Meet the Doctors
As a multi-practitioner dental practice, our team of dentists and associates provide both family dental health and expertise services. Together, we’re able to accommodate extended and weekend hours, including emergency care. In fact, our dentists have over 60 years of combined experience!
Dr. Nerdin Medhat — General Dentist with Focus on Periodontics and Dental Implants
Dr. Medhat is a General Dentist in the Greater Toronto Area with extensive education and experience in periodontal plastic gum surgeries and implant dentistry. He obtained his Bachelors of Dental Science at the University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry.
Dr. Medhat traveled to Europe to continue his studies at the University of Paris, Diderot (Paris 7). He earned his Certificate of Superior Studies in Anatomy and Certificate of Superior Studies in Physiology. He obtained University Diplomas in both Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. At Paris 7, Dr. Medhat worked closely with Dr. Jean Marc Dersot, President of the French Society of Periodontology and a renowned clinician and international lecturer in the fields of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry.
After completing his studies in Europe, Dr. Medhat traveled to the United States to attend Columbia University in New York City. He obtained an advanced Implant Continuum under renowned clinical and international lecturer Dr. Dennis Tarnow.
Dr. Medhat then moved to the United Arab Emirates to work for the Ministry of Health for 4 years, overseeing matters pertaining to periodontal and implant dentistry. He served as a member of the examining committee of UAE Ministry of Health for general dentists seeking to obtain licenses to practice in the UAE. From 2007 to 2012 he worked in many dental clinics in Dubai, exclusively in the areas of periodontology and implant dentistry.
In March 2012, he moved to the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. He passed the National Dental Examination Board of Canada’s Equivalency Process and earned Canadian Dental Board Certification in 2014.
Dr. Medhat has extensive experience in digital dentistry and CAD CAM technology as well as full arch dental implant reconstruction.
Dr. Wayne Wright — General Dentist with Focus on TMJ, Occlusion, Fixed Prosthetics, and Dental Implants
I have always enjoyed working with my hands. Art was a favorite subject at a very early age. By the time I was in grade 11, I decided I would like to pursue Dentistry as a career. I enjoyed the science subjects in high school and I felt that the medical sciences would continue to hold my interest. I knew that Dentistry would allow me to use my artistic skills and allow me to have a career where I could continually learn and help people.
After graduating from Southwood High School in Cambridge, Ontario, I went to the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, for two years, taking an honors Biology course. I was fortunate enough to be accepted at Western and the University of Toronto to study Dentistry. I chose to take my dentistry at the University of Toronto and graduated in 1975.
After graduating from the University of Toronto, I set up my practice with a classmate and practiced at the corner of Speedvale and Edinburgh in Guelph. During the time at this office I enjoyed taking continuing education courses. I had developed an interest in helping patients with temporomandibular joint problems. This required advanced courses in occlusion with Dr. Rudy Slavic for a four-year period of study at the Gamma Institute in Rochester, New York, between 1982 and 1986. Following those courses, I continued my occlusion studies with Dr. Martin Mai of Austria between 1987 and 1989. This was the study of functional geometry in occlusion, using axiography for the reconstruction of the dentition.
These courses in occlusion taught me that I needed the skills of diagnosing orthodontic problems to help my patients achieve a perfect occlusion. So, after two-years at the Canadian Straight Wire Institute, I completed the course in 1985.
Another mentor that I had in the field of occlusion, was Dr. Thomas Abrahamson, whose course in analysis aids in the diagnosis and treatment planning for restorative dentistry and occlusal correction of severely worn teeth.
After 17 years at the Speedvale location, we had outgrown the space. I enjoyed designing the office that I’m presently in now. We moved into the Woodlawn Road practice in 1992 and I found that the design has worked out well and helped me to preserve my energy. I sold the practice in 2011 but remain as an associate working 3 days per week.
After practicing for over 42 years, I find that I still enjoy working with patients that I now consider friends and I take pride in seeing that the majority of these patients have followed our advice and have healthy mouths. Over this period of time I have noticed that as we age our teeth begin to wear and I find it a challenge and enjoy turning the clock back by restoring the teeth to what they were before time took its toll. This problem has been a challenge in finding a way to restore the worn mouth in an economic fashion, yet using my skills in occlusal dentistry.
One of the procedures I enjoy doing is restoring teeth using gold inlays and onlays. This form of Dentistry has almost become a lost art, which is really a shame. These cases that I completed over 25 to 30 years ago continue to look as good as the day we placed that form of Dentistry. To restore teeth using inlays and onlays requires more thought and attention than just preparing a tooth for a complete crown. I have found this to be the most conservative form of Dentistry and it has outperformed everything else that I have done in the 42 years that I have practiced.
I have been a member of the Rotary Club of Guelph Wellington since 1989. Our club has helped multiple charities in this city which impact children’s lives. Internationally, our club has raised funds for schools in South America and Africa. Rotary has also raised funds that have almost eliminated the plague of Polio from this world. One of our main means of raising funds is the annual Rotary Duck Race at Riverside Park in Guelph, on July 1. This has been ongoing since 1990.
One of my favorite hobbies is gardening at our residence and our family cottage in Huntsville. I also enjoy woodworking and taking on construction projects including building bridges and clearing roads at our hunt and fishing club in the Bancroft area. Huntsville and Bancroft also allow me to pursue my hobby of fishing. I also enjoy deep-sea fishing with a group of dentists that I have known for over 30 years. This has allowed me to fish from north of the Arctic Circle all the way to the Amazon River in Brazil. My wife Anne and I still have our mothers and we are able to spend time with them as they are at a retirement home in Guelph. Also, since I have been working three days a week, it has opened up more time to spend with our three wonderful grandchildren, our children and their spouses who all live in Guelph.
Dr. Dina Al-Numani — General Dentist with Focus on Pediatric and Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Dina is a practicing cosmetic dentist with over 15 years of experience. She received her Canadian dentistry license from the Royal College of Dental Surgeon and she is a member of the Ontario Dental Association. She is trained and certified in Moderate conscious sedation (nitrous oxide and oral sedation).
Dr. Dina enjoys practicing dentistry and works hard to provide high quality dental care. She strives to create a comfortable, friendly and family oriented atmosphere for her patients. Her kind and gentle personality ensure that each one of her patients experiences the most comfortable and relaxed dental treatment. Her gentle care makes even the most anxious patients at ease.
Dr. Dina is continuously improving her skills by continuing her education through various courses. Her aim is to expand her knowledge in advanced dental technology to provide dental care that is technologically up to date.
Aside from dentistry, she enjoys traveling, biking ,shopping and spending time with her family.
Dr. Lizbeth Ornelas — General Dentist
Dr. Lizbeth Ornelas is a dedicated general dentist with a passion for helping patients achieve a lifetime of healthy smiles. She obtained her degree in dentistry at the Benemeritus University of Puebla -Mexico in 2000.
Dr. Ornelas moved to Canada and passed the national examining board of Canada. In 2018 she received her Canadian dentistry license from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO). She is also an active member of the Ontario Dental Association (ODA). She makes every effort to stay on top of the current developments in dentistry and attends numerous continuing education courses. Dr. Ornelas has most recently completed the CARDP annual symposium titled “the art & science of preserving the natural dentition”.
She joined the Uptown Guelph Dental team in 2021. When she is not in the office, Dr Ornelas enjoys spending time reading as well as hiking and swimming.
Dr Firas Elias – General Dentist with Focus on Orthodontics
Dr. Elias is a General Dentist in the Greater Toronto Area with extensive education and experience in orthodontics as he has been an orthodontist back home since 2002 . He obtained his Bachelors of Dental Science at the University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry in 1994.
He received his Canadian dentistry license from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) and he is a member of the Ontario Dental Association (ODA). He is trained and certified in moderate conscious sedation (nitrous oxide and oral sedation).
Dr. Elias is continuously improving his skills by continuing his education through various courses. His aim is to expand his knowledge in advanced dental technology to provide dental care that is technologically up to date.