ADI NextGen Committee
The ADI NextGen committee is a dynamic and vibrant group of dental implant professionals dedicated to addressing the evolving demands of clinicians in the field. With a firm commitment to advancing the profession and fostering its growth, ADI NextGen endeavors to ensure the discipline continues to go from strength to strength.
Members of ADI NextGen are actively engaged in sharing insights and expertise at ADI events across the UK while also organising activities intended to empower new and young implant professionals, providing invaluable support and guidance to emerging practitioners. Learn more about each of the committee members below.
Read a review of the NextGen prgramme at the 2023 ADI Team Congress
Follow the NextGen on Instagram @adinextgen
Dr Ricky Bhopal
Ricky graduated as a dentist from the University of Manchester with BDS Honours in 2014 and was the recipient of the prestigious Charles H Preston prize medal. Ricky attained multiple awards and prizes for achieving; the highest in finals, highest overall student over the 5 year Dentistry course, distinction in case presentations and was also awarded the outstanding academic achievement award for being in the top 0.5% of students at the University of Manchester.
Since qualifying, Ricky has had a range of experience in both dental practices and in hospitals. He worked as an Oral & Maxillofacial Senior House Officer at Northampton General Hospital, where he developed his oral surgery skills. He went on to gain Membership in Faculty of Dental Surgery with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2015. Ricky achieved a Diploma in Endodontology in 2016 before embarking on a 4 year specialist program in the field of prosthodontics at Guy's Hospital/ King's College London.
During his specialism, Ricky developed a passion for providing crowns, bridges, dentures and all aspects of implant dentistry. Ricky graduated from his specialist training with Distinction and is one of the few specialist prosthodontists in the UK who has passed membership with both Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and England. Ricky's commitment to the dental profession is displayed through his enthusiasm for teaching and works as a mentor to young dentists.
Dr Manraj Kalsi
Dr Kalsi graduated from Leeds Dental institute in 2016 and completed his vocational training in West Sussex. Following this, Manraj worked across South West London and Surrey, gaining experience in NHS and private Dentistry. During this time, he also completed the membership exam for the Royal College of Surgeons, England (MJDF RCS Eng) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Dental Care with Distinction at the University of Kent.
Furthermore, Dr Kalsi regularly attended courses and conferences across the UK. Dr Kalsi also had the privilege to shadow and work with several specialists during this time to increase his knowledge base and skills. His special interests lie in periodontology, prosthodontics and implant dentistry. Dr Kalsi is also a registered provider of comprehensive Invisalign In 2022, Manraj completed his Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry in Periodontology at Bart’s and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. In the same year he also passed the Specialty Membership in Periodontics exams from both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh as well as being awarded the prestigious Diplomate in Implant Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Following the completion of his Periodontology specialty training, Manraj is currently undertaking specialty training in Prosthodontics at the renowned UCL Eastman Dental Institute.
Many patients and staff have commented on Dr Kalsi’s gentle and caring persona, whilst appreciating his thorough nature alongside the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
In his spare time Dr Kalsi enjoys keeping fit by going to the gym and socialising with friends and family.
Manraj is a member of the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry (BSP), the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI), the International Team of Implantology (ITI), the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD), the British Dental Association (BDA), the British Society of Prosthodontics (BSPPD), the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry (BAAD) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Dr Payvand Menhadji
Payvand is currently training to be a specialist in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at Guys Hospital in London Bridge. She spends 3 days a week at the hospital treating complex periodontal cases, non-surgically and surgically, referred in by dentists in the London area. It is expected that she will complete her training in 2025 with admission onto the GDC Specialist Register. She spends her other working days in general practice practising, focusing her work on Periodontology.
Prior to this Payvand carried her BDS training in Liverpool and holds a Biochemistry degree from Kings College London. She has completed Dental Core Training in Oral Surgery and Restorative Dentistry at Guys Hospital and has completed a PG Cert in Dental Education.
DR Nikhil Patel
Nikhil qualified from the University of Birmingham in 2012. After graduating, he worked in Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital’s Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial departments as a Senior House Officer.
He is passionate about providing his patients with the highest quality of care possible. Having a real interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry led Nikhil to complete a Diploma in Implantology from the Royal College of Surgeons, in addition to an advanced certificate in restorative dentistry. He enjoys carrying out simple to complex implant cases. These include those involving bone grafting, immediate placement and teeth in a day cases with all-on-x treatments using multiple systems including Straumann. He is also involved in mentoring and lecturing diploma students.
Outside of dentistry, he loves playing and watching football, cooking (but more so eating!), and travelling.
(BDS, MFDS RCSEd, DipImpDent RCSEd)
Dr Viraj Patel
Having qualified as a dentist in 2012, Viraj has set out to gain the necessary experience to help become one of the lead Implantologists in the UK for the future. He underwent hospital training in Maxillofacial and Oral surgery in 2014 and has since attended multiple Dental Implant courses within the UK. In 2018 his passion for implants led him to New York City, where he enrolled for 2 years at New York University (NYU), on the renowned Advanced Implant Dentistry Program.
Since moving back to the UK, on completion of the Program, in 2020 he has been working as a dental implantologist in private practices across London. Along the way he has been awarded multiple accolades including "Future Star" prize by the International Team of Implantology in 2021, he was voted "Best Young Implant dentist” in the UK 2022 and in 2023 the “European Prize for Clinical Innovations in Implant Dentistry” as well as winning the award for the best Clinical Case for the “Complex Implant treatment” Category.
He is a key opinion leader for some of the leading implant companies within the UK including (Geistlich, Biohorizons, Zimvie and Sweden&Martina) and is now lecturing and presenting internationally.
He also sits on the board of notable Junior Implant Organisation committees including The NextGen Committee with the Association for Dental Implantology (ADI) UK and the Junior Committee for the European Association of Osseointegration (EAO).
His passion within implant dentistry lies in Regenerative Implant dentistry including Bone and Soft tissue Augmentation.
(BDS (Hons), MJDF RCS England, Certificate in Advanced Implant Dentistry (New York University), PgCert Clinical Teaching (RCGP), Clinical Implant Diplomate (ICOI))
Dr Rajiv Sheth
Dr Sheth qualified with both his undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree and postgraduate Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, from King’s College London.
He has owned and run his own practice for 10 years, transforming it from a basic NHS family practice into a fully private cosmetic and specialist practice. His passions lie in multidisciplinary cases, with a particular interest in full mouth rehabilitations and perioplastic surgeries.
An active member of both the ADI and the British Association of Aesthetic Dentistry, he has been trained by some of the world's best surgeons.
Outside of dentistry, Dr Sheth feels most at peace in the great outdoors and has a close connection with the ocean and the bushveld. He has spent time in Africa and Australia, working with wild and rescued animals.
Dr Joel Thomas
Joel graduated from Bristol University following which he worked as a general dentist in Worcestershire. During this period he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, gaining his MFDS post graduate qualification.
Joel quickly developed a particular passion for surgical dentistry, prompting him to pursue and advance these skills in the hospital environment. He gained two years experience as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Senior House Officer, working in both Worcester and Bristol.
Joel then began his four year Periodontal Specialist training (MClinDent) at Guy's Hospital London. During this time he also enjoyed teaching undergraduate students at Kings College London.
Joel has published numerous articles in both national and international journals as well as presenting his work at multiple national conferences. He is fast becoming a prominent name in the South West region due to the passion and perfectionism he shows towards his work, with a particular interest in soft tissue enhancement around both teeth and implants.
Dr Jaimini VadGama
Jaimini qualified with Honours from King’s College London Dental Institute in 2012. During her foundation training she gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Dental Care from the University of Kent alongside passing membership examinations for the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. She gained her MSc in Implant Dentistry from the University of Warwick in 2017 and is currently undertaking an LLM in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh.
Jaimini has a broad general practice providing general dentistry with a special interest in digital and laser dentistry as well as facial aesthetics and comprehensive orthodontics. She is a part of the core teaching faculty and Digital Module Lead at Brighton and Sussex Medical School on the MSc in Dental Reconstructive Implant Surgery and was closely involved in the development and teaching of the pilot module on Emerging Technologies.
She is deeply invested in digital dentistry and its application in everyday dental practice within implantology, orthodontics and smile design. She has significant experience in implementing fully digital workflows for guided implantology, in-house production of surgical guides, orthodontic aligners and one-visit CEREC implant restorations.
Jaimini is passionate about promoting digital and implant dentistry and inspiring, mentoring and engaging women to excel in these fields where women are still underrepresented.
Dr Jit Vaghela
Dr Jit qualified as a dental surgeon in 2009 from Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute in London. Dr Jit completed his formal Implant training in 2017, and has achieved a Master’s Degree in Clinical Implantology.
Dr Jit has enjoyed over 12 years doing all aspects of clinical dentistry, and since 2020, has limited his clinical practice to Implant Dentistry only. Dr Jit has been placing and restoring implants for over 10 years, and has a keen interest in guided implant surgery.
Dr Jit has previously been an Educational Supervisor for Health Education England and currently teaches and mentors on the Smile Dental Academy Postgraduate Diplomas in Implant Dentistry and also Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry on all aspects of Implant dentistry.
Dr Jit is also a Director of the Smile Clinic Group.
(BDS (London) MJDF RCS (Eng), MClinDent Implantology (London), PGCert Medical/Dental Education)