Meet the Members: Dr Kris Sweetapple 6th May 2026
Meet the members: Dr Kris Sweetapple, a clinical director who's paying it forward as an NZDA mentor.
For Kris, dentistry wasn't exactly the plan, but it's become a career he wouldn't trade for anything. Growing up in Hawke's Bay with a GP father, he headed to Otago Uni with an open mind and an interest in healthcare. Medicine was the initial draw, but when a spot in dentistry came up off the waitlist early in his first year, he decided to take the leap. "It was a bit of an educated gamble," he says, “but one that's definitely paid off."
These days, he splits the week between his role as Clinical Director for hospital dental services in Hawke's Bay, and working in the private practice he’s recently taken over alongside his wife Taryn, who is also a dentist. Between it all, he also mentors newly graduated dentists through NZDA's mentorship programme, a role that’s not only rewarding, but also a bit of a full circle moment for Kris.
He says support from senior dentists was invaluable for helping him learn the ropes when he was a new grad, and a couple of years ago, he began giving back as a mentor in return. Kris says NZDA’s programme of pairing graduates with an experienced dentist outside of their immediate workplace allows for a broader range of opinions and adds greater depth to the practical side of daily dentistry.
"I think for grads going straight into private practice in particular, they can become quite isolated. I know from experience that it’s so helpful to have someone you can connect with for opinions and advice. I really enjoy mentoring and teaching others, it’s something I get a lot of value out of in my role at the hospital, and it’s rewarding to be able to support people who are early in their career.”
Beyond mentoring, Kris is a regular at his local Hawke's Bay NZDA branch meetings, where he says the collegial atmosphere and opportunity for connection with colleagues is an aspect of NZDA membership he values most.
"We have branch meetings most months which are focused around continuing education but they also provide a chance to have a catch up with colleagues, which I really enjoy. NZDA has put a lot of focus on mental health and wellbeing for dentists over the past few years, which I think has been a very good idea.”
For Kris, who keeps busy outside of work currently training for a half marathon, football and keeping an ebullient golden retriever happy with daily walks, it's the ability to help others that fuels his passion for dentistry. Like many across the profession, he’s a strong believer in better access to dental care.
"I'm a huge advocate for putting the mouth back into the body," he says. "Adults have very limited access to financially supported dental care in private practice, and that's a real shame. We have a huge capacity to significantly improve people's lives, whether it's removing pain, regaining function, or improving aesthetics, and I don't think that's valued enough."
