Our Team & History from 1988
your local family dentist Since 1988
Hogans Road Dental was founded by Dr Bill Patten in 1988 when his service for the Royal Australian Air Force was completed. The building was specifically constructed to operate a dental clinic and that’s where you’ll find us today some 33 years later. Over this time we’ve been a trusted provider of dental care for the local communities of not only Hoppers Crossing and Werribee but also those of Tarneit, Truganina, Wyndham Vale, Williams Landing and surrounding suburbs. The principle foundations of honesty, integrity and trust upon which the clinic was founded remains the same today and we endeavour to keep it that way for generations to come.
Our Team
Lou Hogarth
PRACTICE MANAGER
Lou was born in Brisbane, Queensland and in 1977 joined the Royal Australian Air Force. She completed her dental assisting training in Wagga Wagga (NSW) and in early 1978 met Dr Bill Patten. Both Lou and Dr Patten served the Royal Australian Air Force for over 11 years.
In 1988, Dr Patten started Hogans Road Dental Surgery with Lou by his side, where she was the practice manager until 2002. She left Hogans Road Dental to work in the Sunshine Coast (QLD) being a practice manager at a dental clinic there until her return to Hogans Road Dental eight years later.
Lou has been in the dental industry for over 40 years and is genuinely passionate about her work and her patients’ well being. We are incredibly blessed to have her as a member of our team.
Lou has always had a love for animals and has been a vegetarian since the age of 13. She has also adopted gorgeous rescue dogs that she loves to spend time with. In her spare time she also enjoys crocheting and quilting.
Dr Afnan Jahola
DENTIST - ADC (melbourne) BDS (iraq)
Dr Afnan was born in Iraq, grew up in England and moved to Australia in 2017. She gained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2003 from the University of Mosul.
In the past she has worked as an interpreter with refugee families supporting them and their children to settle in Australian schools.
In her spare time she enjoys watching documentaries and reading. She loves music and spending time with her family.
Dr. Shifa Parkar
Dentist - ADC, BDS
Dr Shifa Parkar is a passionate and dedicated general dentist with over a decade of clinical experience, bringing warmth, skill, and a genuine love for patient care to every appointment.
Originally practising in New Zealand since 2015, Dr Parkar relocated to Melbourne with her family and is proud to now call this community home. She believes that great dental care goes beyond clinical excellence — it's about making every patient feel truly heard, respected, and at ease from the moment they walk through the door.
Dr Parkar has a particular interest in restorative and preventive dentistry, and takes great pride in helping patients not just treat problems, but understand how to maintain a healthy, confident smile for life. Her gentle chairside manner and thoughtful communication style mean she always takes the time to explain treatment options clearly, ensuring patients feel empowered — never rushed or overwhelmed — when making decisions about their oral health.
Committed to lifelong learning, Dr Parkar continually seeks out the latest techniques and technologies in modern dentistry to ensure her patients receive the very best care available.
Outside the clinic, she cherishes time with her family and is deeply passionate about being an active, contributing member of the local community — values that naturally extend into the way she cares for every patient she sees.
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Our Dental Technology
We use the latest technology available in the field of dentistry to ensure our patients have the best possible care.
