Meet The Team

Dr Shane Johnstone began operating his practice from Hallett Cove Dental Surgery in May 2021.

Dr Shane was raised in Tasmania and graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Hons) from the University of Adelaide in 2005.

Along with his time in the private sector, he has spent time at both the University of Adelaide and Griffith University as a senior lecturer, and working as the Director of Gold Coast Oral Health Services for a number of years until 2015.

His clinical interests include all aspects of contemporary general dentistry, and he greatly enjoys being able to place patients at ease, especially those that are particularly nervous at first.

Outside of his practice, Dr Shane can be found spending quality time with his family. Some of his hobbies include bushwalking and playing the piano, and he eagerly awaits the time when travel is again an option.

Dr Lauren Gill relocated her practice to Hallett Cove Dental Surgery in 2017. After graduating from the University of Adelaide in 2013, Dr Gill worked in a very busy dental clinic for three years in Mount Gambier, South Australia. While she loved her time working in the country, she is now settled back home in Adelaide.

Dr Gill relishes practising a wide range of general family dentistry, including check-ups, cleans, fillings and crowns. However, she has a particular interest in removing tricky teeth.

She is devoted to attending a variety of dental courses. While operating her busy practice, Dr Gill gained her Diploma of Membership of the Joint Faculties at The Royal College of Surgeons of England. She has also earned a Graduate Diploma of Dental Implantology from James Cook University.

Preferring appointments to be as relaxed and enjoyable as possible, Dr Gill very much enjoys working with patients and talking with them so that they understand the treatment involved and can make informed decisions. She enjoys a close professional relationship with nurses, therapists and other dental professionals.

Dr Gill is a member of the Australian Dental Association and the Australian Society of Implant Dentistry.

When Dr Gill is not seeing patients or attending dental courses interstate or overseas, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Operating her practice from Hallett Cove Dental since 2016, Dr Laura Asenstorfer is a passionate dentist that loves creating positive dental experiences and helping her patients overcome their dental anxiety.

Dr Asenstorfer didn’t always want to be a dentist. Like many young girls, Laura had dreams of becoming a professional ballerina when she was younger. After finding out she had knee problems, dentistry became her focus when her family dentist encouraged her to do work experience in his practice.

As a dentist, Laura loves all aspects of general dentistry. She is passionate about helping her patients achieve and maintain healthy teeth and mouth. She has a keen interest in endodontics, preventing and managing gum disease in her patients.

Away from her practice, Laura teaches ballet locally. She also loves reading good books and tending to all her plants.

Completing her Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Adelaide, Dr Ruby Song began operating her practice from Hallet Cove Dental in 2022.

Dr Ruby thoroughly enjoys building strong relationships with her patients and strives to ensure that each patient in her care has a positive dental experience. It is through her caring and gentle demeanour that she can settle nervous patients and reduce dental anxiety during appointments.

Dr Ruby enjoys all aspects of general dental surgery and is passionate about supporting her patients in achieving a happy, healthy, confident smile.

Outside of dentistry, Dr Ruby enjoys cooking up a storm in the kitchen, baking sweet treats and spending quality time with her family and friends. She is also fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.

Dr Gurpreet Kaur pursued her dream of being a dentist after graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in India. After completing her studies, Dr Kaur practiced as a general dentist in India for seven years before moving to Australia in 2015.

Once she settled in Australia, Dr Kaur undertook further studies so that her qualification as a dentist would be recognised in Australia.

Dr Kaur’s real passion lies in providing the highest level of dental care for her patients in a warm and caring environment. She has a special knack for relaxing nervous patients in the chair and finds changing the stigma around going to the dentist very fulfilling.

Dr Kaur provides dental care ranging from routine family check-ups to more advanced treatments, including root canals, crowns, and bridges. She particularly enjoys treating children and teaching them the importance of good dental habits, setting them up for a healthy mouth for life. Dr Kaur truly believes that there is nothing more satisfying than getting a patient out of pain and seeing a smile on their face. 

Dr Kaur is committed to keeping up to date with continued professional development and regularly attends lectures and courses to ensure that her dental work is of the highest quality. She is also a member of the Australian Dental Association and is fluent in English, Hindi and Punjabi.

Outside of her practice, Dr Kaur enjoys spending quality time with her family, catching up with friends and travelling!

Dr Zac Chua graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Adelaide. Dr Zac worked within multiple clinics across South Australia and Tasmania, providing dental care for a wide range of patients. He has since relocated his practice to Hallett Cove Dental Surgery and brings a wealth of knowledge to his patients.

Dr Zac is dedicated to offering his patients quality dental care and treatment in a calm and relaxing environment. He enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and has a broad scope of practice ranging from preventative care, restorative procedures to emergency dentistry.

Above all, Dr Zac loves meeting new people and developing long-lasting, trusting relationships. He finds great joy in soothing nervous patients in the dental chair as well as working with his patients to help them achieve a beautiful, pain-free smile.

When he’s away from his practice, Dr Zac enjoys living an active lifestyle! He loves outdoor activities ranging from tennis to skiing as well as travelling and exploring different countries with his close family and friends.

Dr Zac Chua is fluent in English and Mandarin.

Chloe Erasito started her career as a dental assistant. Soon after, she developed a keen passion for dentistry which led her to pursue further studies and become an Oral Health Therapist (OHT).

Since graduating in 2015, she has been working alongside the independent clinicians operating their practices from Hallett Cove Dental as an OHT to ensure optimal care for all her patients, and greatly enjoys contributing to their overall health and wellness.

Chloe is passionate about motivating people to care about their teeth and mouth. Her goal is to build rapport with her patients, especially when they are nervous so that they feel comfortable enough to attend regularly. She loves to see the difference in her patients’ oral health from initial visits to continued regular visits.

While she always enjoys treating patients of all ages, her leading clinical interests are in paediatric dentistry where she can teach good oral hygiene techniques and habits to children and adolescents.

Outside of dentistry, Chloe loves spending quality time with her beloved husband and two young daughters.

Karen Kennedy, a compassionate Oral Health Therapist at Hallett Cove Dental, began her career in the dental field as a trainee dental assistant. This early experience ignited her passion for dentistry, leading her to pursue a Bachelor of Oral Health from The University of Adelaide, which she completed in 2016. Amongst other awards, Karen achieved the prestigious Executive Dean's Certificate during her studies.

Since graduating, Karen has garnered a broad experience in the dental field, practising in both public and private dental clinics, as well as in orthodontics. Her diverse experiences have equipped her with a comprehensive skill set, particularly in preventive care.

Karen is passionate about helping patients, especially children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, achieve their oral health goals. She excels in making dental visits enjoyable for children, fostering a positive and relaxed environment that encourages good oral health habits from a young age.

Her clinical interests are focused on providing exceptional dental care and promoting preventative dentistry. Karen believes in the importance of early dental education and intervention, and she is dedicated to empowering her patients with the knowledge and skills they need to maintain healthy smiles.

Outside of her professional life, Karen enjoys an active lifestyle, including bike riding and walking her dogs, as well as spending quality time with her family.