Dentists in Edinburgh

Neil Shanks

Neil graduated with BDS from Dundee in 2000 and came to work here at the practice in the same year. In 2003, he undertook training in dental implants and started placing implants at the practice in 2004. He became a partner here at the practice in 2008. As part of his commitment to continuing professional development, Neil achieved a Diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties [Dental Surgery and General Dental Practice]). He is also a member of the ADI (Association of Dental Implantology), ITI (International Team for Implantology), as well as the British Dental Association and attends courses at home and abroad to further his knowledge in all aspects of dental practice. 

David Donaldson

David graduated from Glasgow University with BDS in 2009 and began working at the practice after graduation. He became an associate in 2010 and has a particular interest in endodontics and restorative dentistry.

Fiona MacPherson

Fiona graduated from Glasgow University in 1996 and worked on the west coast for 4 years before settling in Edinburgh.She enjoys all aspects of dentistry and gains satisfaction from helping patients achieve a confident smile. Out with dentistry, she enjoys art, baking and spending time outside with her family and huge dogs!

Alison Shanks

Will be joining her husband Neil and the team at Shanks Dental Care from January 2024. She qualified from Dundee University in 2000, and has worked in general practice in Musselburgh since then.

She is experienced in all aspects of dentistry and enjoys helping her patients achieve great smiles. She also provides facial aesthetic treatments.

Outside of work she enjoys keeping keeping fit, cooking and singing, as well as spending time with her family and dog.

Jade Davis 

Jade will be the newest dentist to join our team (December 2021). She qualified in 2006 from Dundee with a BSc Hons in pharmacology and physiological science; following this she studied Dentistry at Newcastle University where she qualified with a BDS in 2011. She carried out her vocational training in Newcastle and has worked in general practice in Scotland every since. 

Jade has a keen interest in all aspects of dentistry- in particular TMD, teeth whitening, minimally invasive and cosmetic dentistry. She is very passionate about her job and has completed numerous post graduate dental courses over the years; This enables her to keep up to date with the latest advancements in the profession and provide a high standard of care to her patients using the latest techniques. She is a certified provider of c fast (fixed orthodontics), smilefast (composite bonding), Sleepwell (anti snoring device by S4S), Enlighten (teeth whitening), facial aesthetics - dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. Jade is particularly good with nervous patients and children; and loves creating beautiful smiles with smile makeovers.

Karen Stainton

Karen qualified as a dental hygienist from the Edinburgh School of Dental Hygiene in 1988. She has worked in general practice throughout her career, working alongside a team educating and motivating patients in good oral health. In her spare time, Karen enjoys walking and cooking for friends and family. She has been married for 32 years and has 2 grown up children.

Nicole Whitelaw

Nicole started with the team as a placement whilst studying for her dental nursing qualification in 2012. She gained her qualification in 2014. Nicole worked in another practice after qualifying until she returned as a full time member of staff at Shanks Dental Care in January 2016. Nicole is a qualified First Aider and she works alongside Neil Shanks as an implant nurse and is one of the implant coordinators for the Practice. She gained a qualification in Dental Radiography in 2019.  

Karen Spears

Karen joined the practice in 2004 and gained her dental nursing qualification in 2006. She is our Childsmile nurse and enjoys working with children and their parents on a Wednesday afternoon. She has been an active part of our implant team since 2007 and has been involved in training through the ADI.

Sarah Miller

Sarah began her placement with us in August 2014 when she started training for her dental nursing qualification at Edinburgh college. She  formally joined the team in June 2015. Sarah gained her Dental nursing qualification in 2016. She is interested in developing her career along the lines of Childsmile nursing, and oral health education.

Lucy Ainslie 

Lucy qualified as a dental nurse in 2015. After gaining experience in other practices, she joined the team here in 2018. Lucy enjoys every aspect of the job, but especially working with children-she completed her Childsmile qualification in 2019 and enjoys working with families in our Childsmile Clinics. Lucy is also one of our implant nurses at the practice.

Suzanne Hardie

Suzanne started out in dentistry in 1992 as a trainee. She attended Edinburgh’s Telford College doing night school, and  qualified in 1995. She has worked at various practices, and joined our team in 2019. She enjoys general practice and prides herself on her patient care.

Joanne Donaldson

Joanne started her dental nurse training in the practice in 2006. She worked here for nearly 10 years before a career break to have her two children, and we were delighted when she came back to work part time at the end of 2021. Joanne has a wealth of experience and is one of our implant nurses at the practice too.

Nicole Boak

Nicole joined the practice in 2021 as a trainee dental nurse at the same time as she started her studying at Edinburgh College. She is really enjoying the hands on aspect of the job and is a valued member of the team already!

Alicja Andryszczyk

Alicja did work experience at the practice while at High School in September 2016 and since then has had her mind set on becoming a dental nurse. As soon as she graduated High School in 2019, she began her studying at Edinburgh College and has now returned to the practice as a trainee dental nurse to gain her practical experience prior to qualifying. Alicja is keen to do further training after she qualifies in dental radiography, orthodontic nursing and dental sedation nursing.

Sam Munro

Sam joined the practice in 1994. After working in the dental surgery for 2 years, she moved to join the reception team and has worked there since.

Laura Kennedy

Laura joined the reception team in December 2021 after Sandra (our fantastic receptionist for over 10 years) retired. Sandra provided her initial training and she has picked up the skills required in her new role very quickly. Laura is from a retail background but is excited by this new chapter in her career.