Welcome to our practice. Our Dental team have been serving the community of Heidelberg for over 25 years. Formerly located at Burgundy Street, we have moved to our current premise at Darebin Street. We are looking forward to meeting you and helping your family have the healthy and attractive smiles that you deserve.
Dr. Fiona Pond
Dentist
Fiona grew up & went to school at Carey Baptist Grammar & was amongst the first intake of girls entering into a boys school. After graduating from The University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Dental Science, she was accepted as an Intern at the Royal Dental Hospital gaining invaluable experience.
Fiona then worked in private practice in Chadstone, Beaumaris & Wheelers Hill for several years before setting up her own practice in Kew. After ten years she joined her husband San who had established a practice in a medical centre in Heidelberg since 1993.
Many of the patient’s from Kew followed Fiona to Heidelberg. In July 2017 the practice relocated to new premises at 68 Darebin Street Heidelberg & became The Smile Centre Heidelberg.
Fiona is a member of the ADA & attends regular professional development conferences both in Melbourne & overseas. She enjoys cosmetic dentistry & whitening & is looking into providing injectables services for TMJ pain & enhancing cosmetic dental procedures.
Fiona has three children, Jason the eldest is a Law/Science graduate, Rachael is now a qualified dentist and Nathan the youngest is studying physiotherapy in Albury/Wodonga.
In her spare time, she enjoys surfing in the summer, skiing in the winter & golf whenever time permits.
Dr. Madeleine Hii
Dentist
Dr. Madeleine Hii graduated from The University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc.) degree in 2007. After the completion of her degree, she has worked in both private practice and community health clinics.
Her experience in community clinics involved treatment of patients in specific programs including the alcohol, drugs and methadone program (Dental Fix), psychiatric disability (Dental as Anything), HIV/AIDS (Dental Plus), maternity and asylum seekers. While in private practice, she has focused on general family dentistry and cosmetic work with special interests in orthodontics, children, and patients with anxiety. She is a member of the Australian Dental Association.
Having grown up in Borneo, East Malaysia, she enjoys travel and is a massive foodie. She loves going to art exhibitions and theatre shows. She appreciates puns, so please tell her your best pun the next time you see her. She also enjoys swing dancing and Japanese jujutsu during her free time.
Dr. Madeleine Hii speaks English, Malay, Indonesian, Mandarin, can understand various Chinese dialects ie. Hokkien, Foochow, Hainanese, Cantonese and very little French.
Dr. Daniel Hong
Dentist
Daniel grew up in Melbourne, and upon completing his VCE he left for the sunny Gold Coast to take the first steps in his journey to becoming a dentist. After what felt like a blink of an eye, he’d already graduated from Griffith University with both a Bachelor of Oral Health (Dental Science), and a Graduate Diploma in Dentistry, receiving an academic excellence award for the latter.
After graduating, he traded year round sunshine for Melbourne’s weather once more, and has been working in private practice since. Daniel is a member of the ADA and attends numerous continuing education courses across Australia to further his knowledge so that he can provide the best treatments for his patients.
Daniel is fluent in Hokkien, speaks some Mandarin, and strives to make your visit to the dentist one that is relaxed and pleasant.
When he is not busy taking care of your oral health needs he has keen interests in cooking, planting things to cook and eat, electronics, and is always ready to muck about with fountain pens and headphones. Occasionally he also likes to write about himself in the third person for your enjoyment.
Dr. Rachael Chan
Dentist
Dr Rachael grew up in Melbourne and completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Dentistry/Master of Dentistry at La Trobe University in Bendigo. Since completing her degree, she has moved back to her home city.
Rachael works in both private clinics in Melbourne as well as the community dental clinic in Ballarat where she completed placement for university. She has been involved in community outreach programs, performing screening and dental care in kinders, aged care homes and assisted living accommodation.
Rachael’s favourite aspect of dentistry is getting to know her patients and helping them to achieve their oral health goals. She sees her patients as more than just teeth in a mouth and loves being able to build the trust that is crucial to a successful dentist-patient relationship. Rachael is particularly interested in cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
Outside of the clinic, Rachael is an avid soccer player and plays competitively every week. She is also a typical Melburnian who loves going out for brunch and is always open to new cafe/restaurant recommendations!
Dr Hiyanthi Piiyadigama
Dr. Hiyanthi Piyadigama is a general dental practitioner who provides her best to achieve optimum health outcomes for her patients. She prefers not only just treating the oral health of patients but also considers the impact of oral health on overall general health. When providing her care, she believes the beauty of a healer is to look at the overall picture rather than one particular aspect.
She graduated with honours in Bachelor of Dental Surgery from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2017. She then joined the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in University as a temporary lecturer. Her passion towards dentistry grew through oral surgery. She has worked in the public and private sector in Sri Lanka as well as private sector in Australia. Her commitment also extends towards oral health promotion and education.
Hiyanthi is a renowned track and field athlete who has participated in many international sports competitions ranging from the South Asian Games, Asian Games, World Junior Championships to World University Games. She is currently a member of the Essendon Athletics Club.
Apart from dentistry and sports she loves spending time with her baby daughter and family. Travelling, reading books and creative craft work keeps her entertained.
Dr Yuval Samuni
Specialist oral surgeon
BMedSc, MSc, DMD, PhD, MHA
Yuval Samuni is a Dental Board of Australia Registered Specialist Oral Surgeon with a special interest in Implant Surgery.
Dr Samuni obtained his Dental degree in 1996 from the Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine in Israel and completed his training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2004. He also obtained a PhD in biochemistry and undertook a post-doctoral fellowship in the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health in the USA. Additionally, he holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration.
Dr Samuni also has experience in academia, having published multiple book chapters and articles in peer reviewed international journals on various topics including implant dentistry and bone regeneration.
Dr Samuni is highly personable and attentive, and is able to maintain professional and warm relationships with his patients. He has vast knowledge and extensive experience, having performed thousands of surgical procedures including implants and bone augmentations.
Dr Samuni is happily married with three children. When not at work, Dr Samuni enjoys reading biographies, cooking and walking with his wife and two dogs along the beach.