Mrs Amber Aplin

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have a career that doesn’t feel like work. I love getting to know people, looking after their best interests, and all aspects of dentistry. I am passionate about saving teeth – including those that the NHS cannot save – and hope to offer this to as many people as possible.

I have recently found an additional interest: developing the practice facilities and services to improve how we care for our patients. We’ve invested in creating two additional surgeries and the latest equipment. This has improved our patients’ experience, while helping us to attract top clinicians and support staff.

As a result, I feel very privileged to work with a fantastic team who all want the same thing – to give our patients the best service and care possible.”

Born

Sydney, Australia

Training

Amber qualified at the highly regarded Newcastle University dental school before completing a postgraduate diploma in restorative dentistry at the University of Edinburgh, awarded with distinction. This second qualification sparked her particular interest in minimally invasive restorative dentistry.

Like all the clinicians at The Gentle Touch, Amber is passionate about learning. She has trained with David and Davey Alleman, the world founders of biomimetic dentistry, completing their Mastership programme. She now teaches these techniques to dentists and therapists from across the UK through her education brand amber // APLIN, based at The Corn Exchange, and is a Key Opinion Leader for Kuraray.

Career

Amber joined the Army in her penultimate year at university and served as an Army dentist for sixteen years. This took her all over the world, living and working in Germany, Northern Ireland and Canada, instilling in her a strong ethic of ongoing professional development.

In 2012 Amber left the Army to work in a private practice in Duns before joining The Gentle Touch a year later. In 2017 she jumped at the opportunity to buy the practice and has led it ever since, developing it into the world’s largest fully biomimetic dental practice.

In 2025 the practice won two national titles at the Private Dentistry Awards: Practice of the Year and Best Patient Care for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the team were awarded Highly Commended.

Special interests

• Biomimetic dentistry, which is tooth mimicking: future proofing heavily filled teeth with restorations that look, feel and function like natural teeth
• Minimally invasive dentistry (conserving tooth structure and keeping teeth alive)
• Dental education (through amber // APLIN)

After hours

When Amber is not at The Gentle Touch, you’ll find her at home with her husband Matthew, their three children, Matilda, Monty and Bertie, and their three Maltese dogs. She also enjoys road biking and walking in the Borders countryside.