Meet the Teams at Our Locations

Dr Steven Htay

Principal Dentist

Dr Steven Htay (‘Steve’ to all of us here at Ballina Coast Dental) enjoys general family dentistry and gets great satisfaction from working with the patients to provide a bespoke, oral health treatment plan. His passion and interest in healthcare inspired him to pursue dentistry—a career he considers a welcome and rewarding challenge where he can provide hands-on treatment. 

Steve qualified in 2000 as a dentist in the UK, where he grew up, working in both private and NHS practices. After working in both Australia and New Zealand, Steve decided to move permanently to Australia in 2009. 

Steve worked as a dentist in Sydney for six years until relocating up the coast to Ballina in 2016, when he purchased the practice from Steve Shelton. In Australia, Steve has enjoyed exciting and varied assignments with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Northern Queensland, two assignments as Dentist for the Australian Defence Force in the Solomon Islands and tutoring dental students at the University of Sydney School of Dentistry.

Steve’s ultimate goal is to help patients smile again, and he’s always eager to learn and do more for his patients through continuing education and adopting new technologies.

Outside of the dental clinic, Steve enjoys exploring the Northern Rivers region with his ...

Dr Rhiannon Burchall

Dentist

Dr Rhiannon Burchall has been living in the Northern Rivers for 7 years and enjoys working with the community, especially their oral health. Having come from a small country town herself, after relocating from country Victoria, she believes in the importance of a sense of community. Rhiannon has a gentle approach and her compassionate demeanour creates a welcoming and nurturing environment for everyone she treats. In doing so, she spends time with patients aiming to reduce dental anxiety to make patients feel comfortable when in the dental chair and throughout their full treatment plan. Rhiannon has a wide range of interests in the dental field, and believes in a minimally invasive approach to dentistry, aiming to preserve the natural structure whenever possible. In her spare time she enjoys getting outdoors, exploring and camping with her Fiancé and their french bulldog Billie.

Dr Damaris Fernandez

Dentist

Damaris graduated as a dentist in 2006 from the University of Granada, Spain. After she completed her dentistry studies, Damaris moved to East Midland in theU.K where she worked for the National Health Service as a dentist. Damaris then decided to specialise in Orthodontics at the International University of Catalunya where she spent 3 years full time training until she got her Masters degree in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. After she finished her masters, Damaris then had the opportunity to work as a teacher at the Paediatric Department at the International University of Catalunya. During this time, she worked as a general dentist and orthodontist in the north of Spain until she decided to move to Australia with her Aussie partner in 2019. Damaris has extensive experience in Dentistry and Orthodontics being in the industry for nearly 17 years.

Damaris likes to listen to her patient concerns and work towards the best outcome possible for better oral health and patient satisfaction. Damaris is always learning and continually updating her dental knowledge at the same time the dentistry industry evolves.

In Damaris' spare time she enjoys practicing iyengar yoga and visiting local markets, and she loves crafting specially sewing her own flamenco dresses.”

Laura James

Hygienist

Laura is a dedicated Dental Hygienist with a Bachelor of Oral Health from the University of Newcastle. With over 15 years of experience in the dental industry, she began as a dental nurse before earning her degree in 2016. Passionate about oral health education and periodontal care, she takes pride in helping patients achieve their optimal oral health.

Originally from Wollongong, Laura has recently moved to South Grafton and is excited to establish her professional working life in Ballina. She looks forward to meeting the local community and providing high-quality dental care to her new patients.

Known for her compassionate and friendly approach, Laura ensures every patient feels comfortable and well-informed. Outside of work, she enjoys science fiction, snorkelling, camping and teaching yoga, balancing her love for mindfulness and well-being.