Our Team

Dr Brandon Krapf

Dentist and Founder

Our founding dentist Brandon did not follow the typical path to become a dentist. In 2003 Brandon graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.Sc. in Commerce and worked for many years as a sales consultant for dental implant manufacturers in both the United States and Australia. Though Brandon immensely enjoyed the collaborative relationship with so many talented clinicians, he dreamed of treating patients himself. Already living in Melbourne, Brandon completed his dental training at the University of Melbourne. He worked for a time in both Melbourne and Tasmania before permanently relocating with his family to Launceston in 2016.

Brandon’s exposure to oral surgery and dental implants through his sales career evolved into a keen interest in surgical procedures and techniques, exodontia, and oral implantology. Brandon has heavily invested both time and financial resources to extend his training with continuing professional development courses ranging from theoretical to cadaver and live patient surgery. He has had the great fortune to observe some of the world’s most respected clinicians in live patient surgery. Brandon co-directs the local study club for the International Team for Implantology with our local periodontist. He is also the Tasmanian State representative for the Australasian Osseointegration Society. Beyond just surgery, Brandon is enthusiastic about all things dentistry, and is active in the Tasmanian Dental Association

Dentistry keeps Brandon very busy, but not as busy as his three adorable and spirited little girls, Bronte, Violet, and Harper. A myriad of sports and other activities dominate the nights and weekends for Brandon and his lovely wife Jasmin, but they still find time for lots of camping and discovery of the great outdoors. Tassie offers treasures untold for a family like Brandon’s.

Brooke Elmer

Director of Nursing

If you blink, you might miss Brooke, our Director of Nursing, because she is always on the move helping any and everywhere around the practice. She started her Certificate III in Dental Assisting in 2015 and has been Brandon’s primary clinical partner for the past 5 years. She shares Brandon’s passion for dentistry and for doing beautiful clinical work in an environment of genuine warmth and compassion. Her tagline is borrowed from the practice values, “better every day.” And she does…get better every day. Sharing Brandon’s mission, she found it tremendously rewarding to watch the dream of Trusted Smiles become a reality and already start to enrich patients’ lives. Whether in dental surgery or hospital operating theatre, Brooke excels in all things surgical. She shares Brandon’s addiction to dental courses and frequently attends with him to bring the nurse’s perspective to new tools and techniques implemented in the practice.

Brooke grew up in the meander valley community and lived locally, until 2 years ago when she moved to Latrobe. She and her partner Brayden are currently very excited to be building their own house in Latrobe. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her two Border Collies (Charlie & Clover), who you may have met at the dental practice. She enjoys her health and fitness, playing both netball and basketball. Although Brooke is clearly the better athlete, you can see her cheering on Brayden and Deloraine men’s senior footy team most Saturdays.

Reegan Heathcote

Senior Patient Liaison

Meander Valley born and bred, Reegan was offered her first dental position in 2016 while she was busy working on a Certificate III in Disability. In part through her teammate Brooke Elmer, a dental position lured her away and she has not looked back. Reegan is our Senior Patient Liason, keeping our front office running smoothly as our practice management software guru. Reegan has long felt that her favourite part of her job is assisting in the patient journey, from taking the first phone call with a shaky and apprehensive voice, to meeting a patient for the first time, to the evolution through a treatment plan, to basking in the beaming smiles of patients that have had life-changing dentistry. Her interest has recently developed into participating in clinical treatment, and she is rapidly completing her Certificate III in Dental Assisting. Ever the avid equestrian, Reegan spends her spare time competitive show jumping with her loyal Border Collie Kovah in tow.

Ella Oxford

Trainee Dental Nurse

Ella is our trainee dental nurse and came to us from the most unlikely of places – McCulloch’s takeaway shop next to the dental practice. What she lacks in experience she makes up for in warmth, kindness, and a robust sense of humour. She has taken to dentistry like a fish to water, with a keen desire to learn and grow and the humility to seek advice and feedback. She is rapidly working through a Certificate III in Assisting and already spending a lot of time in surgery with Rachelle and Brandon. In her free time, she enjoys health and fitness and plays netball for Meander Valley. She has a loveable one year-old golden retriever called Oaki, who you may have met at our grand opening party. When we hired Ella, we felt guilty about stealing her away from McCulloch’s, but we take solace in knowing that she is back there almost daily to get her favourite hot chippies!

Bradie Jones

Senior Dental Nurse & Receptionist

When Bradie first started training for her Certificate III in Dental Assisting, she did not realize how quickly she would be drawn into the challenge and reward of treating patients and working in fast-paced, close-knit teams. The eight years since then has seen a rapid growth in Bradie’s skill set and has flown by in a flash! Bradie first crossed paths with our founding dentist Brandon in early 2019 and realized they had closely aligned values and they formed a quick friendship. Bradie joined Trusted Smiles after 15 months of maternity leave. Happy to travel because she wanted to be part of the special culture Trusted Smiles is trying to build, Bradie lives in Latrobe. Bradie is an “all-rounder,” comfortable across all areas of the dental practice. Bradie and her wonderful hubby Waide are absolutely besotted by their beautiful, happy and adventurous one-year old daughter Rivah. In their spare time, the whole family enjoys camping in their caravan, fishing, spending time with family, and generally keeping active.