Hi! I am Shweta, one of the Dentists at Team Dental Riccarton in Christchurch. I was recently at Team Dental Bealey Ave but have moved to the Team Dental Riccarton branch. I grew up in a conservative, small town in central India. Although the norm in the region was for young women to aspire to be wives and mothers, my family felt very strongly about education. Both women and men, they believed, should have equal educational opportunities. Everyone in my family, including my parents, studied at a post-graduate level in their own fields.

I graduated as a dentist in India in 2009 and joined the small minority of female dentists. Globally, only 35% of dentists are, on average, women. After working in India for a year, my now husband wanted to move to Australia to broaden his professional prospects. I decided to move with him. During the five years we were in Perth, I worked as a dental assistant and dental trainer. In 2016, we moved to Christchurch, New Zealand where I worked as a dental assistant with Team Dental.

I enjoy practicing all aspects of general dentistry but especially the ‘smile design’ so, when I had an opportunity to further my studies in Aesthetic Dentistry at Otago University, I had a very difficult decision to make. To pursue this opportunity meant I had to live in Dunedin with my 3-year-old son, study full time, and be away from my husband. Thankfully, my husband supported me.

In 2018, I also passed my dental licensing exam in Melbourne, Australia. During the last four months, while I was writing my exams and finishing my thesis, my son lived with his dad. By then, it felt as if my studies had taken an eternity, and this was the last hard stretch. I could not have achieved what I have without the support of my family, and especially my husband.

I was very happy to return to Christchurch, reunite with my husband and son, and take up a position with Team Dental in their Bealey Avenue branch. Team Dental in Christchurch are one of the best dental practices in Christchurch and no matter which branch you visit you will always find the same caring, considerate staff.

Call in to Team Dental Riccarton, Give us a Call or send us a message. We’d love to hear from you.