Priya Purohit Meghpara, DMD
“Practice ownership and achieving Fellowship are long-awaited milestones in my career.”
512 Smiles, Austin, Texas
With no personal connection to the field, Priya Purohit Meghpara, DMD, said choosing dentistry felt like a leap of faith.
“It was difficult narrowing down a career choice that would provide both professional and personal fulfillment,” Meghpara said. “I feel incredibly lucky that dentistry has provided me with both.”
In the early days of her career, Meghpara moved frequently, which prevented her from establishing a place in any community. But, in 2022, she purchased her own practice, and, in 2023, she completed the requirements to apply for AGD Fellowship.
“It is an incredible feeling to finally have a practice to call ‘home,’” she said. “Practice
ownership and achieving Fellowship are long-awaited milestones in my career. It feels like a new beginning.”
Meghpara’s clinical focus on temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and airway issues started when she took a few CE courses on the topics that led to more questions than answers.
“Taking CE from well-respected, research-based thought leaders has helped build upon previous knowledge,” Meghpara said. “Patients returning with reduced and improved symptoms has made the process fulfilling, while the desire to effectively and conservatively treat a wider range of patients has driven my desire for continued learning.”
Meghpara enjoys practicing comprehensive general dentistry as much as she enjoys helping patients with TMD-related concerns. Regardless of the patient’s needs, Meghpara uses the same approach to build relationships with her patients.
“I make it a point to walk away from every conversation knowing the patient understands our discussion and feels comfortable and confident to make a decision about their care,” Meghpara said. “If they aren’t quite there, I always leave the door open for more questions once they’ve had time to process.”
As she looks to 2024, Meghpara said her focus will be on emphasizing the personalized feel that is a major strength of her small private practice.
“Right now, I am focused on giving each person who walks through our front doors the best possible care I can,” Meghpara said. “For me, that means continuing to invest in my education, in the patient experience and in my team.”