Dr. Arosha Weerakoon

BDSc (hons), PhD, MPH, FRACDS, FICD, FPFA

Arosha strives to create long-term partnerships in oral-health with her patients. She seeks to understand, educate and inspire her patients in a fun, non-judgmental way. Arosha understands that many of her patients benefit from team-based care, and she works closely with other medical and dental practitioners such as Rob, our dental prosthetist, to enhance overall health and improve outcomes for her patients.

Her approach is conservative, and Arosha particularly enjoys managing and treating worn-down teeth and doing smile make-overs using a mix of teeth whitening, conservative composite resin veneers as well as crowns and bridges, where needed. She also enjoys the challenge of winning over anxious people, managing moderate gum disease and is happy to entertain people who are inquisitive about all things dental.

Arosha was born in Sri Lanka, and moved to Brisbane with her family in 1992. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2003 with first class honours. She became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons by examination in 2007, completed her PhD in Dentistry (UQ) in 2023 and Masters in Public Health (UQ) in 2014.

In 2003, Arosha worked for Queensland Health as a dental officer. In 2006, she moved to a private practice in Cooroy where she served the local and surrounding community for over 15 years with Rob. In 2022, Arosha took-over Dr Fran Wing’s practice, now known as Tewantin Family Dental.

Arosha worked part-time for the University of Queensland as a Lecturer for the School of Dentistry (2014 & 15), and Learning Designer for the Faculty of Medicine (2016). Arosha continues to hold an honorary Academic appointment with the School of Dentistry, UQ.

Arosha is a Colgate Advocate for Oral Health, and a Clinical Council member and oral health representative for Country to Coast Queensland (CCQ). In her role as a Colgate Advocate, Arosha forms part of a Australia and New Zealand-wide community of oral health professionals that support and encourage young oral health professionals by sharing insight-led articles through various social media channels and print. As a member of the Clinical Council, Arosha is part of a multidisciplinary group of clinicians and allied health professionals who provide strategic advice on clinical issues to the Board of CCQ to improve the health and well-being of communities that reside in Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast.

As an undergraduate, Arosha won awards for her research and academic achievements. In recognition of Arosha’s commitment to research, higher education, community engagement and oral health promotion, Arosha holds honourary fellowships with the International College of Dentist and the Pierre Fouchard Academy. In 2022, Arosha won the Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch (ADAQ) and BOQ Specialist Dental Excellence Bursary for her contribution towards her profession and the community. In 2019, Arosha won the Universities Australia Vice Chancellor’s award, The Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor’s Trailblazer Award, and Light Microscopy Australia’s Best Presentation Award. Arosha enjoys engaging with the public about all things oral health. She writes for the Conversation Media group and provides regular interviews to media outlets such as ABC radio. You can find out more on her website, drarosha.com.