Meet our team of dental experts
Our Story
For many patients, dental emergencies don’t happen between nine and five. They happen after work, late at night, or when you least expect them — and finding help shouldn’t add to the stress. That reality is what shaped Dr W van der Walt Inc. & Night Owl Dental.
In late 2021, I met Dr W.W. Iwanik, a Polish dentist who had been caring for patients in the Brooklyn area for many years. He was well-known, deeply respected, and had built a wonderful practice that many in the community trusted.
At the time, I had started noticing how difficult it was for patients to find a dentist after hours when emergencies struck. I reached out to Dr Iwanik to ask if I could use his practice to help patients in pain after-hours. I’ll never forget the moment – he looked at me in disbelief, burst out laughing, and with his thick Polish accent said, “You’re crazy! Aren’t you tired enough of this job?” Then he handed me the keys to his practice.
In May 2022, I officially took over the practice. My goal has been simple ever since: to continue delivering honest, high-quality dental care – calmly, carefully, and with heart – whether it’s day or night, rain or shine.
I am proud to say that our practice has grown – we now have three full-time dentists who alternate covering weeknights and weekends for emergencies, ensuring our Night Owl patients are always cared for.
Our Team
Dr Wian van der Walt
Dentist
Having worked in multiple dental practices, Dr Van der Walt settled down in the beautiful, lush suburbs of Brooklyn, Pretoria. It is here where he practices dentistry with a different philosophy: The only difference between a good dentist and a great dentist is time. Taking the time to listen, taking the time to diagnose, taking the time to communicate and taking the time to treat. “There is no ‘one size-fits-all’ in dentistry; each and every patient that walks through our doors is different and needs to be treated as such.
Dr Kesh Naik
Dentist
Dr Kesh Naik graduated from the University of Pretoria in 2020 and hails from the sunny province of KwaZulu-Natal.
He has a calm, reassuring demeanour that helps patients feel comfortable and at ease from the moment they sit in the chair. Dr Naik enjoys all aspects of dentistry and is committed to providing thoughtful, patient-centred care.Fun fact: He has an identical twin brother who is also a dentist.
Dudu Thokane
Dental Assistant to Dr Kesh Naik
Dudu brings a warm, vibrant energy to our practice, and no task is ever too big or too small for her. With many years of experience as a dental assistant, she adds valuable skill and confidence to our team.
She works closely alongside Dr Kesh Naik, helping ensure each patient’s visit runs smoothly and comfortably. Outside of the practice, Dudu is a huge lover of music – something that perfectly matches her upbeat and positive personality.
Teresa De Sousa
Receptionist and Front of House
Teresa is responsible for scheduling patient appointments, follow-ups and general admin tasks. She has been with the practice from the very start and ensures that everything runs smoothly from the front desk.
Vivienne van der Walt
Night Owl Dental Administrator and Patient Well-being
Vivienne handles our emergency line during the day and seeks to accommodate every emergency patient, where possible. Having an extensive background in social work, her warm presence helps calm even the most anxious of patients before their dental procedures, which is also extremely helpful for our paediatric patients who might be visiting the dentist for the first time.
Anneen Snyders
Practice Manager
Anneen is the backbone of our practice and deals with all patient accounts, medical-aid authorisations, remittances and allocations. She does all the hard work behind the scenes to keep our systems running efficiently. She also has extensive knowledge and experience in the dental industry, ensuring the optimal well-being of our practice.
Paulina Mdluli
Sterilisation and Cleaning
Paulina is our invaluable sterilisation and cleaning professional. She ensures that our practice and equipment stay as clean as a whistle. She forms an integral part of our team, without whom we can’t function as efficiently as we do.
Jamie-Lee Corneelse
Dental Assistant to Dr Wian van der Walt
Jamie is Dr Van der Walt’s right and left hands. She is an exceptional dental assistant with a positive attitude that is contagious throughout the practice.
Eliza Masombuka
Dental Assistant to Dr Ummi Moosa
Eliza has recently joined our team, and she fits in like a glove. She primarily assists Dr Chilro-Meyer and probably speaks the most fluent Afrikaans in the entire Practice.
Now That You’ve Met the Team…
Let’s take the next step together — book your appointment today and experience care from people who treat you like family.