Emma Anastasi reports back from a visit to London Dental Arts, where Arman Barfeie is using his own background and the diversity of his team to achieve outstanding dentistry.
Stepping inside London Dental Arts in Forest Hill, I am struck by the vibrant sense of community filling the space. The reception is bright and welcoming, and there is a quiet confidence in the way the team moves together. It quickly becomes clear that this is not just a dental practice, but a reflection of the diverse, dynamic community it serves – one that is now celebrating its fourth anniversary.
Arman’s journey
At the heart of this thriving clinic is founder Dr Arman Barfeie. Arman’s journey to south east London is as remarkable as the growth of the practice itself. Born in Tehran and raised in Sirjan, Dr Barfeie’s fascination with dentistry began early. At seventeen, he left Iran behind for Ukraine, driven by ambition and a willingness to start anew.
In 2010, he arrived in the UK to requalify and pursue his vision. Initially, he supported himself with long hours in a restaurant and late nights in the university library. When international sanctions blocked family support and tuition fees were lost, he borrowed from friends and worked extra shifts to make ends meet.
‘Those experiences tested me,’ he tells me as we walk the corridors of his clinic. ‘But they also gave me perspective. Once you have faced real struggle, everything else feels possible.’
Persistence saw him through. Dr Barfeie completed his master of clinical dentistry in prosthodontics at Cardiff University and earned membership in prosthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He sought mentorship from leaders in the field, refining his approach and deepening his commitment to evidence-based care.
Excellence and empathy
London Dental Arts was born in 2021 from a vision to create a practice where excellence and empathy go hand-in-hand. Growth came quickly. What began with a small team soon expanded to four surgeries and over 30 staff. More than 8,000 patients have been treated to date. The awards followed: Best Aesthetic Practice, finalist for Principal Dentist of the Year, and Digital Practice of the Year.
Yet, it is the people who truly set this place apart. As I observe the team, I notice a remarkable breadth of backgrounds and experiences. More than a dozen nationalities are represented here, mirroring the rich tapestry of south east London. Dr Barfeie is proud of this.
‘When your team reflects the community, patients feel understood,’ he says. ‘Every culture brings empathy, ideas, and perspective.’
It is a philosophy that is lived out daily, and patients often remark on the sense of belonging they feel from the moment they arrive.
Diversity with a shared purpose
Arman shares a story from the early days: a single mother, in the UK for fifteen years but with little English and no qualifications, came seeking work as a dental nurse. Dr Barfeie gave her a chance. With his support, she learned English, passed her exams, and rebuilt her confidence.
‘That is one of the proudest parts of my journey,’ he says. ‘Dentistry transforms lives, sometimes our patients’, sometimes our colleagues’.’
There is a sense of momentum here, and as London Dental Arts marks its fourth anniversary, the team is looking to the future. Dr Barfeie is preparing to launch a new academy, which is already attracting interest from delegates around the world. The academy will focus on pioneering 4D dentistry and sharing the clinic’s commitment to innovation and excellence with the next generation of clinicians.
As national conversations about immigration and identity continue, London Dental Arts stands as a powerful example of the good that can come when people from different backgrounds unite with a shared purpose. My visit leaves me with the sense that this is a practice where diversity is not just celebrated, but essential to its success.
Here, the pursuit of excellence is matched only by the commitment to inclusion, and every patient is welcomed as part of the community and every team member as part of the London Dental Arts family.
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