Specialist Details

Dr Avanti Karve is a dedicated advocate for her patients with special health care needs with a focus managing oral health to improve general health. Avanti completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery with the University of Adelaide in 2003 and returned home to Sydney to become the first graduate of the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Special Needs Dentistry) program with the University of Sydney. She also completed a concurrent Master of Health Science in Developmental Disability (2007-2010).

In addition to being the resident dentist at Sydney Adventist Hospital for inpatient and outpatient care, Avanti currently has appointments with Sydney West Local Health District (Staff Specialist- Special Needs Dentistry); NSW Developmental Disability Health Unit (Visiting Specialist) and Lakeview Private Hospital (Visiting Specialist).

Avanti is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS) and currently serves as the President Elect of the Australia New Zealand Academy of Special Needs Dentistry (ANZASND) and on the executive of the International Association for Disability Oral Health (iADH). She is a member of the CERA Geriatric Oral Health Reference Group, Australian Society of Special Care Dentistry (ASSCID) and Australian Dental Association (ADA).

As a lifelong learner, Avanti is committed to learning, teaching and research at her Alma Mater the University of Sydney. She coordinates the undergraduate and post-graduate programs in Special Needs Dentistry as a Honorary Clinical Lecturer with the University of Sydney. She lectures extensively for the University and at numerous national and international conferences.

Dr Karve's particular research interests include:
1. Dental anxiety/ dental phobia- Her post-graduate dissertation examined pain coping, pain catastrophising and psychological traits in patients with severe dental anxiety.
2. Review of Oral Health risk assessment within the ICF framework (Research submitted for publication)
3. She is currently engaged in higher degree research on holistic inpatient management of patients with developmental disability specifically reviewing the risk assessment in planning for intervention under general anesthesia and implications for primary health outcomes.