Meet Dr Rupen Patel, Dentist at National Dental Care, Buddina

Dr Rupen Patel is a dentist based out of National Dental Care Group’s Buddina practice, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. We recently had a chat with Dr Patel to find out more about what aspects of dentistry he enjoys most, the areas he likes to focus on, and his top tip for better oral hygiene.

Dr Patel, tell us about your personal path into dentistry

I’d say my interest in the field started back when I was in school, as I always enjoyed science-based subjects. I also had family members who were already working in dentistry, so I suppose it was a natural choice for me. I did some work experience, started applying, and it all flowed from there.

I worked in Newcastle, then moved to Melbourne, and now I’m up here on the Sunshine Coast working in the Buddina practice.

What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of being a dentist?

Having worked in dentistry for some time, what I enjoy the most about the job is the ability to help my patients improve their health. I really appreciate that aspect and find it very rewarding - knowing I’ve been able to make a difference to someone’s health is the main thing for me.

Are there any particular areas of dentistry you focus on - or are you more general in what you practice?

For the most part, I’m quite general in terms of what I practice, but I do enjoy the restorative side of dentistry. That includes techniques such as bonding, adhesives, composites and crowns.

But aside from that, I keep myself pretty open to all types of treatments and dentistry areas, depending on what’s best for the patient and their oral health needs.

What personality traits do you believe dentists need to possess?

I think it’s important for a dentist to be friendly, chatty and approachable - a good dentist has the ability to make their patients feel comfortable and at ease. You also need to be a good listener when dealing with patients and helping them address their oral health concerns.

Any hobbies or sporting interests outside of work?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important to me, so I like to exercise regularly and get to the gym when I can. And on the sporting side, I enjoy playing tennis.

Finally, what’s your number one oral hygiene tip for patients?

This one’s nice and simple - use an electric toothbrush rather than a manual one. It takes away the additional work you need to focus on, does a lot of the movement for you, and is generally more effective than using a manual toothbrush.

Click here to make an appointment at National Dental Care, Buddina.