Lumino the Dentists, Frankton, Queenstown and Kawarau Dental

24/09/2025

✨ Specialist Spotlight ✨

Recently we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Julia Smith, Specialist Orthodontist based in Wanaka, to visit our practices! 😃

While we offer Invisalign treatment in-house, it’s essential to also have local specialist orthodontists we can refer to when needed. We’re so fortunate to work with Julia – the feedback we hear about her care and results is always outstanding.

We’re also excited to soon be working with her new colleague, Dr. Luci, and continuing to provide our patients with access to world-class orthodontic care.

A huge thank you to Julia for taking the time to visit us today – we love building these strong connections with the specialists who help us look after our patients’ smiles. 🦷💙

👉 If you’d like to explore orthodontic care with Julia and her team, you can either come and see us first for a referral, or – if you and your child are up to date with your examinations and hygiene – you can also self-refer directly. Learn more here: https://lakesortho.co.nz.

22/09/2025

Collaboration highlight!!

✨ Ever wondered who’s behind many of the beautiful dentures our patients receive? Meet Gareth McMurdo, one of our trusted local Clinical Dental Technicians.

👨‍🔬 With over 20 years of experience in New Zealand and Australia, Gareth is known for his skill, artistry, and dedication to quality. Since opening The Denture Centre Queenstown in 2015, he has built a strong reputation across Central Otago for creating dentures that look and feel natural.

We’re so lucky to have Gareth working alongside us – his denture work is second to none. In fact, he recently made a denture for one of our dentist’s fathers, and it was simply beautiful!

👉 Thinking about dentures?

Book an examination with us, and we can provide you with an oral health certificate to see Gareth at The Denture Centre. Contact any of our Lumino practices in Queenstown, Frankton, or Kawarau Park to get started.

20/09/2025

Specialist Spotlight ✨

Meet Dr. Kieran O’Neill, our long-time Queenstown orthodontic specialist! 😃

Kieran has been visiting our Frankton Lumino practice for over 30 years, helping local families achieve healthy, confident smiles. Based in Invercargill with a Queenstown branch, he practiced in Hamilton and Melbourne before completing his Masters in Orthodontics at Otago University.

He's active in professional circles, being Past President of NZAO, and currently President of the Asian Pacific Orthodontic Society, and is also a member of several other international Orthodontic societies.

Outside the clinic, Kieran is all about family life, multisport, social cycling, and kayaking – with just a hint of competitive spirit! 🚴‍♂️🏄‍♂️

🦷 Want to see Kieran? Contact any of our Lumino practices – Queenstown, Frankton, or Kawarau Park – for a referral!

15/09/2025

We’ve been freshening up our website pics to get ready for all the extra visitors we hope will be dropping by after our radio ads hit the airwaves 🎶✨

The big debate: do we look better all polished and professional… or when we let the silly side shine through? 😜📸

One thing’s certain—our Queenstown crew is redoing theirs 😆

Next time it’ll be something a bit more exciting than a wall in the background… promise! 😂 Watch this space!

31/08/2025

❄️ Bluebird Days & Chilly Smiles! ❄️

How good is this fresh snow on The Remarkables?! Perfect for carving up the mountain… but not so fun if your teeth are feeling the chill. 🥶

If icy winds or a sip of something cold make your teeth twinge, it could be a sign of dentinal sensitivity – or even a cavity. Both are worth checking out before they become something bigger.

Our team can help you enjoy the slopes and your hot chocolate without that zing of pain.

📞 Book your appointment today and let’s get those smiles slope-ready!

26/08/2025

All our three practices are participating Dental Providers 🙌

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BBzj5PtmM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

20/08/2025

✨ This week Dr Garnett, Dr Angela, Dr Holly and Dr Judy are heading to the NZDA Conference! ✨

We’re looking forward to an incredible few days of learning, inspiration and connecting with colleagues from across the country. A big thank you to the rest of our amazing team for holding the fort while we’re away – we couldn’t do it without you! 🙌

We can’t wait to bring back fresh ideas, knowledge and insights to share with our team and continue delivering the very best care for our patients. 💙

Promotional video for NZDA Conference & Expo to be held at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre from 21 – 23 August 2025.

18/08/2025

✨ Meet Holly Johnson – Queenstown’s Longest-Serving Hygienist ✨

Working out of Queenstown Lumino on Shotover Street, Holly has been looking after Queenstown smiles for the longest time! She joined us all the way from Canada after graduating from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene in 2013. She’s passionate about helping patients look after their smiles, guiding them with prevention and oral health tips, and making sure every visit feels positive and relaxed. 🦷💙

Her care philosophy is simple: treat every patient the way she would want to be treated – with kindness, empathy, and great oral care.

Outside the practice, Holly loves tramping, travelling, trying new recipes (or eating out), and has a well-known weakness for cheese 🧀.

Fun fact: at our last Christmas party Holly won the "Champagne Award" for her sparkling personality – and if you’ve visited, you’ll know exactly why! ✨🥂

We’re so lucky to have Holly on our Queenstown team. 💫

06/08/2025

🦷✨ Did you know we have a CBCT machine at Lumino Kawarau Park?

We’ve had this advanced 3D imaging technology for over a year now — and it’s a game changer for diagnostics and treatment planning. Not all general dental practices have direct access to a CBCT, and we’re proud to offer it right here in our Kawarau Park practice.

CBCT (Cone Beam CT) scans give us incredibly detailed 3D images of your teeth, bone, nerves and sinuses — helping us plan treatments like implants, wisdom tooth removal, root canals, and orthodontics with precision and confidence.

💙 Hang on... do you already go to our Frankton or Queenstown practice?

🙏🏼 No problem — we frequently get referrals from other practices, and we believe everyone should have access to this level of care when it’s needed.

If you are wondering if CBCT imaging could help with your treatment, just ask your dentist, they can refer you — we’re here to help!

📞 03 2651751
📧 referrals: kawaraupark@lumino.co.nz

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04/08/2025

🦷 Meet Dr Judy Sim – Frankton’s Original Smile-Maker! 🦷

Did you know Dr Judy Sim was the founding dentist of our Frankton practice way back in 1993? She first arrived in Queenstown in 1989 and has been helping locals with their smiles (and their confidence!) ever since.

Judy is known for her gentle care and long-term approach to dental health — and her incredible knack for diagnosing the trickiest of cases. With years of experience she has great instincts and a calm way of getting to the root of even the most obscure dental puzzles.

These days, Judy’s books are usually full and due to her popularity with her existing patients she’s not often taking on new ones, but she continues to play a huge part in our team — supporting, backing and referring to our other talented dentists.

Outside of the clinic, you’ll often find her exploring Queenstown’s hill trails or spending time with her family — including two sons she’s very proud of.

🌟 After 31 years, we’re still lucky to call her ours. Thank you Judy, for the legacy and leadership you bring every day. 💙

31/07/2025

Spotlight on Dr. Lia Dessy-Moore 💙
Our lovely Lia brings a seriously impressive 27 years of global dental experience to our team at Lumino Frankton – and patients love her for her attention to detail, her caring and gentle approach, and her awesome laugh! 😄

Originally from Argentina, Lia studied her Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of La Plata, in Buenos Aires, where she also tutored in Biophysics, and later completed a two-year postgraduate diploma in Clinical Dentistry at the University of Buenos Aires.

Once in New Zealand, Lia completed the New Zealand Dental Registration Examinations in Dunedin, at the University of Otago.

Lia is multilingual, she speaks Spanish, Portuguese and quite a lot of Italian too!

Lia is known for being able to restore even the most broken-down teeth, with precision and care. 🦷✨

Lia has called Queenstown (and Frankton Lumino) home for 22 years, and spends her weekends adventuring with her husband and their daughter – often on the slopes or zipping around on her electric bike. 🚲❄️

If you’re looking for a dentist who combines experience, empathy, and exceptional skill – Dr. Lia is here for you.

📍 Book in at Lumino Frankton today – your smile is in very safe hands!

https://apac.mydentalhub.online/v1/view/organization/1015/index.html #/perspectives/3

29/07/2025

🔬 Root canal with a view?
Meet Dr Holly Wentworth – formerly known as Dr Holly Christmas

If you’ve been wondering where Dr Holly Christmas has gone — don’t worry, she’s still here in Queenstown, now practicing as Dr Holly Wentworth at our beautiful new Kawarau Park Lumino clinic.

Holly is a general dentist with a special interest in endodontics (root canal treatment). She’s one of the few general dentists in the region equipped with a dental microscope, which means she can provide precise, high-quality root canal care — often receiving referrals from other dentists for more complex cases.

With over 20 years’ experience, and a serious love for endodontics, Holly is all about combining modern technology with patient-first care. She’s a former member of the Lumino Clinical Advisory Board and loves being part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team.

Holly is Queenstown’s go-to for precise, comfortable root canals.

New clinic, new name, same great care. 💙