Dr. Teju Bharati

Teeth were a big part of Dr. Teju Bharati’s life when she was growing up. First, she got braces at age 10, a surprisingly pleasant experience that led to straight teeth and confidence. Then, she got cavities—lots of them. “So I had to go to my dentist and get everything fixed,” she says. “And I always thought to myself, ‘Is there a way I can make this better for somebody else?’”

Now, Dr. Bharati makes it her mission to set patients at ease. If someone seems nervous, she’ll tell them about her experiences as a kid to let them know she understands. “Making sure people are comfortable is really important to me,” she says. “Because having a good dentist can make all the difference. I want to be that dentist you look forward to coming to.”

In fact, in Dr. Bharati’s chair, you’re part of the family: “Your tooth structure is so important,” she says, “so I would only do a procedure if it were necessary. If it's not something I would do on my own family, I wouldn't do it on a patient—and I should clarify, I like my family.”