Our Philosophy

Otago Orthodontics was established originally by Peter Gilbert more than 42 years ago, later joined by Peter Dysart and more recently Emily Lam. The practice has been steadily expanding and upgrading ever since. Otago Orthodontics is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our patients is our ultimate mission. Our highly skilled team of professionals are committed to providing the finest personal service and highest possible standard of orthodontic care for our patients. Our practice employs only the most advanced orthodontic techniques that are designed to achieve the best possible outcome in the minimum treatment time necessary. We strive to provide you with as much information as possible before, during and after the orthodontic treatment process. We will provide you with verbal and written summaries of proposed treatment plans before commencing treatment as well as written information about the various aspects of the different treatments we provide. We appreciate the opportunity to provide orthodontic care for you and your family.

Our Facilities

We are pleased to provide a comfortable and relaxing reception area for parents/siblings and a large and welcoming open-plan clinical area for patients in treatment. The practice utilises strict infection control and sterilisation procedures with regular equipment and technology upgrades to keep abreast of current best practice. We believe that everyone should be able to get advice and treatment for their teeth. Teeth play such an important role in one’s’ self esteem. We offer payment plans for all treatment with no large up front deposits. Finally, we are proud to be part of the Wish For A Smile Foundation, which offers orthodontic treatment to children in New Zealand who would otherwise be unable to access orthodontic care due to financial hardship. Our clinic is staffed by an experienced team of orthodontists, orthodontic auxiliary assistants and administration staff.

Our Team

Emily Lam

Orthodontist

Emily is our specialist orthodontist; she is passionate about braces and loves living in Dunedin with
her husband Yash and her two children.
She completed her undergraduate dental training at the University of Otago in 2004 and her
postgraduate specialist training at the University of Otago in 2010, with a Doctorate in Clinical
Dentistry specialising in Orthodontics.
Emily spent 3 years in private practice and teaching oral surgery in Melbourne. After her doctorate,
she decided to stay in Dunedin as she had the opportunity to join Peter Gilbert and Peter Dysart in
private practice. Emily has treated over 3000 patients in Dunedin and the Otago region.
Outside of orthodontics, Emily’s interests include riding her bike, cooking, gardening and holidays
with her family. She is a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, the New
Zealand Dental Association and the Dunedin Dental Association. Emily is proud to be a participating
orthodontist for the Wish for a Smile Trust, the charitable arm of the New Zealand Association of
Orthodontists.

Tracy Ramage

Office Manager

Tracy joined Otago Orthodontics in 2014. She manages the administration and
finances for the practice. Tracy has a wealth of experience in the accounting industry and enjoys providing work of a high standard and all aspects of patient contact. She is the mother of two adult children and loves spending time at their family holiday base in Central Otago enjoying the great outdoors.

Michelle Port

Orthodontic Receptionist

Michelle is our receptionist. She has a vast experience in working with people and will always greet you with a smile. Michelle is the proud mother of two awesome girls, and loves spending time with friends and family, having holidays with her husband, watching cricket and tennis.

Kirsty Donaldson

Clinical Manager

Kirsty joined our team in 2019 and is one of our registered orthodontic auxiliaries. One of her favourite things about her job is getting to meet so many amazing patients and witnessing their transformations. Her interests outside of work include spending time with her family and catching up with friends.

Mel Love

Orthodontic Auxiliary

Mel has been part of the team since 2016 and greatly enjoys working with all ages and interacting with the patients. Originally from Central Otago, Mel enjoys spending quality time with her children and husband. In her spare time, she loves being outdoors, whether it’s gardening, going on bike rides, or taking the kids fishing.

Kristy Eyles

Orthodontic Auxiliary

Kristy is one of our orthodontic auxiliaries and has been a part of the team since 2021. She enjoys all aspects of her job, especially taking braces off and seeing all the amazing new smiles. In her spare time Kristy enjoys running, biking, swimming, tramping and travelling.

Jess Wendelgelst

Training Orthodontic Auxiliary

Jess works as a training orthodontic auxiliary at Otago Orthodontics. Jess spends her weekends camping or at the beach tackling waves. The highlight of her job is working with a wonderful team and witnessing the smiles on our patients’ faces as they leave.