaken extensive postgraduate training to attain clinical excellence in her dentistry. Sharmi was awarded membership to the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons of England, in 2007.

Sharmi has been providing high quality NHS and private child and adult orthodontic treatment. She works alongside a consultant orthodontist to ensure the highest standard of care is delivered. Sharmi is a fully accredited Invisalign provider.

Sharmi has been placing implants for the last 10 years. She successfully completed a three-years master’s degree in Implant Dentistry, at the University of Warwick, and an advanced implant skills course in Brazil. In addition to Portman Dental Clinic, Sharmi works in a specialist orthodontic practice in London, and a highly regarded West London clinic providing complex general dental care and implant dentistry.

Sharmi is very popular with her patients because of her empathetic bedside manner and desire to always put her patient’s interests first. Sharmi enjoys perfecting smiles and self-confidence through orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry and dental implants. She firmly believes the greatest satisfaction as a dentist comes through helping patients understand what's feasible and working with them to achieve their aspirations, whether it's simple treatment or a complex rehabilitation. She always involves patients in decisions about their treatment so that they feel relaxed and inspired about the choices they make.

GDC Number 83880

BDS (University of Birmingham)2004
MJDF (Royal College of Surgeons, England) 2007
MSc Implant Dentistry (University of Warwick) 2013

Jigar Patel

Specialist Orthodontist and Consultant

Jigar studied Dentistry in Guy’s, Kings and St Thomas Dental Institute in London and undertook further training in the fields of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric Dentistry and cosmetic and Implant Dentistry. He was awarded membership to the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons following this period of further training.

Jigar subsequently completed five years of full time specialist and consultant training at Birmingham Dental Hospital and upon graduation was honoured to have been awarded the British Orthodontic Society Medal. An award given by the British Orthodontic Society panel of consultant and specialist judges to only one individual upon graduation in recognition of having completed the best treated patient cases.

In addition to clinical work he actively examines, teaches and lectures. He is involved with dental professional examinations as an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons. He has extensively lectured and presented both nationally and internationally including being invited to present his work at both the British and American National Orthodontic Conferences. Jigar has also had his work published in multiple professional peer-reviewed journals.

He is currently a part-time NHS consultant at East & North Hertfordshire Trust where he treats an array of complex multi-disciplinary cases and provides advice for specialist colleagues and general practitioners. He is in a unique position to be able to offer and provide the very latest and cutting-edge treatments to patients.

Jigar Patel is proud to be amongst a small, select number of UK clinicians qualified to a Consultant and Specialist level.

GDC Number 83688

BDS (Guy’s, King’s & St Thomas’)- 2004
MFDS RCS (Eng)- 2006
MJDF RCS, (Eng)-2008
M’Orth RCS (Edin) -2011
MPhil (Birmingham)-2012
FDS RCS (Orth) (Edin) -2013