Meet the team behind Dental Excellence

Dr Robbie Hughes, a distinguished graduate of the University of Liverpool (2008, with honours), has established himself as a leading innovator in UK private dentistry. From early in his career, Robbie focused on excellence in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, earning numerous awards for clinical distinction and performance.

He has pursued extensive postgraduate training alongside global industry leaders, earning certificates and diplomas in implantology, restorative and aesthetic dentistry, orthodontics, full mouth reconstructions, composite bonding, and digital smile design. Robbie is also a respected Key Opinion Leader for companies including Align, Ivoclar, Sprintray, Exocad, 3Shape, and Ray, reflecting his expertise in both clinical and technological innovation.

Robbie is the founder of four synergistic companies, each designed to modernise UK dentistry through technology-driven workflows, quality care, and predictable outcomes:

• Dental Excellence UK - A multi-site super clinic delivering advanced patient care.

• Dental Excellence Lab - A digital lab providing precision restorative solutions.

• Avant Garde Dentistry - A complete system for dentists, combining advanced training in digital workflows, smile makeovers, orthodontics, and aesthetic restorations with mentorship in marketing, content creation, team development, and consultation conversion. Each dentist benefits from lab support and treatment planning under Robbie’s supervision, ensuring high predictability and exceptional results. Live, one-to-one, group, and online training sessions offer flexible learning formats, with new programmes launching in April 2026.

• Same Day Smile - A patient-facing solution widely adopted by dentists, providing rapid, high-quality aesthetic results.

Avant Garde Dentistry represents Robbie’s vision for a new era in private practice, integrating digital innovation, standardised quality, and patient-focused care while equipping dentists with professional and business development tools.

Committed to continual professional growth and pioneering patient-centred practice models, Dr Robbie Hughes continues to redefine modern UK dentistry, blending clinical excellence, innovation, and education.

Craig has been with Dental Excellence since 2014 and has made himself an integral part of the team, now operating as Clinical Lead for the Liverpool flagship clinic.

He has undergone extensive postgraduate training including being awarded membership to the Faculty of Dental Surgeons at the Royal College Edinburgh in 2012. He has since trained extensively in cosmetic, restorative and surgical dentistry, and trained alongside Christian Coachman and Livio Yoshinaga for Digital Smile Design and SKYN veneer concept training courses.

Craig is trained in five different cosmetic brace systems, so is able to offer his patients a wealth of knowledge in cosmetic alignment of teeth. He routinely undertakes smile makeovers, incorporating composite bonding, composite veneers and bespoke crown, bridge and implant work to meet the high expectations of the smile makeover centre he works within. Craig has also been actively involved in Laser Dentistry, and is trained in two types of hard and soft tissue laser.

Craig can also provide implants for missing teeth, carry out bone and soft tissue grafting, plastic surgery techniques on gums and PRF treatments which are an advancement in modern age dentistry.

Digital Dentistry is a 21st Century development in his field that he has openly embraced, utilising the latest scanning technology that avoids impressions and provides unsurpassed accuracy with cosmetic dentistry.

Dentistry has been a big part of Alex's life for a long time, having worked as a qualified dental nurse from leaving college and continuing her pathway to becoming a dentist.

Working alongside dentists in various specialities including endodontics, facial aesthetics, smile makeovers, oral surgery and implantology has given her more passion and drive to pursue her career and excel as a dentist. Hard work and determination allowed Alex to work and study side by side, developing her skills and understanding of the patient journey and the high standards of dental work required.

Since graduating, she has worked as part of NHS and Private dental care in the North West. She believes in delivering dental care with empathy, passion and to the highest quality and standard.

Her main focus with any dental experience is to make people smile with confidence and remove the negative emotions associated with visiting the dentist.

She is a firm believer in building a complete experience for a patient from start to finish, whether it is simple treatment or full smile makeovers. She has a passion for the artistry of dental work especially the use of composite and porcelain to provide smile make overs, restorative work and high-end aesthetic treatment. Alex provides short term orthodontics using  different systems - both fixed metal braces and removable clear aligners. She has a passion for endodontics and would like to further her career with postgraduate education in this field over the next few years.

Alex supervises the treatment co-ordinators within the practice to ensure an outstanding journey for all new patients.

Outside of work, Alex continues her creativity in the kitchen and loves to cook and bake. She is a keen traveller and is currently learning to speak Italian!

Valerie joined Dental Excellence with a strong commitment to providing high-quality cosmetic and restorative dentistry. She qualified with a degree in Dentistry in Venezuela before moving to the UK, where she has continued to expand her expertise. She has completed extensive postgraduate training in implant dentistry, guided surgery, CBCT, composite bonding, aesthetic veneer techniques, and facial aesthetics. She continues to develop her expertise in occlusion, restorative techniques, and digital dentistry to ensure her patients benefit from the latest advances.

Alongside her restorative and cosmetic work, Valerie is an accredited provider of Invisalign® clear aligner therapy and has trained in multiple orthodontic systems, allowing her to offer a comprehensive approach to achieving both functional and aesthetic improvements.

Valerie has a particular interest in caring for patients with dental phobia. Known for her calm and gentle manner, she takes time to understand each patient’s concerns and creates a supportive environment to help them feel at ease throughout their treatment. Her clinical focus includes smile makeovers, composite bonding, minimally invasive veneers, implant restorations, and digital techniques - always with an emphasis on natural, long-lasting results

Harrison is a recent addition to the Dental Excellence team, with a passion for aesthetic dentistry. He qualified from the University of Manchester in 2012, and has gained a lot of experience working in different parts of the UK as well as Australia. Harrison has invested a lot of time on numerous advanced cosmetic courses and is currently completing a postgraduate diploma in restorative and aesthetic dentistry.  The main focus of his dentistry is performing smile makeovers using a minimally invasive approach, which involves little or no damage to the teeth.  This consists of teeth straightening using clear aligners, composite bonding, composite veneers and teeth whitening.

Outside of dentistry Harrison is a big foodie and loves cooking and visiting restaurants all over the world. To help burn off all these calories he is also a keen lifelong rugby player, and still plays for his local club on the Wirral.

Jen graduated from The University of Liverpool in 2006. Jen is an experienced general dentist and has a passion for enhancing and maintaining a patient’s dentition. Jen is an approachable dentist with the aim of putting her patients at ease during their clinical time.

Since graduating Jen has completed a wide variety of postgraduate courses, including training in facial aesthetics, advanced restorative dentistry and tooth straightening techniques involving clear removable aligners and fixed options.

Having known and worked with Dr Robbie Hughes for over two decades, Jen finds it inspiring to be part of his forward-thinking and innovative approach to dentistry.

The team and Jen look forward to welcoming you to Dental Excellence.

Dr Zarmina Babar is a cosmetic and restorative dentist with over seven years of experience creating beautiful, healthy smiles. She began her career in Belfast before moving to Liverpool, which she has proudly called home for the past five years.

At Dental Excellence, Zarmina offers everything from simple, routine fillings to complete smile makeovers and full-mouth rehabilitations. She has a particular passion for cosmetic dentistry, including composite bonding, veneers, crowns, and Invisalign, always with a focus on natural results that complement each patient’s individuality.

She has a Diploma in Prosthodontics form London and has been on many post graduate courses to enhance her skills. 

With a fully digital workflow, Zarmina combines advanced technology with a meticulous eye for detail. She works closely with our dental lab and uses the latest techniques to ensure predictable outcomes, long-lasting function, and exceptional aesthetics.

Patients value her calm, caring approach and her ability to put them at ease while achieving transformative results. Whether you are looking for a subtle enhancement or a complete smile transformation, Zarmina is committed to delivering dentistry at the very highest standard.

Outside of dentistry, Zarmina enjoys spending quality time with her family and is a proud mother to two boys.

Khurrum completed his specialist training in Periodontology at the world-renowned Eastman Dental Institute, University College London (UCL). He is registered on the GDC’s Specialist list for Periodontics and also with the European Federation of Periodontics (EFP).

He has worked in specialist practices limited to Periodontics for several years and is a Senior Clinical Teacher at postgraduate level at the University of Manchester Dental Hospital.

His ethos is to treat patients with periodontal challenges by educating and motivating patients about this condition, and he has excellent results with his periodontal care (both disease-centred and aesthetic), and also in the management of peri-implant disease.

Many of his patients have severe gum disease, or failing implants, and are finding it difficult to manage their condition. Khurrum helps them to make difficult decisions about the prognosis of their teeth or implants and supports them to overcome their anxieties. He provides solutions that result in oral health and combats the progression of gum disease. He also provides cosmetic gum surgeries to assist with restorative work that may require recontouring of your gums, mucogingival surgery.

Khurrum is co-founder of PerioMatters, which allows him to be involved with teaching and the further education of colleagues.

Outside of work, he has been known to complete physical challenges such as London Marathon and Tough Mudder!

Obyda is a Specialist in Endodontics and a Lecturer in Endodontology at the University of Liverpool. He qualified with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Newcastle University and completed his general foundation training at the Northern Dental Deanery. He worked in general dental practice in North East of England and gained Membership of the Joint Dental Faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in London (MJDF RCS Eng).

He later joined Liverpool University as a Teaching Fellow in Endodontology and an honorary speciality registrar in 2014 where he completed 3 years full-time clinical specialist training in Endodontics. During his clinical training, he was awarded the educational research grant of the European Society of Endodontology for his ongoing research which focuses on accurate assessment of complex endodontic cases and the development of the Endodontic Complexity Assessment Tool (E-CAT). Obyda was awarded a Doctorate degree in Dental Sciences (Endodontics DDSc) from Liverpool University in 2018.

He then completed the collegiate speciality examination and successfully attained Membership in Endodontics (MEndo) from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh and is now a GDC registered Specialist in Endodontics.  He is currently appointed as a lecturer at the University of Liverpool and an honorary Speciality Doctor by the Royal Liverpool University Hospital trust. He works in several private specialist referral practices in the north west of England.

Obyda has lectured and delivered workshops at the BDSA and British Dental Association national conferences. In addition to treating complex endodontic treatments in practice, he is actively involved in lecturing, teaching and training postgraduate dental students at the dental hospital. Obyda has scientific publications in Endodontics and is a member of both the British Endodontic Society and the European Society of Endodontology.

Obyda performs all his dental treatments under a dental microscope and now accepts referrals for consultations and treatment of complex root canal treatment, root canal retreatment and surgical endodontics, including root end surgery, hemi-section and root resorption repair. Given the wide range of restorative dentistry training he received at Liverpool Dental Hospital, he is happy to fully or partly restore the endodontically treated tooth or refer the treatment back for the coronal restoration as requested by the referring colleague.

He continues to enjoy treating patients in a kind, reassuring manner in all aspects of root canal treatments and dentistry.

After qualifying from University of Liverpool, Sherlock embarked on a path of continued development in the fields of oral surgery and dental implantology. After completion of dental foundation year, he worked within the oral maxillofacial department in various hospitals within the Mersey region. He was able to gain experience in all aspects of oral surgery and dental implantology and has completed the Membership exams from the Faculty of Dental Surgeons at the Royal College Edinburgh in 2012.

After a period of 5 years in general practice where he provided full range of dental treatment including surgical removal of impacted or grossly carious teeth, he completed a postgraduate Diploma and Master's degree in Dental Implants. Throughout the training, he has used different dental implant systems and the most up to date technology which allows him to gain better understanding and results in the field of dental implantology. His experience combined with regularly attending courses has allowed him to develop the necessary skills to become a proficient implant dentist. He believes in striving to do the best for his patients and has a very open and honest approach with the patients.

Outside of dentistry Sherlock is a keen rock climber. When he is not in surgery working, he will be traveling outdoors, looking for natural rock to climb on to satisfy his climbing addiction.

Dr Kate Taylor is one of the UK's leading oral surgeons and Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Oral Surgery at Liverpool University Dental Hospital.

Dr Taylor qualified in dentistry from the University of Sheffield in 1993 and completed vocational training in the York Scheme the following year. She then started training in oral and maxillofacial surgery and was awarded a Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons (England) in 1997. She did her basic science research at the University of Leeds and completed a PhD in wound healing in 2007. She specialises in the management of anxious patients and obtained a Diploma in Conscious Sedation from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2000.

She was accepted onto the Specialist List for Oral Surgery in 2000 but her formal training was completed by success in the Intercollegiate Fellowship Specialty Examination (ISFE oral surgery) in 2013. She has worked in hospitals throughout the Yorkshire region and is now employed as Senior Lecturer (hon Consultant) at the University of Liverpool where she organises and develops undergraduate education in medical emergencies management, sedation and oral surgery.

Her research focus is in educational research and human factors and her clinical focus is in the management of anxious patients.

Dr Haroon Sher is an implant and periodontal surgeon focusing on complex and advanced cases — the work routinely referred on by other clinicians. His practice spans the full range of implant treatment, from single units to complete full-arch reconstruction.

He graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours and the University of Glasgow Quaich for Outstanding Achievement. He holds Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons (MJDF RCS), a Diploma in Implant Dentistry, and a Diploma in Periodontics. His combined surgical and periodontal expertise allows him to manage both the placement of the implant and the health of the supporting bone and soft tissue — the factors that determine long-term success.

His clinical scope covers single and multiple implants, implant-retained dentures, and full-arch rehabilitation. For patients with severe bone loss, he provides zygomatic and subperiosteal implants — procedures offered by very few clinicians in Scotland — alongside bone grafting, sinus lifts, gum grafting and crown lengthening. Treatment can be carried out under IV sedation, allowing even extensive surgery to be completed in comfort. This range allows fixed, definitive results in cases where conventional implant treatment is not viable.

Digital planning is central to how Haroon approaches treatment. As a certified Digital Smile Design (DSD) team member, he plans cases digitally to design the end result before treatment begins, and uses digitally guided surgery — placing implants via custom surgical guides — where it adds precision and predictability to a case. In 2014 he performed what is believed to be the first fully DSD-guided full-arch surgical case in Scotland, and digital workflows have remained core to his practice since.

His training has been extensive and international, and his expertise is recognised by his peers. He receives referrals for complex cases, is called in to assist colleagues with challenging surgery, and teaches implant dentistry to other dentists through his own courses. Patients here benefit from a level of surgical implant and periodontal expertise that few clinics can offer.

Dr. Jameel Gardee is an internationally recognized cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentist with more than 30 years of clinical experience. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, he earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery with distinction and commendation before completing advanced postgraduate training in Restorative, Esthetic, and Operative Dentistry at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where he served as a resident in the Department of Restorative Sciences.

Clinical Director in private practice ,Dr. Gardee’s  is dedicated to advanced cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in digital dentistry and smile design, serving as a Digital Smile Design (DSD) Master and official DSD Instructor. He has also served as President of the Digital Dentistry Society UK and as an executive board member of the European Academy of Digital Dentistry.

A respected educator and international lecturer, Dr. Gardee has delivered lectures and hands-on training programs around the world on digital workflows, smile design, guided implant surgery, CAD/CAM technologies, and full-mouth rehabilitation. His passion for innovation, education, and excellence in patient care has made him a sought-after speaker and mentor within the global dental community and an award winning clinician.

Dr. Gardee continues to combine clinical excellence with cutting-edge technology, helping to shape the future of modern dentistry through education, leadership, and the advancement of digital treatment solutions which deliver exceptional world class smiles.