Meet our Team at Thatcham Dental Partners

Dr Dimitar Krastev graduated as a master's dentist from the University of Plovdiv. After gaining years of experience in Bulgaria, he moved to the UK in 2008 to gain more knowledge, and experience and to help him to deliver the best dental care possible. Since 2009 he has been working in fully private practice.

In the same year, he gained a certificate of Advanced Aesthetics from Eastman Dental Institute.

He was one of two postgraduate students who finished their Master's in Endodontics within 3 years. This included extended education in different modalities in keeping the nerve of the teeth alive, or if it was not possible to perform root canal treatments. If the latter has failed, a root canal re-treatment could be provided.

Dimitar has a special interest in restorative and aesthetic dentistry, he is currently working towards a diploma in restorative dentistry. He has finished one of the advanced Bioclear courses, allowing him to deal with the closure of dark triangular spaces and performing predictable composite build-ups for the front and back teeth.

In 2022 he published three articles regarding the use of Fluorescence light in general dentistry. He is a member of the British Endodontic Society and the European Endodontic Society. He is a regular member of the local Newbury Study Group where dentists from different backgrounds and specialities are exchanging knowledge.

Outside dentistry, Dimitar is married and has three children. He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family. They enjoy long walks and observing nature.

Hi I am Dr Johan Malan. I grew up in Worcester in the winelands area of South Africa where I matriculated. I then worked for ten years for the South African Railways as clerk. I have always dreamed of a career in medicine and at the age of 28 I took the risk to resign my work, sold my house, and with a loan from my bank enrolled at Pretoria University for dentistry. I decided on dentistry as I loved working with my hands, doing woodwork and some metalwork and figured to combine that passion with my dream of a career in medicine.

On completion of my degree I moved with my family (my daughter Sonya was born during my third year in university) to the U.K. to work in London. After four years I relocated back to South Africa to start my own private practice in Paarl. (Again in wine country!) During my years there I was approached by a dental practice in Newbury to work there while they transitioned from NHS to private dentistry, and this took much longer than planned so that It was four years later before I resumed work in my own practice in South Africa. I was again approached to work in the U.K., This time at my present employer in Thatcham. As I had really enjoyed my previous stay in Thatcham and had friends locally (and was also in the process of retiring) I did not hesitate to take up this post.

I feel really privileged to have a career that I enjoy as much. The daily contact with many different people, especially now I have been here for going on two years and is developing better relations with my patients is very rewarding. As rewarding is the work itself, giving me opportunity to daily develop my skills, even after all these years in the profession, I also enjoy reading up and studying on many areas of dentistry for further professional development.

I qualified in dentistry at Kings College London in 1998, since then I have worked as a family dentist in Chichester, Reading and Newbury. Since 2017 I have been working at this practice in Thatcham.

I focus on providing gentle, caring and holistic dentistry in a family practice and my special interests include cosmetic dentistry and teeth grinding (bruxing). I live near Thatcham with my wife and dog, when I am not working I enjoy travelling, cooking and walking in the local area.I qualified in dentistry at Kings College London in 1998, since then I have worked as a family dentist in Chichester, Reading and Newbury. Since 2017 I have been working at this practice in Thatcham.

I focus on providing gentle, caring and holistic dentistry in a family practice and my special interests include cosmetic dentistry and teeth grinding (bruxing). I live near Thatcham with my wife and dog, when I am not working I enjoy travelling, cooking and walking in the local area.

Emily Dry qualified as a Hygienist/Therapist from King’s College Hospital, London in 2018 and joined the Dental Art team later that same year. She provides tooth whitening, periodontal treatments and restorative dentistry such as composite restorations whilst working under minimally invasive dentistry guidelines. Emily is a friendly, approachable clinician, who strives to provide an holistic approach to patient care, by giving personally tailored advice. Emily is an active reflective practitioner who enjoys learning new skills and knowledge through clinical professional development to ensure the best patient care. In her spare time she enjoys dancing and participating in dance competitions across the UK.

Lyn has been a receptionist here for several years. She is a very professional and valuable member of the team, who always takes great care to ensure the patients receive the very best of attention.

Polli started with Dental Partners in 2017, bringing a smile, bubbly personality and over 20 years of receptionist experience. In Polli’s spare time she enjoys shopping, going on holiday and spending time with her friends, family and Grand-dog!

Sue started a career as a Dental Nurse at the age of 16 and is still passionate about Dentistry today. She joined the practice in 2006 after having a break from Dental nursing to have her family. She has a wealth of experience in all aspects of dental nursing and enjoys the surgical side of the role.

As a longstanding member of the team Sue is very much involved with the day to day running of the practice and loves to engage with the patients.

In her spare time Sue loves to be outside in the country