Meredyth Bell qualified in 1969 from Newcastle upon Tyne Dental School. She moved to Cumbria and worked with the late Cliff Roebuck in Workington as an Associate for nearly 12 years and then went to Whitehaven working for Laurence Bird. She established St Helens Dental practice in 1984 with only five patients - her husband Richard and their four children!

Apart from working in her practice she was on the board of Dental Protection Limited for 9 years and the Medical Protection Society Council. She has been a past Director of the Northern Division of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners, a member of the Governments Standing Dental Advisory Committee and on Local Dental Committee for 17 years. Meredyth is currently Non-executive Director of Denplan and on the Advisory Boards of the Dentist magazine and DPL.

Meredyth was a member of the General Dental Council for eight years. She was on their Registration Committee and the Dental Complaints Service Advisory Board from its inception. She left in October 2009.

Her special interests are working with nervous patients and special need children especially those with Autism. She was awarded the MBE for services to standards in dentistry in 2000 and the Probe Outstanding Achievement Award in Dentistry 2007.

Outside of dentistry she was a school and college governor working in Primary Secondary and Further education Colleges for 37 years. She loves her garden and entertaining and adores her grandchildren in Australia.

Paul Rowlands qualified from Newcastle Dental School in 2000. Since graduating, Paul has been working at St Helen´s Dental Practice. During this time, he has taken a year out to work and travel round New Zealand.

Paul offers a full range of treatment. He has undertaken a 1 year course in Restorative dentistry (2003) with Paul Tipton in Manchester. He has just completed an advanced course in Endodontics (root canal treatment) in Altrincham and is continuing his training, which will eventually lead to a diploma in Endodontics. Paul is also able to provide orthodontic treatment in the practice with the Clearstep "invisible brace" technique. This involves moving the teeth with a series of clear acrylic positioners.

Outside of dentistry Paul is a keen climber, mountain biker and enjoys outdoor pursuits.

Amanda Strong qualified from Newcastle dental school in 1984. She began work at St Helens dental practice in 1986. For a while the ties of three young sons encouraged her to work nearer home in Penrith. Now her family is older Amanda has returned to job share with Meredyth Bell - between them they will be able to provide five and a half days of dentistry. Amanda is a BDA member and has Denplan Excel accreditation.

Amanda has a keen interest in Cosmetic dentistry and has been on several advanced cosmetic dentistry courses. She completed a year long course in Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry in London in 2008 and is now a Full Member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. If you would like to know more, visit the BACD website.

Amanda is registered to provide CLEARSTEP orthodontics which enables teeth to be moved with a series of clear braces. This is proving very popular with adult patients. Currently Amanda is training in conjunction with Astra and Paul Knight at the Lakeland Implant Centre in Wigton, to restore implants.

Her interests outside of the practice are her family, their farm and walking the fells to keep fit. She is on the Parochial Church Council in Pooley Bridge and enjoys entertaining and cooking.

Noel aims to provide a comprehensive range of dental treatment, delivered with a gentle and caring approach. His special interests are: restorative dentistry; provision of high quality dentures using the advanced Swiss Gerber system; and dental implants.

Noel graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2001. This was followed by 4 years in Senior House Officer training posts (Restorative Dentistry; Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery) in the North of England (Liverpool, Rotherham/Doncaster, Chesterfield, Leeds); and several months in a general practice in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He obtained the MFDS RCSEd postgraduate diploma in 2004, and has also passed the examinations for the MJDF RCSEng diploma (2008), which he aims to complete in 2010 on submission of his Clinical Portfolio. He achieved Denplan Excel accreditation in 2009.

Noel has completed a one year hands-on course (2008) in Restorative Dentistry with the North of England Dental Academy in Leeds. He has also completed (2009) a one year foundation course in dental implantology in London with Dr. Fazeela Khan-Osbourne and Dr. Neil Cooper. Noel is currently enrolled on a further two year implant training program in London and Germany, which will eventually lead to a diploma in implant dentistry from the Faculty of General Dental Practice, The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Noel has a keen interest in voluntary dentistry, and has been involved with many humanitarian organizations in the UK and overseas. In addition to London and Salisbury, his travels have taken him to serve communities in Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya, Mexico, Honduras, and Vietnam. Away from the surgery, his main interests are landscape photography and spending time with his family.

Carlisle lad, educated at Carlisle Grammar School. Entered the Welsh National School of Medicine to train in dentistry in 1970. Graduated in 1975.

Worked in several practices in northern Cumbria.

In 1980, set a practice in Carlisle in the area that he grew up in, and ran a successful family practice for 27 years, selling it in 2007.

Currently works as an Associate dentist in Cockermouth and Appleby.

Hamish also spends a day a week in the Dental School in Newcastle, teaching students how to do it!

Anna Bainbridge qualified as a dentist from Sheffield University in 2006.

She completed her Vocational Training at a practice in Cockermouth before returning to Sheffield to work as an SHO between the Maxillofacial Department at the Hospital and the Community Dental Services for a year.

This lead to full time employment within the Community setting, providing routine dental care to all patients and also to adults and children with special needs ranging from medical health issues, metal health issues, learning difficulties and dental anxiety.

The community Services in Sheffield have strong links with the Dental Teaching Hospital where Anna became involved in the training of Undergraduate students. Anna now works 4 days a week at St Helen´s Dental Practice and continues to work 1 day a week at the University ­ the students definitely keep her on her toes!

Anna is delighted to be back in Cumbria, as she grew up here and missed the beautiful scenery and calmness of the area. When she is not in her car travelling between the Lakes and South Yorkshire(!) she spends time with her family and friends enjoying what life has to offer.

Ann was born and grew up in county Monaghan, Ireland. She commenced her career working as a dental nurse in Dublin and developed an interest in preventative dentistry. She subsequently studied to be a Hygienist and graduated from Glasgow Dental School in 1981. As a new graduate she worked in Kent for a few years before coming to Cumbria initially as a locum. She joined St. Helen's Dental Practice in 1992 and has worked part time in the team since then.

Outside of surgery Ann is kept busy with her family and is interested in walking and cycling.

Her husband has a job working in West Cumbria, so Liz has now put her roots down and is looking forward to developing her career here - her home and her vegetable patch

Alison is originally from County Durham and moved to Cumbria in 2002. Since moving to Cumbria Alison has worked at the practice starting as a receptionist and becoming Practice Manager in 2004. She has completed a BTEC Professional Diploma in Practice Management and is fully trained in using AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Alison is head of reception and responsible for computer training.

Outside of work Alison enjoys going to the gym, swimming and walking the fells with her best pal Scamp (her dog).