Smilestone!
Getting a new set of teeth is no longer a hassle, thanks to Dr. Veejay Deshpandey, who over the last 43 years, has performed more than a lakh dental implants and has been one of the pioneers in the field of dental implantology in India.
After completing his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Mumbai University, he started his own practice in 1978. Dr. Veejay, who was always interested in medicine, reminisces, “My parents wanted me to become a doctor. There were no doctors in my family and I went on to become a first generation doctor.”
His quest for knowledge encouraged him to pursue a Post Doctorate in Oral Implantology – D.U. (Oral Implantology) from Lille University in France. He also became the first Indian dentist practicing in India to be awarded Fellowship of American Academy of Implant Dentistry in the USA. In 1990, he started dental implant practice and was one of the first few dentists in India to offer this service. He says, “When I first started my own practice, dentistry was at a nascent stage. Gradually it started evolving, thanks to advancements and developments in medical science. In 1990, I started implantology after seeking adequate education in the branch.” 10 years later, on May 1, 2000, Dr. Veejay was awarded certificate of excellence in the field of implantology by the then Governor of Maharashtra Mr. P.C. Alexander.
Centre – Dr. Veejay Deshpandey, L to R – Dr. Makarand Deshpandey, Dr. Preeti Kulkarni, Dr. Sharmika Deshpandey.
Dr. Veejay offers an avalanche of implantology treatments, including Conventional Implants, Immediate Implants, Full mouth rehabilitation with Implants, Single Tooth Implants, Implant Over dentures, Screw retained prosthesis, Subperiosteal and Ramus frame Implants and Teeth with Implants in One Hour, for all age groups. All types of implants like Noble Biocare, Branemark, Straumann and Osstem Implant systems are used.
Apart from practicing in India, Dr. Veejay got the chance to deliver his services abroad. He states, “I practiced in the middle east for eight years. I was the first implantologist to start dental implants in Muscat. Through my experience there, I learnt a lot. When I came back, I was determined to offer similar standards that were practiced abroad to my patients here and I am happy I was able to successfully deliver the same.”
He adds, “My wife Vidya has been a great support throughout as she single handedly looked after the clinic administration. It was because of her I could concentrate on my practice better as I knew that the admin part was being looked after by her. Vidya and I dedicated majority of time to the clinic and our children, having seen us work, absorbed the values and ethics that we preached through our dental practice.”
Over the years, Dr. Veejay dealt with many complex cases. He recollects, “I recall a case of my patient, who was a 95-year old lady from Kolkata. She wanted to get her dental implant done so that she could eat her fish (smiles). It was challenging since age was not on her side. However, I took this challenge in my stride, and I was able to give the lady her new set of teeth. Performing a dental implant on a 95-year old became a world record.” He further adds, “10 years back there was one case of a 21-year old girl, who had no teeth. Due to her condition, she was facing problems in getting educated as well as finding a right match for marriage. I looked into her case and treated her to give her a new set of teeth. Today, she is a well-educated woman, who is the CEO of an American IT company and is happily married and settled in the US.”
Dr. Deshpandey has treated over 30,000 patients till date. People from all over India as well as from abroad visit him to get their teeth fixed. Dr. Veejay explains, “Implantology has seen a significant change over the years. Earlier it used to take months to complete a dental implant. Today with advanced technology, in a space of 24 hours, dental implant treatment can be completed. In 2016, we introduced a digital workflow. With this, the precision and finesse has seen an upward trend. Now we have the best of both worlds; manual as well as digital.” His wealth of experience over the last four decades alongside his affiliations to esteemed institutions such as American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Misch Implant Institute – USA, to name a few, makes Dr. Veejay Deshpandey, one of the best in the profession.
The second generation of Dr. Veejay has stepped into the field, with his daughter Dr. Preeti, son Dr. Makarand and his wife Dr. Sharmika shouldering the responsibilities of branches such as Orthodontics, Prosthodontics and Endodontics, respectively. Creative Smiles Pvt. Ltd. was thus formed. It is a multispecialty dental health care center that boasts of a team of highly learned and experienced doctors. It is a one stop solution for all the dental needs. Dr. Veejay emphasizes, “When I started, there were about 30-35 dentists in Thane and now if you see there are close to 4000 dentists. To be relevant in today’s fast paced world, it is important that you keep up with the changing technology as well as the advanced medical science. I still practice for 15-16 hours a day and spend a significant amount of time getting hands-on with the latest developments happening in the field. I believe in offering best treatments at affordable rates to patients. I also ensure that when a patient comes to me I educate him/her about the root cause of their problem. With my experience of over 40 years, I am able to handle complicated cases effectively.”
Dr Veejay Deshpandey along with his wife Mrs. Vidya Deshpandey.
Apart from running three clinics in Thane, Dr. Veejay plays an active role in Community Dentistry. He is affiliated to Rotary, Indian Red Cross clinics and dispensaries. Before signing off, the veteran dentist offers words of wisdom to the budding doctors as well as to people in general. He concludes, “For the upcoming dentists, my advice is first take complete knowledge about your field of specialization and only then venture out to practice. It is only through thorough knowledge will you be able to handle the complex of the complex cases. Do not have a commercial approach while you practice. Be passionate about what you do and always will be willing to embrace technological advances and development. To the people, I have to say, just like you do a routine health check-up, a dental check-up too is essential. Alongside maintaining your teeth by brushing them atleast twice in a day, it is important to have a balanced diet which will improve longevity of your teeth.”
Creative Smiles
Branch 1: Naupada Clinic, Shop No 2, Parasmani CHS, Near Naupada Police station, M G Road, Naupada,
Thane (West) – 400602
Tel: 91-22-25457766
Branch 2: 4 , RAJASHREE CHS, ABOVE HANUMAN DAIRY, RAM MARUTI ROAD, NAUPADA, THANE WEST, 400602,
TEL: 022 25330011, 25343344
Branch 3: Khopat Branch, Shri Shivanand Sarasvati Dental Health Care Center, Opp Fish Land Hotel, Sheetal Chaya Apartment, Khopat,
Thane (West) – 400601
Read E-Magazine – Dr Veejay Deshpandey-October 21
