Mazeltov to Linda Greenwall. The north-London dentist has been voted the most influential female dentist in the UK by industry magazine Dentistry.

Dr Greenwall, who is in her late 40s, was listed at number 11 out of 50 in the annual list. She has been a dentist for 26 years and runs the Heath Health Care practice in Hampstead.

Dr Greenwall tells People: "I didn't actually know about the list. Someone called me to tell me." A third-generation dentist, Dr Greenwall specialises in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. She says she is seeing a significant increase in people wanting cosmetic procedures. "There has been a massive surge in demand for whitening, straightening, veneers and removing discolouration."

Her career began in her native South Africa and she has since won several awards, including Best New Dental Book 2001.

More recently, she produced an extensive e-learning programme called 'The Business of Bleaching'.

A mother-of-four, she also lectures internationally on teeth-whitening and cosmetic dentistry.

In 2008 she launched the British Dental Bleaching Society which lobbies for changes in the controversial bleaching legislation and to educate dentists who do tooth whitening.

She is also an associate course director for the Advanced Certificate in Aesthetic Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons Faculty of General Dental Practices. She is a member of Norrice Lea Synagogue.