Our Staff Profile

Our Doctors

Dr Murali Rao

PROSTHODONTIST, PRACTICE MANAGER & OPERATING PARTNER

Dr Murali Rao is a Prosthodontist and Practice manager at Premier Dental and Orthodontic Centre in Brunei. He obtained his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Manipal, India in 1991 and completed his post graduation, Master of Dental Surgery in Prosthodontics in 1994 from Manipal, India. After a brief academic role at the university, he moved over to Abu Dhabi in UAE and worked as a prosthodontist for ten years at a corporate hospital. He completed his MFGDP (UK) qualification and also dental practice management certification from UNE partnerships, Australia. He is also a recipient of Pierre Fauchard Fellowship (USA).

He worked at Jerudong Park Medical Centre in Brunei as head of dental services from 2005-2008, and then moved over to Panaga Health center at Brunei shell Petroleum and headed the dental services there for over seventeen years. He diversified his interest in quality assurance and accreditation and obtained qualifications from Malaysia and India.

Dr Rao was the team lead to achieve medical clinics accreditation (MSQH) of Panaga health center in 2014 and supported the dental accreditation of Premier dental and Orthodontic by the Malaysian society for Quality in Health center in 2019.

Dr Rao works as a clinician and also practice manager of four dental centers in Brunei Darussalam.

Dr Sumaya Rao

GENERAL DENTAL SURGEON AND OPERATING PARTNER

Dr Sumaya Rao is a general dental surgeon. She obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from India in 1997 and has over twenty years of experience in clinical practice. She obtained her post graduate diploma in oral Implantology from Manipal, India, in 2003. She later obtained her membership diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2004. She was employed at the Ministry of Health in Brunei as a dental officer for over ten years, and presently into private dental practice. She is highly skilled in all aspects of general dentistry with a keen interest in restorative field, cosmetic work, and endodontics.

Dr Sumaya loves her work and interacting with patients. She strongly believes in preventive dentistry and patient education, spending time helping patients understand the choices they can make to ensure good dental health. Her gentle and reassuring nature helps alleviate the anxieties and fears of nervous patients. She is particularly popular among children for their routine dental needs and aims to build a strong relationship with kids and their parents.

Dr Sumaya has diversified her interest in the field of quality assurance and accreditation, and actively engaged to meet the dental compliance requirements of Malaysian Society for quality in health in the journey towards continuous improvement of practice standards.

Dr Shobbana Thalur

CONSULTANT ORTHODONTIST

Dr. Shobbana Thalur, earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Annamalai University, India in 2002 and completed her Masters training in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics from the prestigious Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India in 2009. She was awarded the Diplomate of the Indian Board of Orthodontics (2019) and also earned the Membership in Orthodontics (M. Orth.) from the Royal College of Surgeons and physicians (Glasgow), Membership in Orthodontics (M. Orth.) from the Royal College of Surgeons (London). Dr. Shobbana’s professional achievements further accentuates her commitment to excellence.

She is a keen researcher and has published several high-quality research papers in international and national journals. She has won the Best Clinical Paper Award at the 8th World Implant Orthodontic Conference in November 2016 held at Goa, India. She has been appointed recently as the International Advisor by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, (Glasgow)

With over 16 years of experience, she is specialised in Damon braces, Dentofacial orthopaedics, Invisalign & TAD assisted expansion in adults. She is a dedicated orthodontist encompassing a pro-active approach with great work ethics. Dr. Shobbana is an accomplished orthodontist with advanced proficiency in Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and management of complex malocclusions. She is adept in both conventional and contemporary Orthodontic modalities, consistently delivering Evidence-based, high-quality patient care. Her clinical management is exemplary marked by precision, professionalism, and a patient-centred approach.

Dr Shobbana is an avid nature lover who enjoys travel, music, playing tennis and cars enthusiast!

Dr Sharmila

GENERAL DENTAL SURGEON

Dr Sharmila is a dental professional with expertise in both general dentistry and periodontology. She obtained her qualification of Bachelor of Dental Surgery from India in 2009 and completed her post-graduation, Master of Dental Surgery in Periodontology in 2017 from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India.

With over 10 years of clinical experience, Dr Sharmila combines comprehensive dental care with specialized periodontal treatment to deliver lasting oral health outcomes. She is also a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, USA, an honour recognizing her contributions and commitment to advancing dentistry.

Patients know her for her compassionate and clear approach, she ensures every patient feels comfortable, heard, and fully informed throughout their treatment journey. She is passionate about preventive care and patient education, helping patients build strong oral hygiene habits for long-term oral health. To stay at fore front of modern dentistry, she regularly attends continuing dental education programs and workshops, staying updated with the latest advancements in dental technology, techniques, and patient care standard.

Outside of work, Dr Sharmila values time with family and enjoys movies, hiking and long walks.

Dr Ashford Lidiya George

GENERAL DENTAL SURGEON

Dr. Ashford Lidiya George is an accomplished Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with over 16 years of experience in clinical dentistry and advanced surgical care. She earned her Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2013, establishing a strong foundation in complex surgical and restorative procedures.

She has a special interest in endodontics, cosmetic dentistry, oral rehabilitation, and is recognized for her precision-driven approach, patient-centred care, and expertise in managing complex clinical cases with confidence and excellence. Dr. Lidiya has also served as a consultant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, gaining valuable international clinical exposure and further expanding her professional expertise.

In addition to her clinical practice, she has been actively involved in academics, mentoring dental students under the Kerala University of Health Sciences, India. Her academic contributions include participation in research, scientific conferences, and scholarly publications. She has also co-authored a book on orbital reconstruction, reflecting her dedication to advancing knowledge and contributing to the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Lidiya has represented at national-level sports competitions and has a keen interest in badminton, tennis, and cricket. She is also deeply engaged in reading, trading, and investing, reflecting a disciplined, analytical, and well-rounded approach to both her professional and personal pursuits.

Dr Nalini

GENERAL DENTAL SURGEON

Dr Nalini is a General Dental Surgeon with over 15 years of experience in clinical practice. She obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery Degree from India in the year of 2000. She has worked for over ten years at the Ministry of Health in Brunei and currently working in the private sector. She also has a Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.
Dr Nalini has strong inter-personal skills and believes its highly important to develop a positive atmosphere that helps patients feel comfortable and promotes a friendly and inviting environment at her practice. Being a very empathetic listener, she feels extremely rewarded by helping patients with their dental needs. She takes a keen interest in educating patients on the importance of oral hygiene and committed to providing the best patient care through high-quality services. She has experience in working with children, adolescents, adults, as well as the elderly populations.

Dr Nalini continues to pursue various continuing education opportunities to keep herself updated of new research, materials and changing technology in the field of dentistry.

Dr Preveenaa

CONSULTANT ORTHODONTIST

Dr. Preveenaa Chakravarthy is an Orthodontist at Premier Dental and Orthodontic centre in Brunei with over 14 years of clinical experience in Dentistry. She earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in the year 2011 from the prestigious Dr. MGR Medical University- Chennai, India. She further specialized in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics by completing her Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) at SRM Dental College and Hospital- Chennai, India in 2016, where She was awarded the best outgoing student and received a gold medal for her excellence in post- graduation.

In 2017, She became a Member of Orthodontics in Royal college of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Dr. Preveenaa is a certified Damon self-ligating practitioner, certified Invisalign provider, and certified clearcorrect provider and certified reveal clear aligner provider. Her expertise includes clear aligners, Smile designing and handling complex orthodontic cases. She is highly skilled in preventive, interceptive and adult orthodontics, with a particular interest in interdisciplinary orthodontics.

Dr.Preveenaa has been recognised for her outstanding contributions, receiving the “Best clinical orthodontist award” from Clove dental, India twice (2017 and 2022) for her expertise in handling complex cases all over India. She actively participates in many national and international conferences and committed to staying updated with latest advancements in dentistry and orthodontics to ensure the highest care for her patients.

Beyond dentistry, Dr.Preveenaa has a keen interest in fashion and technology. She holds a diploma in Fashion designing from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), India.

Dr. Rangarajan

GENERAL DENTAL SURGEON

Dr. Rangarajan is a highly skilled and passionate dental surgeon with over 16 years of extensive clinical experience in providing comprehensive dental care. He currently practices at Premier Dental and Orthodontic Centre, Brunei, where he is dedicated to delivering high-quality treatment and ensuring patient comfort.

He earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in 2009 from the prestigious Dr. M.G.R. Medical University and the Top-Ranked Tamil Nadu Government Dental College, Chennai, India. In 2019, he completed his Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology & Microbiology from the same esteemed university.

Before joining Premier Dental, Dr. Rangarajan served as a Camp Officer at Vivekanandha Dental College for Women for over five years, where he played an active role in organizing preventive dental camps and community outreach programs.

With his strong diagnostic skills and patient-focused approach, Dr. Rangarajan firmly believes in creating personalized treatment plans to maintain, restore, and enhance oral health. He has extensive expertise in general dental procedures, patient management, and the use of advanced dental materials, while maintaining high standards of quality control of dental equipment and procedures.

Dr. Rangarajan also takes a special interest in treating medically compromised and pregnant patients with utmost care and precision. He has successfully treated patients across diverse age groups, from children to geriatric populations, ensuring a comfortable and reassuring clinical environment.

To stay updated with the latest advancements, he actively participates in continuing dental education programs, specialized certification courses, and hands-on workshops. He holds certifications in Basic Dental Implantology and Laser Flap Procedures.

Besides dentistry, Dr. Rangarajan is an avid sports enthusiast with a strong passion for athletics and cricket.