Mark left Malta when he was 19 years old and completed a three and a half year general nursing course in Leeds. He worked in ITU for one year and then started studying dentistry at the University of Leeds. Mark qualified with honours and immediately entered the hospital service working within the Oral and Maxillofacial speciality. In 1995 he obtained his fellowship and was awarded the TC White prize to further his studies within the implantology field in Sweden. Mark is a registered specialist in Oral Surgery both in Malta and the UK. His hobbies include sailing and anything to do with food.

Dr Susanna K Diacono DDS(Gothenburg), LDS (Sweden), M.Dent.Sci(Leeds)

Susanna was born in Stockholm, Sweden and when young moved over to Gothenburg where she studied dentistry.  One year after qualifying she obtained her LDS and then spent one year carrying out research on caries prevention at Gothenburg University.  She moved to the UK after getting married and worked within the hospital service for two years (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) before embarking upon a masters degree in restorative dentistry.  Susanna’s special interests include endodontics (root canal therapy) and aesthetic dentistry.  Hobbies include skiing, hiking and sailing.  She is fully registered both in Malta and Sweden.

Dr Nikolai Attard BChD, MSc(Toronto) PhD(Toronto)

Nikolai qualified in Malta and worked for one year within the hospital service before leaving to Canada to undertake further training under the mentorship of Professor George Zarb.  Nikolai completed both a masters and doctorate degree during his six years in Toronto.  He specialised in implant prosthodontics and was awarded the Astra Prize for outstanding implant research in 2006.  He is presently a lecturer and assistant dean within the faculty of dental surgery at the University of Malta and a scientific editor for the International Journal of Prosthodontics.  Hobbies include gardening, hiking, cooking and gilding (not teeth).

Dr Gabriella Gatt BChD , MSc Paedodontics (London)

Gabby qualified in Malta and immediately worked within the hospital service before moving up to the UK to undertake further training.  She obtained her masters degree in paedodontics (child dental health) at the University of London (Eastman).  Since returning to Malta, Gabby has worked as a part-time lecturer at the University of Malta helping to set up and run the post-graduate child dental health course in Malta.  She sees all the children within the dental unit as well as patients with special needs.  Gabby’s main hobby is painting.

Dr Tim Vella Briffa BChD

Tim, the latest addition to our team, joined the Dental and Implantology Unit as soon as he graduated from the University of Malta.  He works independently as a general dental practitioner within the unit but also devotes sessions to assisting the other specialists within the unit. Tim is currently continuing his studies and has recently passed his first postgraduate exam. He is continuing with his studies and hopes to sit for the second part in the coming months. Work and studies aside, Tim’s love for music takes up most of his free time.  He plays bass guitar with one of Malta’s leading rock bands.