Partners

Dr Rajan Bhatiani
BDS (London)
GDC No. 64479
In September 2017, Rajan changed his role at the practice, from a clinical role and is now the Managing Partner, overseeing the smooth running and future development of Hitchin Dental Care. As the mastermind behind our practice, he is the best person suited to making our practice the best it can be.
Rajan first set up the practice in 1992 and since then has grown it into our specialist Hitchin practice we can see today.
He has been caring for his patients for over 30 years and has an excellent reputation with patients for his calm and understanding approach when assessing their individual treatment needs. Rajan makes sure that we are always up-to-date with the latest techniques and materials by attending high tech and other essential professional development courses.
Specialists
- Charlie BarnfieldSpecialist in Endodontics
- Dr Robert WardSpecialist Periodontist
- Khemanand MaharajSpecialist Oral Surgeon
- Dr Jayesh PatelDental Implant Surgeon

Charlie Barnfield
BDS, MClinDent, MEndo (RCSEd), MEndo (RCSEng)
GDC No. 244930
Charlie graduated with a Bachelors of Dental Surgery from King’s College London in 2013. After completing foundation training in the West Midlands he furthered his experience with a senior house officer post in maxillofacial surgery at both Gloucester and Cheltenham Hospitals, before more general dental practitioner jobs in Sussex. He gained an MJDF (Membership in the Joint Dental Faculty) qualification from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2015.
Further interest developed in restorative dentistry, and he subsequently completed a one year postgraduate certificate in Endodontics (root canal treatment and root canal retreatments) from the University of Chester in 2016. Later that year, he was awarded a place on the very competitive MClinDent 4 year specialty training programme (leading to be a specialist Endodontist) from the world renowned Eastman Dental Hospital, with an affiliated national training number.
Charlie has limited his practice to Endodontics, accepting internal and external referrals for complex root canal treatment procedures and endodontic surgeries, as well as diagnosis of dental pain, trauma management and internal bleaching.
Charlie has attained Membership in Endodontics examinations from the Royal Colleges of Surgeons for London and Edinburgh. Attainment of this js the highest possible qualification in the field of Endodontics. He has also been appointed to teach and mentor postgraduate dental students on the two year taught Diploma in Endodontics from the Eastman Dental Institute.
Charlie has a calm manner and takes time to fully discuss all the options, including the proposed treatment, so his patients can be at complete ease during the treatment process. He prides himself on providing precise technical work to provide the best level of care to his patients. In his spare time he likes to play golf, experiment with cooking and enjoys going to the latest theatre shows and museum exhibitions.

Dr Robert Ward
BDS, LDS.RCS (Eng), MSc (Periodontics)
GDC No. 67854
Rob qualified at the Royal London Hospital in 1992. After a spell in general practice in Essex and central London, he started his MSc in Periodontlogy at the Eastman Dental Institute in 1995. In 2001 he was accepted onto the Specialist list. In 2005 he set up a Multi -disciplinary Specialist Practice in Milton Keynes. He lectured locally on a range of Periodontal subjects to his referring colleagues and set up a local study group. Rob sold his practice in 2014 and has been a peripatetic Periodontal Specialist. Robert combines Practice with a teaching role at Guys Dental Hospital. He lectures in Periodontology as well as helping to run Consultant Clinics. He enjoys supervising students in the care of their patients. Rob is delighted to receive referrals from his colleagues and is happy to use his expertise to treat patients with all ranges of Periodontal disease.

Khemanand Maharaj
DDS(UWI), MFDS RCSEd, BMedSci, MBBS(UWI), MRCSEd, MSc Dist. (UCL), PG Cert, FDS RCS(Eng), FRCSEd (OMFS)
GDC No. 260676
GMC No. 7173169
Mr Khemanand Maharaj gained his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of the West Indies. After this he attended medical school while working as an associate dental practitioner and gained his Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMedSci), Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Membership to the Faculty of Dental Surgery Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh (MFDS RCSEd).
After completing his medical training he set his eyes on surgical training to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. He successfully acquired his Membership to the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (MRCSEd) in 2014. He also attended the prestigious University College London, Eastman Dental Institute, where he was awarded a Master of Science with Distinctions (MSc Dist.) in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Mr Maharaj trained in the East of England Deanery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Programme over 5 years, completing his Fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (FRCSEd OMFS) in 2022.
Mr Maharaj likes to keep up to date with the latest technological advances in Medicine and Dentistry and to further his knowledge and expertise in his field. He is a member of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS), British Association of Hand and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) and the European Association of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgeons (EACMFS). He has a Sub-Specialty interest in Head and Neck Oncology with Facial Reconstruction and all other aspects of Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr Jayesh Patel
B.D.S M-MedSci (Implantology)
GDC No. 61883
Dr Jay Patel gained his Bachelor of Dentistry from Kings College of Medicine and Dentistry, London in 1986. He worked in general practice with an emphasis on cosmetic work, placing his first porcelain veneers and undertaking whitening procedures over twenty years ago.
During the nineties, Jay turned his attention to a new field in dentistry – dental implants. Having undertaken his training at the prestigious Eastman Academy in London, he later gained his Masters Degree in Dental Implantology at the Charles Clifford Dental Institute.
Jay is a member of the association of Dental Implantology, British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the ITI (International Team for Implantology) and continues to further his professional development, which has previously seen him travel to North America and Europe, ensuring his knowledge is passed on to patients and colleagues alike, assuring them that they are in good hands.
In 2011, Jay became one of the few dentists in the country to turn his hand to Cerec technology. Keen to provide his loyal patients with the latest treatments, using 3D computerised technology, Cerec allows patients to transform their smile within one day, making high quality crowns in house.
Dentists
- Dr Anil RajaDentist
- Dr Andrew BrownDentist
- Dr Roshni SharmaDentist
- Ceindeg Fflur ArwelDentist
- Dr Kuldip Chawla (Ricky)Associate Dentist

Dr Anil Raja
BDS
GDC No. 66750
Anil brings over 25 years of experience in dentistry to the practice.was born in Uganda and came to England in 1972. He is married and has two boys, aged 9 and 12. Having completed his dental training at King’s College London School of Dentistry, he worked in practice in Thamesmead in south London before moving to Hertfordshire in 1992, where he has remained ever since.
He is known for his gentle manner and calming affect on nervous patients.
Anil has a keen interest in aesthetics and enjoys veneer cases and adult orthodontics as well as all aspects of general dentistry.

Dr Andrew Brown
BDS, MFDS (Edin), PGCert Dental Law & Ethics
GDC No. 193543
Andrew grew up in Yorkshire, the home of Yorkshire Tea! He graduated from Newcastle Dental School in 2010 and spent time working as a private dentist in Australia before returning to the UK. He worked in London in private and NHS practice, and recently moved to Hitchin to start a new chapter – married life! Andrew is a very caring, ethical dentist who is very good with nervous patients and has a special interest in cosmetic dentistry, particularly Emax crowns and teeth whitening. Outside of work, he likes to keep active, running for charity, playing squash and ‘improving’ his golf game. He used to play rugby but had to take a step back from this as he couldn’t afford to injure his hands! He also enjoys cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Dr Roshni Sharma
BEng(Hons) BDS MFDS RCSEd
GDC No. 270740
Roshi graduated from the University of Liverpool gaining distinctions in Restorative and Oral Health.
Prior to this, she also completed a degree in Dental Materials Science from Queen Mary’s College, University of London.
Upon completion of her foundation training, she worked at three district hospitals, The Luton & Dunstable, Welwyn QE2 and The Lister Hospital, Stevenage, working in their Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery departments.
She now brings her hospital experience to the practice, offering exemplary general dental services, as well as Invisalign in combination with composite bonding and whitening for her patients. She has gained certification from a highly reputable facial aesthetics institution and enjoys providing anti-wrinkle and filler treatments for patients, as well as more advanced procedures to include treatments for gummy smile, hyperhydrosis and bruxism. Roshni is also an affiliate member of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Ceindeg Fflur Arwel
BSc(Hons) BDS(Hons) MFDS RCSEng
GDC No. 284177
Ceindeg graduated from Cardiff University in 2019, receiving several awards for her work. Before this, she completed her studies in Biomedical Science and Anatomy at the same institution.
After completing her foundation training, Ceindeg returned to her hometown in North Wales, where she began her career as a general dentist. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she demonstrated her commitment to patient care by being redeployed to a field hospital in the ITU, where she aided in providing care to critically ill patients. Later, she devoted her weekends to supporting the mass vaccination efforts in her local community.
In 2022, Ceindeg relocated to Hertfordshire to join the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department based at Luton and Dunstable Hospital. In this role, she has addressed the needs of patients across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, working in emergency care, operating theatres, and specialised clinics. She has also presented her research and clinical work at both national and international conferences.
Ceindeg is a friendly and ethical dentist who takes great pride in her work. She is passionate about family dentistry, promoting oral health and education, and providing care for children. Her diverse experiences in both general practice and hospital settings have equipped her with a comprehensive skillset to deliver exceptional patient care. In her spare time, Ceindeg enjoys traveling and gardening.

Dr Kuldip Chawla (Ricky)
GDC No. 251168
Kuldip (known as Ricky) graduated as a dentist from the University of Central Lancashire in 2014, following the completion of his BSc in Biochemistry with Forensic Science from Queen Mary University of London.
His dedication to dental excellence has enabled him to complete a post-graduate program in comprehensive aesthetic and restorative dentistry, alongside attaining an MSc with distinction in Clinical Implantology and he regularly involves himself with events run by organisations such as the International Team of Implantologists (ITI) to further his skills and knowledge. His qualifications also include accreditation from the world-recognised Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD) in Dental Sedation.
Ricky can offer his patients general dental services as well as more aesthetic driven services to include anterior and posterior composites, composite bonding, tooth whitening, complete smile makeover restorations, and facial aesthetics to include anti-wrinkle and dermal filler treatments. He is also an accredited full Invisalign provider.
Hygienists

Sarah Crompton
GDC No. 153507
Sarah trained at Birmingham Dental Hospital and is qualified in 2008. As a dental therapist she performs many small restorative procedures on both adults and children and as a hygienist she also has an active role in the practice hygiene department. During her studies she was awarded The Tepe Prize for patient communication.

Arionne Nanan
BDS
GDC No. 297209
Arionne graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of the West Indies. She practiced as a General Dentist prior to migrating to the UK where she is presently registered as a dental Hygienist. She works closely with our Periodontal specialist ensuring all our patients receive best care to optimize periodontal health. This entails assessment of patient’s gum health, providing professional dental cleanings and polishing and giving individualized dental hygiene advice for both adults and children.
Receptionist

Rebecca Gooding
Rebecca is our senior receptionist who has been with the practice since July 2019. Rebecca has a degree in hospitality management which she studied in Manchester. In her spare time, she is learning a language and enjoys socialising with her friends

Alex
Alex is the newest member of our reception team. Alex recently got back from Italy, where she spent three months travelling and working on organic vineyards. In her free time, Alex enjoys socialising with her friends, cooking and making jewellery.
Nurses
From left to right, our dental nurse team is as follows:
- Saffron Diedrick – Dental Nurse – GDC: 296185
- Holly Surridge – Treatment Care Coordinator and Dental Nurse – GDC: 276983
- Charlotte Bentley – Treatment Care Coordinator and Dental Nurse – GDC: 257206
- Sajidah Begum – Apprentice Dental Nurse
- Bushra Khan – Nursing Team Leader – GDC: 273682