Dr Latiefa Da Costa graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She then did her teacher’s diploma through Unisa while teaching first at Alexander Sinton High School and later at Habibiya High School.

Her eldest son, Muhammad Salman was born in 1987. ( He is presently in his final year of quantity surveying) She started her Degree in Dentistry in 1988 through the University of Western Cape. Her second son, Muhammad Shafii was born in 1990 during her 5th year of studies. He is now in his 4th year of Dentistry. She opened practice in 1991, immediately after graduating. In 1993 her daughter, Laylah Waradeya was born. (She has started her studies in medicine at UCT). In 2008 she opened another practice in Bonteheuwel. She has now been in private practice for more than 20 years.

To make orthodontics affordable to people, she spent about 5 years learning at the feet of an orthodontist. This also increased her love for orthodontics.

To improve her surgical skills she spent a year assisting a reputed maxillofacial surgeon.

Her passion for dentistry lies in her desire to help people not only in alleviation of pain but also in the restoring their self confidence. She practices by her motto to deliver
“more than dental care”. She also believes in the “Preventative rather than Conservative" approach in her practice of dentistry.

In 2010, Dr Da Costa moved her practice to a new premises and incorporated the latest in dental technology.

Her practice in Salt River has since grown to 3 full time dentists and an oral hygienist and four support staff.

STAFF

Dr Bronwyn Mortlock also called Bee, has been with the practice for over a year now. She qualified in 2008 and is born and bred in Kwa Zulu Natal as her accent reveals. She is the "laat lammetjie" of a family of 3 children. She has proven to be an invaluable member of the dental team and has been fundamental in helping in building the Bonteheuwel practice.

She has faced the challenge in changing the mindset of patients, especially in the BH area, from that of extractions to the saving of teeth. She fights this battle not only against the community itself but also against other dentists who for years have chosen not to educate their patients and opted to extract teeth as the first treatment choice. As a practice, Dr Da Costa and her team face this challenge head on and are working hard towards a more conservative approach in this area.

Bee has a love for endodontics and runs the conscious sedation clinic.

The oral hygienist is Raziah Mohamed. She has been part of the staff for 2 years now.

Raziah is the eldest of 2 children and was born in PE. She has blessed the Mother City by falling in love with a gentleman from Cape Town and is to marry in Easter of 2013.

The most challenging aspect of her work is the fact that most patients dislike having their teeth scaled i.e. cleaned. She emphasizes that oral hygiene is the foundation of all dental work. She therefore offers patients different anaesthetic regimes in an attempt to make the procedure more comfortable for her patients.

She also runs the schools program where she goes to schools in areas such as Bonteheuwel, Woodstock, Salt River, etc where she educates the children as to good oral health practices.

Joy-Nita Whittaker. What to say about her. She joined our practice almost 2 years ago and it feels that we know her a life time. She has become more than a locum. She is an integral part of our dental family. Eager to help and willing to learn. She keeps me sane in the madness of my day. I know that with her around I can breathe easily. Joy. Happy. Joyous. She lives by her name. I hope to have her around for a long time.