I realised the key to learning is not just self learning but to learn for educating others & bettering yourself in the process. Inter college presentations ultimately started becoming international presentations followed by international lectures and training programs. My dental college was very supportive too in making sure that I wasn't stopped for anything. The staff was very accommodating in giving leaves, making sure I cover up the lost time and studies in return so that I am abreast with the entire batch too.
1. Tell us about your upbringing, background and journey?
So I come from a very humble background with a strong principled father and a super loving mother who were trying to take care of their first born child while earning a living too.
I have seen my parents struggle and work round the clock and still not give up on their dreams : that was always my lesson for life: NEVER TO GIVE UP COME WHAT MAY.
Never ever did I imagine while playing cricket in my school days that I would become a dentist one day. For me, life then was all about playing cricket for my school team, society team, coaching classes team : it was all just cricket. ofcourse, I was academically sound but never inclined towards dentistry : I wanted to be an astronaut in class 7, engineer in class 8, pilot in class 9 and businessman in class 10 : and I ended up becoming none of these. haha.
I was influenced by my dentist to be honest : the way he spoke to his patients, the way patients spoke to him , about him : I felt wow, so much respect, love while relieving someone of their pain & sufferings even lord krishna mentioned about those few blessed souls who actually relieve people of their pain & sufferings and I could start joining the dots : so doctor it was for me finally.
I then joined a dental college in Navi Mumbai just to realise that the world of teeth will also have different branches and specializations. So I was quite average in many medical and non-clinical dental subjects until I encountered prosthodontics ( my current specialisation branch). The HOD of the prosthodontic department saw something in me which I also didn't know existed within. She literally dragged me to give small presentations and lectures at the college level and inter-college events ( which I was least interested in to begin with). But the sheer joy of learning & understanding something to teach others started pushing me to read further, learn further and become better in that topic. And then onwards, there was no looking back.
I realised the key to learning is not just self learning but to learn for educating others & bettering yourself in the process. Inter college presentations ultimately started becoming international presentations followed by international lectures and training programs. My dental college was very supportive too in making sure that I wasn't stopped for anything. The staff was very accommodating in giving leaves, making sure I cover up the lost time and studies in return so that I am abreast with the entire batch too.
BDS became MDS which became MSc which became MS which then resulted in setting up a clinic in Mumbai. Then there was a training institute and then a second clinic too. So it's a combination of patient work, training other dentists, relaying live cases and courses globally and now in the covid era, a combination of reels, shorts and some fun, innovative ways of training and creating public awareness about oral health.
2. How do you expect digital health to grow over the next 5 years?
Yes, we are heading towards digitisation in every aspect of life : it has found its place in dentistry too from patient data management, log info, scanning the teeth and bite, capturing the patient mouth details for patient awareness and education, smile makeovers, bite and joint analysis.
So usage of these gadgets definitely helps in easing the workflow and makes many procedures hassle free: but the question still remains - who would you prefer treating you ? A robot or a human ? If a human has to treat you, he / she still needs to be good enough, qualified enough, trained enough to understand that every case presents its own unique challenges and problems : so it requires a thorough analysis and comprehending all the info collected to reach a diagnosis that would warrant a treatment plan.
In simple terms, yes we all have teeth in the same sequence of central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, premolars and molars. but then in spite of the same set of teeth in the same sequence, why do our teeth look different ? Why do we smile differently? Why do we look different? So that's what makes every single one of us unique and thereby the dentist / doctor has to identify this uniqueness and treat it uniquely.
3. What is your message for aspiring doctors and the young generation? Which is the best medical college according to you?
COVID has taught the world how priceless doctors are and how important the medical field. So for all those who want to contemplate joining the medical field, it could be the best decision you would make. but remember, it's not a bed of roses. There is no smooth journey of any sort.
There is a lot of sacrifice needed throughout the journey in terms of giving up your youth and all the fun , enjoyment associated if you are serious about achieving something in life. Else be prepared to be like the majority who are still trying to come to terms of what to do and how to do it when the roots & foundations of knowledge, skills and clinical application are shaky.
Coming to the dental world, there are numerous opinions about how the field is saturated and has no scope left. But if an average, middle class guy with no medical background and no godfather can do something, then every person who takes upon themselves to make a mark in this field can actually make it count.
If you ask me, this is the best time to be in the dental profession as the best materials, techniques, and technology are available today compared to what dentistry was 15-20 years ago. There can be no compromise in the skills and knowledge and everyone should be ready for the grind perfection demands.
Which medical/dental college is the best : I would say if the student is good, college doesn't matter. And if the college is very good and the student isn't interested or worth it, it's futile. So I always stress on individuals to up the ante and become good enough to be challenged for every challenge that presents itself.
4. What does your typical day look like and what do you like to do besides work?
With 2 clinics in Mumbai, my day starts with either Chembur/Lokhandwala and ends with Chembur/ Lokhandwala. When we resume with our training programs in a few months, it will be interesting to see how I actually manage my workload with non-stop travel over the weekends ( it used to be 52 packed weekends in the pre-covid era). It's an open secret that I love dentistry and can easily work for 18-20 hours : but yes, at the end of the day, exhaustion does set in but it helps me have a peaceful sleep knowing that I did my best over the day and look forward to the next day to do better work.
Besides work, I love travelling. People used to call me a nomad as I used to wake up in a different city in a different country every weekend. Covid has changed that habit for 2 years. Let's see how 2022 shapes up with the travel itinerary also getting lined up. I love photography, sitting in the lap of nature and feeling the oneness with the supreme power, spending time with the people who only radiate positivity, music keeps me going. I love cricket which has become a sport to watch rather than find time to actually play. But yes, no regrets of any sort. I LOVE MY LIFE AND I AM SUPER THANKFUL TO THE ALMIGHTY FOR GIVING ME MUCH MUCH MORE THAN I ACTUALLY DESERVE.
Interviewed by: Payal Chopra
This interview is sponsored by Plus91 Technologies, a leading Digital Health firm.
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