We talked to cosmetic dentist Sahil Patel about why he chose to get into dentistry and his ambitions for the future.
Please introduce yourself
My name’s Dr Sahil Patel. I’m the founder and clinical director of the Marylebone Smile Clinic, which is in the medical district in central London.
Why did you choose to get into dentistry?
I originally got into dentistry because I was told I was good at biology, I enjoy working with my hands and I like working with people in teams.
How do you think dentistry will change in the future?
The dental world is changing as time goes on. I see in the future the need for dental care increasing
I’m seeing more and more patients come to us in an advanced stage needing more complex and comprehensive dental work.
This is only going to increase as medical care continues to advance and we live longer and longer.
What has been your strangest experience in dentistry?
My strangest experience in dentistry is probably less strange and more exciting, but it’s not something I expected to get into when I first started dentistry.
And that is more the engineering side of what makes a dental chair, dental handpiece, and the actual fabric of the dental clinic work.
I found that really exciting to learn about and also learning to become more proficient at fixing problems.
What are your ambitions for the future?
This clinic I am starting, I would love to grow it to something which can change the attitude of what dentists are classically known for doing and being.
I would like to change public perception and change the face of what we think a dentist can do to something which is hopefully more positive.
Sahil Patel
Dr Sahil Patel was educated at the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree, and later entered Bristol Dental Hospital.
After enjoying a year in general practice in Cornwall, he returned to London to pursue his passion for aesthetic dentistry.
He has since established himself as a leader in cosmetic dentistry. In addition, his experience has included creating the smiles of several reality TV personalities, MPs and professional athletes.
Aside from dentistry, Sahil serves in the Royal Navy Reserves, which has led him to an introduction into scuba diving, skydiving, cross-country skiing, and triathlon.
More recently, he tried his hand at high-altitude mountaineering, including peaks from Mt Blanc to Mt Manaslu at 8,163m and Vinson Massif, Antarctica.
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