Our Specialist Orthodontists

Dr Igor G. Lavrin

BDS (Adelaide), MMSc (Harvard)

Dr Igor Lavrin grew up in both Melbourne and Hong Kong. He received his dental education at the University of Adelaide, before returning to work as a general dentist in Melbourne.

Furthering his expertise, Dr Lavrin completed a three-year Orthodontic specialist programme and Master’s degree at Harvard University in the United States. He has been the recipient of numerous awards for scholastic and clinical excellence and published articles in Orthodontic and scientific literature.

Dr Lavrin has worked in private Orthodontic practice in Massachusetts, USA, and lectured internationally in the United States, Canada and throughout Asia as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

He was formerly a Clinical Consultant and Lecturer for Invisalign^® in the Asia-Pacific region for almost a decade and held Black Diamond status with Invisalign^®. Dr Lavrin has taught Orthodontics to dental students at Harvard University and in the Orthodontic department at the University of Melbourne. He is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Orthodontic Department at the University of Western Australia.

Dr Lavrin is married to Dr Sarah Lawrence and the proud father of three daughters.

Dr Sarah C. Lawrence

BDS (Otago), MDSc (Melbourne)

Dr Sarah Lawrence is a Specialist Orthodontist with a strong academic and clinical background. Originally from New Zealand, she completed her dental degree at the University of Otago before undertaking three years of specialist orthodontic training at the University of Melbourne.

Since 2004, Dr Lawrence has been in private practice alongside her husband, Dr Igor Lavrin. She has also worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, as part of the Craniofacial Unit, contributing to multidisciplinary care for patients with complex needs.

Dr Lawrence plays a key role in shaping the next generation of orthodontists. She is a Clinical Tutor and Lecturer in the Postgraduate Orthodontic Program at the University of Melbourne, where she also supervises ongoing research projects and has been published in the Orthodontic Literature. Her passion for education has taken her around the world as a speaker, with presentations across Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, South Korea, India, and the United States. She also served for nearly a decade as a Clinical Consultant and Lecturer for Invisalign in the Asia-Pacific region.

Outside of work, Dr Lawrence enjoys spending time with her family which includes her husband, Dr Igor Lavrin, their three daughters and dog Otto. Sarah also has a love of cooking and gardening.

Dr Sarah Louise Roath

BSc (Melbourne), DDS (Melbourne), DCD (Melbourne)

Dr Sarah Roath grew up in Melbourne and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science, then went on to complete her Doctor of Dental Surgery postgraduate degree.

Graduation brought Dr Roath to sunny Brisbane, where she worked as a general dentist before returning to her hometown to complete the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Orthodontics at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Roath has a keen interest in scientific dental research, which led her to win the International Association of Dental Research ANZ Division Research Poster Competition and allowed her to subsequently present this research internationally at the 2022 IADR General Session and Exhibition.

Dr Roath has gone on to present her area of interest to her fellow specialist orthodontists and paediatric dental specialists at the combined Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD) and Australian Society of Orthodontics (ASO) meeting in 2025. She is a professional member of the Australian Society of Orthodontists, the Australian Dental Association, and a certified member of the Australasian Orthodontic Board.

In her spare time, Dr Roath enjoys supporting local live music, culture, and arts, following the Richmond Tigers AFL team, and tending to her indoor plant collection.

Dr Louise Hagan

BDS (NUI), DPDS (Bristol), MSC (ORTH) London, MOrthRCS Eng

Dr Louise Hagan grew up in Ireland and graduated from the National University of Ireland at University College Cork. Following graduation, she moved to the UK and after three years in general practice, undertook fellowship examinations at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and was successful at attaining a place on the highly sought-after specialist training program at the University of London. She was awarded her Master’s Qualification in Orthodontics, with Merit and her Membership in Orthodontics of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Since 2008, she has worked in specialist orthodontic practice in London, Melbourne and Dublin. In 2011 she followed her childhood dream of living in sunny Australia having grown up on Neighbour’s and Home and Away. Dr Hagan has a keen interest in research and has published on the subjects of craniofacial anomalies and dental material science in peer reviewed journals. She is also a member of the Australian Society of Orthodontists, the Australian Dental Association and the Orthodontic Society of Ireland. She enjoys attending ongoing orthodontic conferences to keep up with the latest techniques and research.

Outside of work, Dr Hagan enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and is grateful for the outdoor lifestyle that Australia offers, enjoying beach-based activities and bike-riding. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering at her kids’ school and is age manager at her nearest Nipper’s life-saving club.

Dr Laura Chen

BDSc (Hons) (Queensland), DCD (Melbourne)

Dr Laura Chen grew up in Brisbane and graduated from the University of Queensland Dental School with Honours. Following graduation, she relocated to Melbourne where she worked as a general dentist in both the private and public sectors. She then went on to complete her three-year specialist orthodontic training at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Chen has published papers in several peer-reviewed journals on orthodontics, endodontics, and pharmacology and has also presented her research internationally. She is also passionate about contributing to the dental community, having served on committees with the Australian Dental Association Victoria Branch and as a former President of the Melbourne Dental Postgraduate Group. She is a member of the Australian Society of Orthodontists, and the Australian Dental Association, and a certified member of the Australasian Orthodontic Board.

Outside of orthodontics, Dr Chen has been teaching group fitness classes for the past decade and is also an avid long-distance runner. In her spare time, she is either training for her next marathon with her partner or tending to the demands of their high-maintenance greyhound.