When I first decided to become a dentist, I never would have thought that the profession will take me across the globe. I was born and raised in India in a conservative middle-class household. I was always fascinated by people’s smiles and I believed that smiling people made better friends, teachers and professionals. Your smile is more than just your smile. It’s the expression of your emotion that ties in with the confidence of your being. As I travelled from the Capital city of India to a small town and treated dental disease, I realized the power of empathy to make a difference in the health and well-being of a society.
When I moved to the United States to pursue my passion and develop new skills, I realized that people have very similar needs and values. We are more similar than different as a human race. I believe that sometimes more than love, it is pain that unites us.
After graduating from NYU, I practiced for the past 8 years in a Texas city. It was a very fulfilling experience as I worked with and treated the underserved communities. I continued to serve during Covid pandemic and realized how the dental needs of general population changed and dentistry as a profession evolved with it. We started noticing more wear and tear to the dentition due to Bruxism and more mental health disorders. Dental care was not just limited to the mouth anymore. It encompassed a plethora of conditions influenced by our daily dietary choices, oral hygiene practices and access to dental care.
The time for me to continue to grow as a professional had arrived. I packed my house, family and took a leap of faith. I moved to Virginia and started working for Gentle Dental Care, Lorton. Here, in a short span of time, I found my work family.
When an accomplished group of people work together with the common goal of patient care, it creates an atmosphere of peace and comfort. I am truly proud to be the latest addition to this amazing team lead by none other than eminent dentist Dr. Anuja Parikh.
I want to tell all our current and future patients that we are here to help. No matter what condition your oral health is in, we are here to facilitate your treatment without judgement or bias. We care about your health and we want to know how we can make it better. As I sign off, I can’t help but think about how blessed are the people with access to care. We work in hope of a world where no one has to bear pain, agony or lose their social confidence. Until then, we are here for you.
By Dr. Garima Kala
