International Women’s Day: Woman who inspires: Dr. Sharda Arora

Dr. Sharda’s list of patients includes some of Delhi’s most notable figures: Top Film Stars, Industrialists, and Cricket Stars.

For a decade, she worked under the mentorship of India’s esteemed dentist, Dr. Col. S.S. Duggal, the founder of the New Delhi Armed Forces Dental Center. Dr. Duggal was recognized with the prestigious “Sword of Honor” by the Bhutanese King and received accolades from rulers of various nations for his service as their personal dentist. Commissioned by the Indian Army on the recommendation of the Indian Government, he held a revered position within the dental community.

Throughout her career, Dr. Arora’s ultimate professional triumph has been the joyous smiles of her satisfied patients. Reflecting this ethos, the motto of their clinic echoes a commitment to go the extra mile: “We would walk a million miles for one of your smiles.”

Beyond her professional endeavours, Dr Arora passionately advocates holistic well-being and promotes a “Fit and Fab” lifestyle. As a fitness enthusiast and yoga teacher, she embodies vitality and inspires others to prioritize their health and happiness.

Let’s Get Inspired

Interview with Dr. Sharda Arora
– Preeti Juneja

Q. Is treating celebrity patients intimidating for you? Do you experience any anxiety while working with high-profile individuals? If you were to choose a brand ambassador for your brand, is there anyone specific you would like to mention?

Yes, most definitely, treating high-profile patients can be very intimidating at times, but I have an operative practice in such cases. I communicate my state of being to them as if I am overwhelmed or intimidated. So two things happen in that case… 1. They come to a level where we both are comfortable with each other and doing a procedure after that is not as difficult. 2. As soon as I accept that I am intimidated, somehow that feeling subsides. Acceptance of a situation is a great key to getting successful results.

If I were to choose a brand ambassador for my brand, I would opt for Shah Rukh Khan. He has always been and will always be my first choice. It was a little emotional, but yes, that’s it… When I saw he got his smile done from somewhere, I was heartbroken.

Q. What motivates you most – career, charity or children?

A mix of all of them because I believe in a complete life and am a very greedy human being. I cannot do without a career, children, or charity. At different times, different things motivate me.

Q. Oral health is significantly linked to broader health concerns related to pain in the body. Yet, there seems to be insufficient effort to raise awareness about dental care compared to diabetes and hypertension. Do you agree? If you were to spearhead a campaign to enhance oral health, what specific issues would you prioritize discussing?

Broadly explaining there are 2 jaws, one upper and one lower jaw, and they are joined to each other by a Joint called as ‘The temporomandibular joint (TMJ)’. There is a fine balance between the upper and lower jaws, the joint, and the musculature around it. But due to any situation, if there is any discrepancy in the alignment of teeth or right and left imbalance of teeth, then many kinds of body pains and chronic diseases can show up in the body.

For example, a vehicle or car has four wheels, and we have to get wheel balancing and wheel alignment done for the car every now and then. If we don’t get it done, then the whole engine is at risk of getting damaged.

A very niche branch of dentistry called neuro-muscular dentistry is there to treat these misalignments. However, only a few dentists practice it, requiring considerable equipment and a deep knowledge of physics. I want to spearhead a campaign in the area of TMJ health.

Q. Was the name “Zental” coined by a patient at your clinic? And if so, have you infused the Zen essence into the ambience and practices of your facility?

Yes, absolutely, “Zental Dental “was coined by our delighted patient after his clinic experience. When he went through the treatment and saw the ambience and work ethics and the behaviour of staff and the rest of the things, he Specially coined the term “Your clinic has a ZEN-like feel to it, so it should be called ZENTAL DENTAL.’

We have maintained what we were doing before. Our parent company is still “Swaran Dental Clinic” as it’s after my mother-in-law, SWARAN ARORA.

Q. Zental is renowned for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and is the epitome of technological advancement in Indian dental clinics.

a) How do the machines employed at Zental alleviate patient discomfort, minimize treatment time, and enhance diagnostic accuracy for dental issues?

b) Dental treatments are considered expensive. Nevertheless, Zental offers top-notch Cosmetic Dental treatments at affordable rates. Is this affordability a significant factor in setting Zental apart? What philosophy guides this approach?

We are proud that we are a “one-stop shop” in dentistry. We have a setup of 5 dental chairs complete with all the required armamentarium for regular dentistry. In addition, we have a CBCT x-ray machine, which acts like a 3rd eye and gives us microscopic relevant information about the teeth, bone and associated nerves and blood vessels. This CT scan is the most essential part of planning implants and RCTs.

We have Tscan machines which give information about right and left pressure scans. JVA and JT are jaw movement trackers. Most important for TMJ patients with body pains and TMJ diseases. We are very proud owners of a DENTAL LAB . Which has Cad Cam scanners and milling machines. They provide us with precise and accurate dental crowns and prostheses.
Diagnodent – gives information about the early onset of caries. Velscope – this magical instrument can diagnose any oral cancer in advance. We don’t have to wait for it to happen and then treat it surgically. Which can be very debilitating. Apex locators are a boon to root canal treatments. So all the above equipment not only helps us diagnose the problem in time but also treats it effectively and painlessly in the minimum time….

Dental treatments are very expensive and time-consuming. But since we have most of the equipment and instruments under our roof, we don’t have to spend money on getting x-rays done, lab work done from elsewhere, or sending patients for specific tests like Tscan and JT, etc., outside…. So this way, we save time and money, which we share with our partners and make treatment more affordable.

Q. What are the latest trends and innovations in dental cosmetic procedures? What specific dental concerns do celebrities commonly have? Are tooth gems still a trend?

With social media ruling our lives in a big way, we have become very conscious of how we look and appear, especially in a photograph. As a result, we all need perfect skin, a perfect body and, of course, a Perfect Smile. Starting from crooked teeth to be realigned using aligners, stained and broken teeth to be laminated to perfection, and bleaching them to a pearly white colour are few of the requirements that celebrities and regular people from regular life also want. Because we all are celebrities on our Social media Accounts, why not? Tooth gems are not so much in fashion, but tooth tattoos are.

Q. Is there a gender bias in the field of dentistry? Are women more inclined to pursue dentistry compared to men?

Women are definitely more inclined to pursue dentistry than men because of the ‘work-life balance’ that they can achieve here. However, there is no gender bias that I have observed in our field.

Q. What advice would you offer to female dentists aspiring to establish clinics and achieve financial independence? What obstacles might they encounter along the way?

Sometimes, we humans want to start any new project with a bang. But for the dearth of experience and expertise, it can go southwards, and then we are discouraged. Get negative, and do not begin again. So my suggestion to new dentists who want to start fresh is TO START HUMBLE.. start with less capital, less overhead expenditure and more hard work… let the project take momentum and then expand… and go all out! Keep learning and updating yourself with the latest technology, and don’t get lax. Maintain the zest and energy you started the project with.

Always come from contribution and compassion in this noble profession. And money is a necessary side effect. It will follow. You can not escape it.

Q. As a team leader, what are your top 5 golden rules to a thriving team?

My team is what keeps me going. The top golden rule is to let them and help them distinguish their dream in life. And then keep them connected to their dream and make efforts with them to support them achieve it. Then, they must keep progressing in life, finance-wise, position-wise and competence-wise. Once all that is in place, making them realize the importance of being responsible for the well-being of patients is as much in their hands as they are in mine. This realization makes them shift. They become accountable in their own lives, too. This makes me, my team, and my patients pleased and satisfied.

Q. What passions or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?

I am a fitness enthusiast, so I enjoy a daily dose of some physical workout. I also enjoy running marathons. Travelling is one of my passions. I want to travel the world and have only two holidays a year, six months each.

Rapid-Fire:

How do you stay fit? Eat, Train, Work, Sleep ….repeat ! Commitment and Perseverance are 2 major pillars of achieving anything. It applies here even.

What is the most important thing to keep in mind? Most important thing to keep in mind is “Always the” way out is the way through” and there is no shortcut in life! It’s a myth.

Why do people delay appointments? People delay appointments because it hasn’t started hurting them yet. Once it’s painful they will reach before time.

Doctor by choice or destiny? Destiny!

One-Liners:

1.Women have to build muscle for: Physical and Mental strength.

2.Best thing about my profession is: Instant gratification.

3.Gain your strength from: Goals to achieve, and God

4.Don’t fall prey to: Your small inner voice who says ‘you are not good enough’.

About Author

Dr. Sharda Arora

Dr. Sharda Arora is a distinguished figure in dentistry, renowned for her expertise and commitment to patient care. Alongside her husband, Dr. Sanjay Arora, a skilled dentist, she operates their serene dental practice in the heart of South Delhi’s Green Park, named Zental Dental Clinic for its tranquil ambience.

Having graduated from a prestigious medical university in Haryana over three decades ago, Dr. Arora remains dedicated to staying updated with the latest advancements in dentistry. Her primary focus lies in Cosmetic Dentistry, where she excels in crafting radiant smiles, and Rehabilitative Dentistry, specializing in dental implants and fixed prosthetics.