KidsSmile Paediatric Dental is among the first specialist paediatric practices in regional Australia. Since 2003, our core passion for children's dental care has remained. We are committed to improving the dental health of children so they can have an improved quality of life.
Our Friendly and Experienced Team
Our entire team is compassionate and strives to better ourselves through continuous education and advanced training so our young patients can receive the best possible dentistry. Our KidsSmile team has vast experience and continuously develops our skillset so we can achieve clinical excellence and make your child's experience pleasant and calming.
From the moment you and your little one enter our practice's doors, you will see that your child's enjoyment and safety are priorities in everything we do. Our dentists, hygiene team and front-desk staff want our practice to be a fun and engaging place where children know they are genuinely cared for.
We also speak Mandarin and Tamil!
Dr Helen Cornwell
Paediatric Specialist
Dr Helen completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Adelaide and specialist training at the highly regarded University of Melbourne, where she became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. After years of training and traveling abroad, Dr Helen moved back to her hometown of Newcastle in 2004. She’s a Visiting Medical Officer at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital as part of their cleft palate team, and she works with the University of Newcastle as a Conjoint Senior Lecturer as a part of their Oral Health unit.
A highly sought-after specialist in her field, Dr Helen has lectured locally and internationally on paediatric dentistry, dental trauma and sports dentistry. Although highly skilled in all facets of paediatric dentistry, Helen takes a special interest in looking after children with chalky teeth and high anxiety levels.
Current memberships include:
- Australian and New Zealand Society for Paediatric Dentistry
- Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry
- Australian Dental Association (Newcastle Committee Member)
- International Association of Dental Traumatology
- TheD3 Group for Developmental Dental Defects
Outside of dentistry, Helen’s interests include running, swimming, sailing, camping, music and theatre.
Dr William Tang
Paediatric Specialist
Dr Will graduated in 2010 from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Dentistry. After graduation, Dr Will worked for several years in the wider Newcastle region before returning to his hometown of Sydney in 2015, where he completed specialty training in paediatric dentistry. Will joined KidsSmile Paediatric Dental in 2018 and works at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Dr Will also specialises in endodontic treatment and trauma.
In his spare time, Dr Will enjoys scuba diving, travelling and exploring the local wineries in the region.
Dr Nivethanan Kamalendran
Paediatric Specialist
Dr Niv is a registered specialist paediatric dentist who completed undergraduate training in India and his specialist training in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Before moving to Australia, Dr Niv was working as a senior lecturer at the University of Otago, and as a specialist consultant at Dunedin Hospital.
Current memberships include:
- The Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry
- The Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry
Outside of dentistry, he enjoys playing sports (mainly cricket) and spending valuable time with family and friends.
Jennifer Mankelow
Hygienist
Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health in 2010 from the University of Newcastle, where she was also awarded a Dean’s Merit award and a Golden Scaler award for her high clinical grades. Prior to graduating as a dental hygienist, her career began as a dental assistant in 2001. With several years of dental experience and a young family of her own, Jen realises the importance of building relationships with her patients and empowering families to maintain lifelong good oral health.
On Jennifer’s days off, she spends her time camping and enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends.
Tanya Deacon
Hygienist
Tanya grew up right here in Newcastle and graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2010 with a Bachelor of Oral Health. Since then, Tanya has worked as a dental hygienist in many practices in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley and has even spent some time in the Northern Territory. She enjoys volunteer work, gardening and spending her time with her husband and daughter.
Sinead Stoker
Dental Hygienist
Sinead is one of our skilled dental hygienists whose goal is to create a fun, safe and educational environment for children of all ages. She completed a Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Newcastle and has been in the dental industry for many years.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the beach, dancing, camping and travelling. She also enjoys riding dirt bikes, a hobby she discovered when she got her first bike at the age of 26.