'Momtrepreneur' Makes Career Out of Dental Practice

This story was written by Nashua Patch editor Carol Robidoux and posted by Ryan O'Connor.

Dr. Amrita Reddy DMD understands the fear many patients bring with them to the dentist's chair. 

"Usually it's because of some past traumatic experience," said Reddy, who owns and operates four Aspen Dental practices in New Hampshire, including a location in Bedford. She is among a growing number of U.S. dentists who also happen to be women, and says finding balance between home and work is always the hardest part for any mom working outside the home.

Born and raised in India, Reddy, 39, says she was inspired to become a dentist by her sister.

"Being a dentist was not that popular in India 20 or 25 years ago," Reddy said. "But I really enjoyed the clinical aspect of dentistry."

After establishing herself as a dentist in her home country, Reddy made her way to the U.S.  where she continued her education at Boston University, and also fell in love with an engineer, and married.

Within the next decade, Reddy welcomed a daughter and son into her family, now 7 and 5. Already the managing clinical director in Aspen Dental’s practices in Medford and Woburn, MA., Reddy became owner of Aspen Dental offices in Manchester and Nashua, adding a third practice in 2009.

Today she is the owner of four practices in New Hampshire.  She credits this accomplishment to what she calls the "unique business model" of Aspen Dental, which has allowed her to develop her leadership and clinical skills, while also focusing on her growing family by offering ongoing training, mentorship programs and continuing education opportunities.

"I quickly learned that dental practice was much different in the U.S. than it was in India. Here, dentistry is more analytical and clinical. In India we had to make our own appointments and make sure a patient showed up. The process for me as a student here was intense, but I also realized I wanted to be in a practice where I could do a bit of everything," Reddy said.

 "And I wanted to get back to work and do my part to support my family," she said. "Aspen made that possible."

She credits her supportive husband and her office staff for helping her make a smooth transition into being a "momtrepreneur." 

Statistically, almost half of all U.S. dental school students are women, and women are accounting for increasing numbers of private practice and academic positions in North America as well, about 22 percent, according to the American Dental Association.

Aspen Dental is one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the U.S., with more than 380 practices in communities across 25 states and a Dental Service Organization (DSO). The company says it is making it easier for women like Reddy to practice dentistry and ultimately to become owners of their own dental practice, employing about double the national average of female dentists – about 40 percent of Aspen Dental dentists today are women. 

"I'm always looking forward to new patients, and have extended hours to make it easier for people to get the care they need," Reddy said. She also noted that there are several in-house programs to help patients afford dental care, even if they don't currently have dental insurance.

Reddy's four New Hampshire Aspen Dental practices:

Nashua, NH:

Somerset Plaza

7 Colby Court Suite 12

Bedford, NH 03110

603.641.1144