Dr. Arun Natarajan is a leading Specialist Paediatric Dentist based in Christchurch. Arun is passionate about all aspects of paediatric dentistry and specialises in providing dental treatment for children and anxious teenagers under conscious sedation and behaviour-modification therapies including paediatric clinical hypnosis.
He has developed a niche way to help children and teenagers realise they can cope with dental anxiety, previous pain experience and fears related to dental settings using their own imagination, thoughts and having a tailored comfort plan.
Arun completed his specialist training in Dunedin through the University of Otago and graduated with a Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry (Paediatrics) in 2013. Following this, he worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne as a senior paediatric dental registrar before moving back to Christchurch.
In addition to his work at Happy Smiles, Arun currently works as a Consultant Paediatric Dentist at the Christchurch Hospital Dental Service (since 2014) and is the current chair for Specialist Paediatric Dentists New Zealand (SPDNZ) and past president for the NZ branch of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD).
Dr. Arun Natarajan is a leading Specialist Paediatric Dentist based in Christchurch. Arun is passionate about all aspects of paediatric dentistry and specialises in providing dental treatment for children and anxious teenagers under conscious sedation and behaviour-modification therapies including paediatric clinical hypnosis.
He has developed a niche way to help children and teenagers realise they can cope with dental anxiety, previous pain experience and fears related to dental settings using their own imagination, thoughts and having a tailored comfort plan.
Arun completed his specialist training in Dunedin through the University of Otago and graduated with a Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry (Paediatrics) in 2013. Following this, he worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne as a senior paediatric dental registrar before moving back to Christchurch.
In addition to his work at Happy Smiles, Arun currently works as a Consultant Paediatric Dentist at the Christchurch Hospital Dental Service (since 2014) and is the current chair for Specialist Paediatric Dentists New Zealand (SPDNZ) and past president for the NZ branch of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD).
Arun is dedicated to providing specialist paediatric dental care hence limits his scope of practice to children, teenagers and some young adults with special needs on a case basis, ensuring tailored treatment approaches that address their unique needs. Over nine years of rigorous training in Dentistry, including senior registrar and fellow training in large hospitals across New Zealand and Australia, he honed his expertise in Paediatric dental care. Arun has published several peer-reviewed papers both nationally and internationally and regularly lectures to dentists and community dental therapists. Outside of dentistry, Arun is a proud father of two daughters who keep him busy. When he’s not caring for young patients, he enjoys reading, biking, socialising and savoring a well-made Kiwi coffee!
Ruth Lund, Oral Health Therapist at Happy Smiles Dental Care, Christchurch. Ruth graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2019 with a Bachelor of Oral Health and was granted the Jane Chalmers award for excellence in Special Needs Dentistry.
Ruth began her career working with children in the South Australian Dental Service and developed a passion for creating a positive and friendly dental experience.
She is enthusiastic about demystifying dental care for children and creating a fun dental visit. During her time with the South Australian Dental Service she also gained experience working with children on the Autism spectrum and those with special healthcare needs.
You will find Ruth to be friendly, compassionate, gentle and thorough in her approach.
As well as caring for her clients, Ruth loves nature walks, socialising with friends and baking! She is involved in various youth activities and takes great pleasure exploring beautiful New Zealand since moving here in 2022.
Ruth Lund, Oral Health Therapist at Happy Smiles Dental Care, Christchurch. Ruth graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2019 with a Bachelor of Oral Health and was granted the Jane Chalmers award for excellence in Special Needs Dentistry.
Ruth began her career working with children in the South Australian Dental Service and developed a passion for creating a positive and friendly dental experience.
She is enthusiastic about demystifying dental care for children and creating a fun dental visit. During her time with the South Australian Dental Service she also gained experience working with children on the Autism spectrum and those with special healthcare needs.
You will find Ruth to be friendly, compassionate, gentle and thorough in her approach.
As well as caring for her clients, Ruth loves nature walks, socialising with friends and baking! She is involved in various youth activities and takes great pleasure exploring beautiful New Zealand since moving here in 2022.
Our team has the knowledge and training to positively shape your child’s experience of dental care.
We work on building relationships with our young patients and their whānau before they visit our clinic, using a range of custom-developed tools to help children understand their treatment and put them at ease.
We are experienced in supporting children with a wide range of physical, intellectual and isolated behavioural needs. Please give us a call to speak to our friendly staff to know more about how we could make your child’s dental visit more comfortable as possible.
We offer a full range of dental services for teenagers, from routine care to general and surgical dentistry.
By the time they reach their teens, a significant number of Kiwi kids may have unfortunately developed apprehension around dental visits. Some teenagers having dental anxiety may also hesitate to seek dental care which can result in poor oral health and may lead to expensive and complex dental treatment in the future.
At Happy Smiles Dental Care, we recognise the impact of dental anxiety on oral health and general health. Our approach is unique and tailored to their individual needs. We will work with your child to learn about their unique circumstances, discuss different options and help them know what to expect when they visit us.
At Happy Smiles Dental Care, we will work together with a range of different specialists to deliver co-ordinated specialist dental care for your child, including:
At Happy Smiles, we will work together with a range of different specialists to deliver co-ordinated specialist dental care for your child, including:
At Happy Smiles, we will work together with a range of different specialists to deliver co-ordinated specialist dental care for your child, including:
Directions to Happy Smiles Dental Christchurch