Long-standing Byng Street dental practice, Watkins Dental, has welcomed new associate dentist, Dr Jeffery Guo, to the team.

Jeffery, who graduated from Charles Sturt University in Orange last year, is the first associate dentist to join Watkins Dental in over two decades.

“We are at a stage now where the population of Orange is growing dramatically and I think there is a good scope for Jeff to move into the business,” said Dr David Watkins, who has practiced dentistry in Orange for 35 years.

“Jeff approached me initially to see if I was interested in taking on an associate dentist and I did a bit of due diligence and research and chatted to people I know at CSU and he came up very well.

“They all spoke very highly of him and once I met Jeff and got to know him a bit, it just worked out very well. He is a lovely young guy and very good with kids too. I think he has a good career and a good future ahead of him.”

Originally from Central Coast, Jeffery said he was drawn to a career in dentistry as it combined so many of his interests.

“I was always keen on using my hands. So when I was younger I was always interested in cooking and knifeworks —  I was on Junior Masterchef when I was in Year 7,” said Jeffery

“But I love science. I really enjoyed chemistry and physics and so was looking at what was hands-on but science related.

“And I also love relationships with people, that talking and interaction, and the one thing that fell into all those categories for me was dentistry. So in Year 10 I did work experience with a local dentist and I just loved the interaction that the dentist had with patients. It was genuine care, where all the focus was on that patient and providing for the treatment and needs of the patients.

“That's what spiked my interest in dentistry and I've been keen to do that ever since,” said Jeffery, who really has made Orange his home.

“My partner, she was born and bred in Orange and she is here for the long haul, so I'm also here for the long haul!”