Meet the Team at Our Locations

Dr Michael Letham, BDS (Hons)

Dentist

'I aim to treat all of my patients as if they are family. As such, I strive to be caring, gentle and compassionate whilst always being thorough and meticulous. I love involving and educating my patients so they can make informed decisions about their dental treatment – and therefore have a healthy smile for life.'

– Dr Michael D Letham

Mike established Bayside Smiles in 2006 with his wife and fellow dentist, Magda. He graduated from Sydney University in 2000 with Honours, receiving the R Morse Withycombe Prize for Proficiency in Clinical Periodontics (gum treatment). Mike worked throughout Australia and the UK gaining a broad range of experiences and knowledge, including active service in the Royal Australian Navy in the Persian Gulf.

Having established his own practice, Mike aims to provide patients with high-quality, long-term dental care. Mike strives to provide a modern, holistic approach tailored to each individual’s requirements. His focus is on being thorough and meticulous whilst being caring and compassionate.

Mike is a member of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), Australian Osseointegration Society (AOS), Australian Society for Occlusal Studies (ASOS), Australian Prosthodontic Society (APS) and the International Team for Implantology (ITI).

He lives locally and has three young children, Oliver, Lucy and Hugo.

Dr Henry Yang, BDS (Hons)

Dentist

Henry is a Melbourne local who moved to Brisbane to study dentistry at the University of Queensland, where he graduated with Honours. Before joining the team at Bayside Smiles, he gained a diverse range of experience in both private practices and hospital settings within Ballarat and Southeast Melbourne.

Henry loves getting to know his patients and strongly believes in establishing positive dental experiences. He prides himself on his gentle and calming chairside manner.

A passion for dentistry and desire to provide high-quality, comprehensive dental care sees him attend many hours of continuing education to keep up with the latest techniques and treatments. He is currently studying for a post-graduate diploma in orthodontics.

Outside of dentistry, Henry is a self-professed foodie and can be found eating his way through Melbourne. You can also find him on a tennis or basketball court, and he enjoys supporting his mighty Bombers.

Dr Mihir Hargovan, BDS (Hons), MClinDent (UK)

Dentist

Born and raised in Melbourne, Mihir graduated with honours from the University of Melbourne in 2011. After completing his studies, he moved to regional Victoria, where he has had extensive experience in both public and private dental practice. In 2013, he was appointed a senior dentist at Goulburn Valley Health and a lecturer at the University of Melbourne. His role was to provide clinical supervision and mentorship to final-year dental students.

Since then, he has spent his time in private general practice in Shepparton. Although he is passionate about all aspects of general dentistry, he has a particular interest in prosthodontics. He is currently completing the final year of a Master's in Clinical Dentistry at the prestigious King's College in London. He finds it especially rewarding to restore function and dental health to individuals suffering the detrimental effects of extensive tooth wear or broken down dentitions.

He always aims to treat his patients with empathy and understanding whilst striving to provide the highest quality, evidence-based care. He enthusiastically supports the profession and was the inaugural treasurer of the Australian Dental Association's Goulburn Valley Group.

In his spare time, you will find him on the golf course or supporting his beloved Hawks. He also loves to travel the world ...

Dr Becky Liefting

Dentist

Dr Becky Liefting is a female General Dentist from the UK

She graduated from Leeds University UK in 2009. Her interest in Dentistry started at the tender age of 14 when her own dentist helped her overcome her fears of having her first filling. Her interest in Dentistry and all things tooth related started from there! She decided she would make it her mission to give as many people as possible that great experience that she had.

After graduating, Becky completed further studies in London, including working at a specialist clinic for nervous patients (so if you’re a bit anxious Becky has experience putting patients at ease). She also completed several restorative courses and worked at a practice in London for several years before meeting her husband, Adam. Adam is an Aussie and Becky didn’t take much persuading to move down-under. That was in 2013 and now Becky, Adam, little Florence and their French Bulldog, Rupert, are firmly settled in Melbourne.

Becky is a skilled general practitioner providing all aspects of dental care for her patients, as well as aesthetic and functional improvements with Invisalign/ Invisalign Teen and short-term orthodontics. She particularly enjoys the artistic/ cosmetic aspect of dentistry and finds bonding beautiful natural looking restorations, to gently ...

Dr Vicky Zhang

Dentist

Dr Nayna Mistry, BChD

Dentist

Nayna is an experienced dentist with over 17 years of local and international experience. She is dedicated to superior patient care across multiple disciplines. Passionate about dentistry since her teenage years, she graduated from Leeds University, UK in 2006 before moving to Australia in 2008. She worked in Queensland’s public dental sector before transitioning to private practice in Melbourne’s South East suburbs in 2011.

Nayna enjoys all aspects of general and restorative dentistry, with a special interest in orthodontics having completed further studies and training in both fixed braces and Invisalign.  She is dependable and adaptable and prides herself on delivering high-quality patient care and education, focused on providing tailored treatment plans to individual needs. Committed to excellence, she stays updated on the latest advancements through continued education and global conferences.  Furthermore, she consistently strives to treat her patients with compassion and understanding, firmly believing in creating positive dental experiences.

Beyond dentistry, Nayna is a devoted wife and mother who enjoys pilates, cooking, exploring different cuisines and traveling the world. 

Ms Mallory McDonald, BOH

Oral Health Therapist (Maternity Leave)

‘I strive for all of my patients to feel comfortable and cared for during their appointments. My hope is to provide you with gentle but thorough dental treatment, so we can achieve a healthy smile together.’

- Mallory McDonald

Mallory grew up locally in Bayside, where she attended St Leonard’s College before going on to graduate as the top student from the Bachelor of Oral Health program at the University of Melbourne. Since then, Mallory has had experience working in both private and public settings throughout Melbourne. As an avid traveller, Mallory has also volunteered her dental skills in rural Australia and internationally.

Dually qualified as a dental hygienist and therapist, Mallory enjoys working with patients of all ages to help them achieve a healthy smile they can be proud of. With a strong focus on patient education, Mallory takes pride in ensuring her patients understand their oral conditions and what they can do together to improve them.

Mallory appreciates that not everyone loves visiting the dentist but hopes she can work with you to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. She does this by employing a gentle treatment approach and working with you to overcome any concerns you may have.

Outside of work, Mallory loves to stay active ...

Leah Balsillie

Oral Health Therapist

With over 12 years of experience in the dental industry, Leah began her career as a dental nurse in Melbourne before pursuing further study at Charles Sturt University, where she earned a Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. As a qualified Oral Health Therapist, Leah brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and energy to every patient interaction.

Leah is known for her bubbly and caring nature, and she’s passionate about making each visit as comfortable and pain-free as possible. She enjoys working with patients of all ages, with a strong focus on preventative dentistry and patient education.

Leah works in our clinic on Mondays and Fridays and spends the rest of her week at a community dental clinic, including one day with the Smile Squad school dental van, helping promote oral health in local schools. When Leah isn't at work she enjoys going on hikes, traveling the world, and spending time with friends and family and looking after Pepper the dalmatian. 

Nicole Brodie

Hygienist

Nicole brings over two decades of experience in the dental field, with more than 10 years dedicated to dental hygiene. She is committed to providing gentle, thorough care in a relaxed and supportive environment.

She believes that great dental care goes beyond clean teeth—it’s about building trust, fostering long-term relationships, and helping patients feel confident in their oral health. Nicole is always happy to answer any questions before, during, or after your appointment. Originally from Bayside, Nicole is deeply connected to the local community, having both grown up and completed her education in the area.

Outside of the clinic, she’s a busy mum to two young children—a toddler and a baby—which keeps life full and fast-paced. When time allows, she enjoys reading, live music, morning jogs, and unwinding with a good thriller series or film.