Doctor or engineer is the only revered choice if you’re looking to make a career in science. It came as no surprise when I decided to follow my father’s footsteps. My father, an orthopedic surgeon, practicing at a skipping distance from our home, upholding a 100-year-old legacy practice, was my obvious role model. But little did I know that our paths would intersect in the most unexpected way.

You see, there’s something peculiarly fascinating about drilling into bones. Some may call it an odd commonality, but my dad, the orthopedic surgeon, and I, the implantologist, share this unique skill. Picture this: forks clinking against plates, laughter filling the air, and suddenly, an urgent phone call disrupts the tranquility. My father springs into action, leaving behind half-chewed mouthfuls to save lives. Emergency cases around mealtime were like uninvited guests. But in the chaos, a thought was born—a profession that allowed me to transform lives without perpetual interruptions, all while drilling with purpose.

Now, let me take you back to a family gathering, more like a kitty party where I overheard an aunt declaring, “Dentistry is the best option if one wants time to enjoy the benefits of work life balance.”  Wait, what? Could it be possible for a dentist to have the cake and eat it too? 😃 At the tender age of 12, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander as I underwent orthodontic treatment. While most people dreaded the dentist, I oddly viewed it as a job-shadowing experience. Little did I know that this seemingly ordinary visit would ignite a spark within me, a passion to help people, transform lives, and have an organised schedule, unlike most of my  childhood.

At the age of 18, I made a bold declaration – I wanted to become a dentist. This received  puzzled expressions from my family. “Opt out of the prestigious MBBS seat and choose a secondary/allied branch?” Relatives chimed in, claiming that dentists weren’t “real doctors” and that dentistry had limited scope. But my heart was set on Dentistry, and six years later, as I underwent training in Implantology at Nair Dental College & Hospital, Mumbai, I knew without a doubt that this was my calling. The adrenaline rush of placing my first implant solidified Implantology as the only career that could make my heart skip a beat—almost as much as my dad’s emergency phone calls did.

A few years down the line, I found myself in the UK for an Advanced Implantology course, where another piece of the jigsaw fell into place. I crossed paths with my guide and mentor, Dr. Stuart Orton Jones. With his infectious enthusiasm, he shared his motto, “Keep honing your skills, keep sharpening your ax,” which quickly became my own. 

Now, here’s where things got interesting. When I got married in 2012, I was often introduced to new people. However, whenever the word ‘Dentist’ escaped their lips, reactions were far from celebratory. People would cringe and recount their horrifying tales of past dental experiences, as if I was responsible for all the toothaches and horrid dental experiences. And so, fueled by their stories, my husband, Kapil, and I set out on a mission to change the dental landscape. We wanted to create a dental clinic that would be different, where patients could feel comfortable and relaxed.

With that vision, OriEase Dental Clinic was born in 2013. It was our humble attempt to provide pain-free dental treatment with ease in a relaxed environment. You know, the kind of place where you feel at home, and instead of anxiety, you get greeted with warm smiles.