By
Christina Garcia | Photos by Candor
Pictures
No
tooth is the same. Take it from Dr. Nikhil Reddy, one of three partners at
Contemporary Endodontics. “Each person is so different and has such unique
characteristics and anatomy,” said the Cypress area native.
Like him,
each partner at the growing practice – which just opened its sixth location
in Sugar Land – really appreciates teeth. No, really. They’ll help you
inspect them, treat them, repair them, and save them. To do so, they’ll get
to the root of the issue, literally. Endodontics is, after all, a salve to
the roots and the pulp of any tooth. But why? What kind of person wants to be
an endodontist?
“You either
hate it or you love it,” said Dr. David Wan, owner of the practice. He
learned he loved dentistry through volunteer work. Arriving at a dentist’s
office on the day set aside for wisdom tooth extractions, he knew he had
found his calling. Though he admits that even he was scared of the dentist
growing up, the University of Texas graduate went on to become one,
practicing in the Dallas area before returning home to start his private
group practice in Houston.
With
advances in technology, trips to the dentist have changed for the better.
“When I was growing up, dentistry was the same from the time I was five to
the time I was 21. Now, something new comes out every five years. It’s less
scary,” said Dr. Wan.
Further
volunteer work cemented his commitment to the trade when he performed
emergency root canals for patients in clinics who might not otherwise have
access to care. The theme of volunteer work and giving back came up several
times in our interviews with the three partners, revealing itself as central
to the beating heart of Contemporary Endodontics. More on that later.
Root Out
the Ouch
As a dental
student working in an emergency clinic, Dr. Wan knew patients often lined up
at 7 AM. “A lot of patients had not slept in days due to the pain before they
saw us,” he said. In one especially urgent case, a woman had been in line
since 3 AM. “When I opened up the tooth and everything came out, it was
instant pain relief for her.”
Dr. Reddy
agrees with the primacy of ending tooth pain. “As small as a tooth is, when
you’re in pain, you’ll do anything, including rip a tooth out,” he said.
But don’t
worry. The Contemporary Endodontics motto is “We believe in roots,” and that
means that it’s important to save natural-born teeth.
“I helped a
90-year-old woman do this. She wanted to save a tooth through endodontic
surgery (an apicoectomy),” said Dr. Wan. “She was very healthy, and she
healed up great.”
For Dr.
Reddy, believing in roots also means embracing the roots of being human. It
means supporting patients through their dental visits with comforting
connection and expert care.
“I can’t
tell you how many of my patients sleep and snore once they’re numb. They’re
comfortable,” he said. “I work with lots of children too, and I’m proud of
that because it’s crucial to create this confidence while they are young.
After every appointment, I tell the kid, ‘You did amazing. The next time you
walk into a dental office, walk in with confidence because you handled this
with no trouble at all.’ It’s exciting to be a part of that.”
Partner Dr.
Dave Patel concurred. Reinforcing good experiences and pain relief were top
of mind for him when describing his mission. He’s been told by some patients
that dental pain can be worse than childbirth, so you can understand why.
Dr. Patel
was born for this job, though he says his own family didn’t prioritize
dentistry when he was young. He told us how his first dental appointment was
not until he was a teenager, but he loved the experience. In doctors’ offices,
healing takes a while, but in dentistry, Dr. Patel loves the immediacy.
At
Contemporary Endodontics, immediate relief is facilitated by the six
Houston-area locations, which allow the group to accommodate patients
sometimes seeking care due to unplanned and urgent health needs. With nine
associates, three partners, and Saturday hours, Contemporary Endodontics is
available in a crisis. The business has over 1,000 referring dentists in the
Houston area, which speaks volume of attaining their community’s professional
trust. As for insurance, the group accepts PPOs widely and some HMOs, said
Dr. Wan.
For founder
Dr. Wan, becoming one of the
largest Houston-area privately owned endodontic practices allows him to
actualize another aspect of belief in roots. For Dr. Wan, roots are in the
community.
Giving
Back
Participating in Mission of Mercy’s quest to provide
dental services to low-income patients who could not otherwise afford them is
a common thread among the partners and associates, who have served in
Beaumont, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee, Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston,
Massachusetts.
Dr. Patel
told us about his service with Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the Cancer
Society, as well as Thanksgiving turkey drives and sponsorships for local
youth softball teams through Contemporary Endodontics. As Christmas
approaches, the partners hope to continue the tradition as well as step up
giving traditions personally and through each office.
In the
future, Dr. Wan hopes to provide dental services to veterans and more. It’s
all part of building relationships and providing comfortable dental services
to patients of all ages.
Whatever
your age or comfort level with dentists, the partners and associates at
Contemporary Endodontics hope you feel at ease putting your teeth in their
hands.
