DT News - India - Interview: Convert stones into Milestones- Dr.Sagar J. Abichandani

DT SEA, Niranjan Prabhakar

Sun. 30 October 2016

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Dr.Sagar Jagdish Abichandani,Completed graduation (BDS) from Dr.DY.Patil Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai. INDIA and post graduation (MDS) in ‘PROSTHODONTICS’ from Shri Dharmastala Manjunatheshwar College of Dental Sciences and Hospital (SDM), Dharwad, India. He also finished his Masters in Oral Implantology, Atlanta (USA) ; Clinical Mastership in Oral Implantology from State University of New York, Stony Brook University of Dental Medicine. He finished his Post Graduation in Restorative & Aesthetic dentistry from the School of Dentistry, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. He is currently the Director of SILVERLINE dent and care solutions pvt ltd.and Proprietor & Chief dentist, THE DENTAL HUB. He is a Faculty of Mastership in “PROSTHODONTICS AND ORAL REHABILITATION” by the University of Columbia School of Dental Medicine – Eduhub. A well known speaker at several National and International forums and has several national and international publicatios to his credit.

DT: Dr.Sagar Thank you for accepting our invitation for the interview. Please tell our readers at Dental Tribune about yourself.
Dr. Sagar Jagdish Abichandani: Firstly, it’s an honour to be interviewed by Dental Tribune. Coming back to your question, I, did my graduation from Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College & Hospital, Navi Mumbai followed by MDS(Prosthodontics) from SDM college of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. I went on to do my Post Graduation in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry (UK) followed by Clinical Mastership in Oral Implantology (USA). So I might sound very old, but I am not - I have young parents, younger sister and brother, beautiful young wife and an adorable son whose 1.5 years old – so I assure am definitely not very old.

You have been presenting papers and delivering lectures at various platforms across the globe. Tell us how this journey started.
To be honest, I was literally ‘ pushed ‘ to give a paper presentation in my 1st year BDS for an intra-collegiate event. I was so disinterested in Dental Materials that I assumed I am becoming a mechanical engineer or a building site consultant when I used to discuss about gypsum products with my friends studying engineering. But then when I started studying in details for my paper presentation understanding the nuances and the minute details, my outlook and perception changed. That got me into dentistry to be frank. Its then things started making sense to me and I never looked back. My teachers might have seen something different in me to let me do crazy things : I assisted implant surgeries in my 3rd year BDS, research on implant surfaces & epidemiological studies in my 4th BDS , composite and ceramic veneer cases in 4th BDS, presenting papers at various zonal , state, national and international conferences and by the time I was an intern, I had presented more than 10 international papers in top international conferences. The path kept defining itself and the Almighty continued smiling and blessing in HIS dynamic way – things I thought about & anticipated matched with the things that transpired in reality…and the journey still continues…knowing that the sky is the limit and I am still on planet earth, there surely is a long way to go before I can confidently sit down and say ‘yes, I have achieved something’.

What were the challenges that you faced in establishing yourself, especially in the international circuit of speakers?
Even today, many people recollect calling me “Adam Worton” of Asia – the famous star of “Baby’s Day Out”. I was a kid then making presentation in front of all stalwarts and even today I am one of the youngest( if not the youngest) in the circuit of international speakers. Prior to my presentation in any part of the world ( even today at few places), everyone would be curious to know what the kid has to offer in terms of science, clinical cases or research. But fortunately, I end up surpassing their expectations on most instances. The blessings I receive from these GURUs of dentistry is the biggest appreciation that encourages me on to better myself with every passing day. People whose books we have read, authors whose articles we quote and cite: getting to share the stage with them on global platform is the ultimate satisfaction I could have dreamt of. I still go blank when these legends call me by name and shake hands. I literally tremble when they come up to me after my lecture and say I am doing a good job and we should stay in touch. Each of these honourable clinicians have so many things to share including their failures and how they overcame that with years of practice and mastery - a priceless gift any budding dentist like me would take gleefully. We know who the legends of dentistry in the world are – but I would say that I am blessed to know these legends on a personal front : – would love to make them proud of me one day.

You are also a recipient of several awards including the “Clinician of the year 2016”. What is your mantra?
My mother taught me that there is no substitute to hard work. My father taught me that Life is a like a triangle . To begin with, every single person is at the base. The success of a person is determined as to how far & how quickly he can climb up the triangle to reach closer to the apex & stay there for a considerable period of time. My wife is doing her Fellowship in Cleft Lip & Palate after having a 1.5 year old baby , she taught me that Life is all about Learning, Unlearning and Relearning and age is never a barrier to achieve what you dream. My 1.5 year old son teaches me to be as calm and composed as possible on the surface even if you have to peddle hard underneath to stay afloat. When I have so many mantras from my loved ones, I better imbibe them in totality.

You are one the Dental Xpert panel from India for Dentalxp and the Indian Mentor for GPS 3D. These must be exciting times.
The benchmark of DentalXp is so high that I feel nothing but humbled to be part of this royal collection of dental magicians. Again being one of the youngest in the group( if not the youngest) makes me get all the pampering a kid normally gets. But such is the beauty of the Xperts that they all consider each other to be at par and my age is less than the experience of few clinicians and still to be taken as a fellow buddy is an honor. When a legend named Dr. Maurice Salama (after having achieved everything in life ) says that he is still learning, it speaks volumes of his stature. When another legend named Dr. Ronald Goldstein at the age of 80+ still works 4/5 days a week , it just leaves me in awe. These are the role models we should try to emulate. Even if we are 30% of what they are in terms of skills, expertise, focus, commitment, we are definitely in a different league.

So, what does the future of Dentistry in India look like?
I am an Indian and I am proud to be one. India is the present and future of everything including dentistry. As our honorable PM is at the pinnacle of worldly affairs, we, as dentists, too will have say in the world of dentistry soon in terms of material science, technology, incorporation of the latest tools and gadgets to make dentistry even more patient friendly that can give better results in a more predictable way. All that we should stress on is quality education at the grass root levels so that the foundations of dentistry is stronger on which an even stronger concepts & principles of contemporary practice can be laid down. Good dental students combined with good skills set together with sound knowledge will be the future leaders of Indian Dentistry and waive the tricolor on the Global Dental Diaspora.

What’s your message for our young aspiring dentists?
My dear friends remember one thing: the world will have numerous people to pull you down – don’t let them succeed. People will throw stones at you – accept those stones with a smile and convert those STONES into MILESTONES.
I faced so much resistance at every step: I still do: Don’t bother. It is so much easier to be bogged down and give up when faces with obstacles– but that is the real test of character and determination. Focus on the long term goals – you might have to forego short term or immediate benefits keeping the end result in mind. Be prepared for it. If you want to achieve something in life which nobody has achieved. The determination, dedication and devotion has to be unsurpassed. Unless you love dentistry, it won’t love you back. I married dentistry before I married my wife. So friends, we, as youngsters, are the present and future of Indian dentistry. Let’s take a collective decision to know the right things and do the right things every single time without sacrificing our ethics, values and social responsibility.

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