40 UNDER 40 HONOREES

Seena Patel

  • Phoenix
  • General

Age:

33

Name of Practice:

Southwest Orofacial Group

Education:

Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health


Why They Were Nominated

Dr. Patel says she’s drawn to the variety of dentistry—and that shows in her expertise, which ranges from dental sleep medicine to treating patients with orofacial pain, oral lesions and complex medical conditions.

Why They Became a Dentist

Service, leadership, independence and an obsession with straight teeth. “My family inspired me to enter a profession that enabled me to improve a person’s quality of life and serve others while at the same time being creative, artistic and innovative.”

Biggest Challenge

“Overcoming my perception of failure. Being successful is easy, but when faced with difficult patients, difficult cases, challenging encounters with students and a deadline on a grant, I felt burned out as a new dentist. Over time, I learned to let go of the stress and focus on the opportunity to learn from these challenges.”

Tool They Can’t Live Without

“My treadmill. Regular exercise helps me stay focused and balanced.”

Something People Don’t Know

“I could eat Taco Bell every day. It’s the best comfort food.”

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