A Legacy That Guides Us
Since the age of two, I knew I wanted to become a dentist.
My father was the reason.
Born in Kissonerga, a small village in Paphos, he began his journey with determination and a dream of studying dentistry. At eighteen, he travelled to Tanzania, where he spent two and a half years working to earn the money for his education.
His journey taught me that achievement begins with perseverance, but its true value lies in what we give to others.
He was my first teacher, my mentor and, until the last day of his life, my greatest inspiration.
From him, I learned patience, fairness, respect and, above all, humility. These are not simply values I remember. They are principles I bring into my work and the way I care for every patient.
Today, I continue the path he began, with gratitude for what he built and a deep responsibility to honour it.
His legacy is not only the dentistry he practised. It is the way he taught me to practise mine.
Dr Panikos Yiannikos devoted his life to dentistry, beginning his professional journey in 1965.
A graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, he completed postgraduate training at Eastman Dental Hospital in London in 1974. His clinical expertise focused on prosthodontics, including partial and full-mouth rehabilitation, and gerontology, with a particular commitment to improving the oral health and quality of life of older patients.
He served as Director of the Dental Department at Nicosia General Hospital before founding Dental Polyclinic Yiannikou in 1991, where he worked alongside his daughter, Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos.
His dedication established the foundations of what would become Yiannikos Centre for Holistic Dentistry.
In July 2024, he passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of clinical excellence, professional integrity and genuine care for his patients.
“If I could choose again, I would still become a dentist. My greatest pride, however, is seeing the continuation of this work through my daughter.”