Emma Pritchard

For over 30 years they have been among the industry leaders throughout the Coffs Coast region and beyond.

Renowned for their professionalism, commitment to excellence, and the highest standard of quality patient care, the experienced team at Brad Pearce Dental treat every patient like family with a compassionate and gentle approach.

Recently, they welcomed two new staff members, Dr Harjot Nahal and Dr Nirjyot Gill, who are working two days per week at Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton.

Last week, the Clarence Valley Independent had the pleasure of meeting both of them, and they shared with us their enthusiasm and dedication to their profession, and their excitement at working within our regional community.

Dr Nirjyot Gill

Motivated by her passion to provide the highest standard of care to her patients while fostering a welcoming and supportive environment, Dr Nirjyot Gill’s journey into dentistry has been strongly influenced by her own personal experiences which define her professional work ethic and engaging mannerisms.

While she enjoys all aspects of dentistry, Dr Gill has a particular interest in working with anxious patients and strives to make their individual dental experience as positive and stress-free as possible, drawing on her caring and empathetic nature and comprehensive skills to help put them at ease.

Hearing stories of patients less fortunate experiences in the dental chair only fuelled her devotion to her profession and her desire to ensure everyone feels safe, comfortable, and well-cared for as soon as they walk through the doors of Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton, and her commitment to positive patient experiences has become the cornerstone of her practice philosophy.

Dr Gill also enjoys working with children, and her gentle approach and playful interaction help alleviate any apprehensions young patients may have while focusing on making their visit enjoyable and educational.

Born and raised in a regional farming community in Queensland, Dr Gill graduated from James Cook University in Cairns with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2020, and recently moved to the Coffs Coast region with her husband Dr Harjot Nahal, who also works at Brad Pearce Dental.

Describing Northern NSW as a lovely area where communities come together and everyone is more than willing to help each other out, Dr Gill said she loves coming to work and seeing her patients leave with smiles on their faces.

“It’s very fulfilling when you know someone has had a good experience at the dentist and you watch them walk out happy and pain free,” she said.

“You know a good outcome has been achieved.”

Dr Gill said some of the more common cases she encounters are patients who present to her with cracks in their teeth and worn-down teeth which has been caused by stress related clenching and grinding.

And while she is more than happy to recommend alternative treatments and preventatives such as night guards which offer additional comfort and protection, Dr Gill will also take the time to speak with her patients to help them identify, reduce, and alleviate, the underlying causes of their dental issues.

Dr Gill works at Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton each Tuesday and Thursday and is always looking forward to meeting and working with new patients.

Dr Harjot Nahal

Born and raised on a banana farm near Coffs Harbour, Dr Harjot Nahal feels extremely blessed to be living and working within his local community, with his connection to the region enhancing and strengthening the trust and rapport he has amongst his patients.

After journeying to Far North Queensland and graduating from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Dr Nahal recently moved back to Northern NSW and joined the team at Brad Pearce Dental earlier this year, and works across their practices in Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, and Woolgoolga.

Driven by his commitment to provide excellent dental care, Dr Nahal also focuses on educating patients of all ages on the importance of good oral health practices in a comfortable and compassionate environment.

While ensuring each patient feels respected, valued, and understood during their appointment, Dr Nahal’s zealous work ethic and dedication to his profession, along with his warm and engaging approach, makes him a valuable asset to Brad Pearce Dental.

Describing his work as being incredibly rewarding, Dr Nahal also prioritises the overall wellbeing of his patients, ensuring every visit they make to the dentist is a calm and stress-free experience.

“There is a very historical fear of dentists,” he explained.

“Children can be very scared to go to the dentist, especially if they have had a traumatic experience, and it is so important that we are empathetic and understanding towards them, and all of our patients, and we listen to them and help them to feel safe.

“To help patients relax once they sit in the dentist chair, I’ll give them a stress ball to squeeze to distract themselves, and I also encourage patients to bring in headphones so they can listen to their favourite music during their appointment.

“It’s also important to have conversations with every patient about taking care of their teeth, and brushing their teeth twice a day.

 “It’s all part of our empathy towards our patients, and we try and spread the message to encourage good habits to develop early.

“I always tell my youngest patients that the more they clean their teeth, the longer they get to keep them.”

While constantly striving to achieve the best results and outcomes for his patients to help them rediscover their confidence in their smiles, Dr Nahal enjoys working within all aspects of dentistry and is unwavering in his dedication to providing everyone who books an appointment at Brad Pearce Dental with a positive experience.

Dr Nahal works at Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

His meticulous nature means he will always take the time to provide comprehensive treatment, and each procedure is done with dedicated care and precision.

Photo 1: Dr Harjot Nahal. Image: Emma Pritchard