Meet The Team

Mark Willings

Mark qualified from the prestigious Guys Hospital Dental School in 1991. After graduating, Mark worked in London for several years before returning home to his native Yorkshire in 1994. Mark passed his membership exams of the Faculty of General Dental Practice in February 1998. In July 2004 he was awarded the Advanced Level Certificate of the Diploma in Implantology from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Mark is from a family of dentists and indeed he is himself the fourth generation in his family; his great grandfather practiced in Leeds and his grandfather, grandmother and father all practiced in Horbury, Wakefield. Mark is married to Kate and they have two children, Harriet and Alexandra. Harriet is currently studying Dentistry at Newcastle University and Alex is currently studying Philosophy at the University of Exeter.

Outside of dentistry, Mark enjoys cycling, and is an extremely keen road cyclist. He has completed a number of challenges over the last few years including Lands’ End to John O’Groats in 7 days. His other hobbies include going to the gym to maintain his fitness for his cycling endeavours. He also enjoys shooting and if the time allows, he is also keen on travel. Mark and Kate are also involved in a great deal of fund raising and are the Ambassadors of the Wooden Spoon children’s charity, who help fund projects to improve the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children.

Mr. James Hudson

James graduated from Manchester Dental Hospital in 1995 and has worked predominantly in general private practice since this time. During this period he has also had roles as Area Clinical Manager for ADP Dental, Foundation Dentist Trainer over 6 separate years, clinical demonstrator in restorative dentistry (Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield).

James has been involved in training qualified dentists locally in Clinical Periodontology techniques for a number of years. James has clinical interests in all aspects of restorative care and aesthetic treatments especially at the periodontal interface. He enjoys helping a patient to complete a treatment plan that is making their mouths healthier and more stable while improving their ability to function better and have more confidence in their appearance.

James is registered with the GDC (70818) and he is a full member of the British Society of Periodontology. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with my wife and 2 daughters, running and when the opportunity allows scuba diving (He has his PADI open water and dry suit specialty training – essential in the cold waters of the UK!)

Dr Nicholas Lane

Nick qualified from Leeds University in 2003 and worked a mixed private and NHS practice for 10 years before joining the implant team in Horbury in 2012. He has a strong interest in Implant and Restorative dentistry, completing Diplomas in both these subject areas with the Faculty of General Dental Practice. He has gone on to become a Fellow of the Faculty of General Dental Practice at the Royal College of Surgeons London and completed his Masters in Restorative dentistry at Leeds.

Nick takes referrals for Dental Implants, Restorative dentistry and has a particular interest in the failing dentition. He is experienced in treating nervous patients with IV sedation and provides this service for Implant patients when appropriate.

Nick is an experienced Vocational Trainer more recently training dentists on the Foundation training scheme. He is currently Director of the Faculty of General Dental Practice in Yorkshire, and an active member of his LDC in Huddersfield.

Nick is married with two children Abigail and Fiona. If time allows he is a keen golfer!

Francois Vannerem

Francois has been treating patients at Horbury Dental Care since 2015 when he graduated from Newcastle Dental School. He has taken the lead on introducing digital dentistry to the practice. The benefit for our patients is that impressions of the mouth will no longer be required – Francois and our dentists will use scanning equipment instead. We are then able to provide a new crown within one appointment – rather than waiting for two weeks. Francois also carries out Invisalign teeth straightening and is completing a Diploma in Restorative Aesthetic Dentistry in order to further develop his interest in cosmetic treatments. In his spare time Francois enjoys keeping fit and playing tennis.

Helen Davison

Helen completed her dental degree at Sheffield University in 2010. Since graduating, she developed further surgical skills whilst working within a hospital maxillofacial department and then completed a diploma with the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

Helen has pursued further training within dentistry; completing her Invisalign® training and more recently facial aesthetics. She has recently introduced facesthetics at Horbury Dental Care which offers advanced non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments. This may compliment or enhance other treatments you undertake at the practice. Helen consistently strives for perfection and with her keen eye for detail and artistic flare she aims to enhance and balance your facial features so that you look and feel your best. In her spare time Helen enjoys photography and taking her dog Minnie on country walks.

Kirsty Mercer

Kirsty has been treating patients at Horbury Dental Care now for over 10 years, having completed her degree at Leeds Dental School in 2007. With her calm and reassuring nature Kirsty has since developed her skills further to become a sedation trained dentist.

Kirsty enjoys treating nervous patients and having a family of her own Kirsty has taken a particular interest in treating families and children. In her spare time Kirsty enjoys family holidays, catching up with friends & wine tasting.

Tom Rawlins

Tom has been treating patients at Horbury Dental Care for over 8 years, having qualified from Leeds Dental Institute in 2010. He completed the Restorative Diploma at the Royal College of Surgeons in 2016, and since then Tom has become Horbury Dental Care’s private associate dentist. He is currently doing a research project for an MSc certification, and enjoys providing more complex restorative dentistry, including restoring worn dentition, and improving aesthetics. Tom is also one of HDCs Foundation Dentist Trainers, offering guidance and support to newly qualified dentists. In his spare time Tom enjoys spending time with his family and travelling the world.

Tom Willan

Tom moved to Horbury Dental Care in 2015, having qualified from Leeds Dental Institute in 2011. He is currently undertaking the second year of the Diploma in Restorative Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons to further develop his clinical skills. Tom is also one of HDC’s Foundation Dentist Trainers; offering guidance and support to newly qualified dentists. He is an elected member of the Wakefield Local Dental Committee and the director of FGDP(UK) Yorkshire; who provide courses for dentists in the region. Tom enjoys the variety of general dental practice and strives to provide a high standard of patient care. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his young family and making the most of the countryside with his two dogs.

Jenna Kistle

Jenna spent her first year in dentistry as Horbury Dental Care’s Foundation Dentist. She has developed her clinical skills and we are very pleased to welcome her as an associate dentist. Originally from Cornwall but graduating from Newcastle Dental School Jenna decided to continue her career in dentistry treating patients in the north. Jenna has a particular special interest treating young patients and children. In her spare time Jenna enjoys playing netball and ignites her artistic flare with crafts like knitting, embroidery and painting.

Richard Graye

Richard brings a wealth of experience to Horbury Dental Care through his special interest in dentures and restoring dental implants. Qualifying from the University of Wales in 1986, Richard started his career working as an associate dentist and then went on to own 2 practices with his wife Jennifer. Richard works at his own practice 4 days per week and takes referrals at Horbury Dental Care on Fridays, in order to look after our older patients’ denture needs.

Richard is best known for his great sense of humour, his charming character and his love for awful daytime TV. Away from dentistry you will find him on the hockey pitch playing for Wakefield Hockey Club and when time allows he enjoys sailing and holidays to Majorca.

Luke Storr

Coming soon…

Aruche Hamid

Coming soon…

Safira Patel

Coming soon…

Georgina Johnson

Georgina graduated from the University of Leeds in 2012 as a dual qualified Dental Hygienist and Therapist. She joined the Horbury Dental Care team in 2013 and now works in Horbury 3 days a week. She has a keen interest in treating patients with gum disease, working closely with James Hudson. She will always take the time to listen to a patient’s concerns or worries.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her British Bull Dog, Humphrey.

Nicola Noble

Nicola graduated from the University of Leeds as a dual qualified Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist in 2008 and currently works at the practice two days a week. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her dogs and spending time with her family.

Nicola Beastall

Nicola started working as a Dental Hygienist in 1987. In her spare time, she enjoys country walks with her dog Millie.

Laura Checksfield

Coming soon…