You Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone
Written by: Dr. Ekta Pandya, DDS
I still remember one of my first implant cases. My patient became emotional explaining how losing a tooth as an adult felt nothing like losing one as a child. As kids, it is celebrated. As adults, it can feel embarrassing and deeply personal. When we delivered her implant crown, she looked in the mirror and immediately smiled — relieved that it looked natural and that her adjacent teeth were preserved. That case stayed with me. It was the moment I knew implant dentistry was not just another procedure. It was the direction I wanted my career to take.
Early on, I was fortunate to work alongside Dr. Robert Castracane, who taught me the foundational principles of implant treatment planning and surgery. He also encouraged me to get involved with the AAID and pursue the Maxi Course and fellowship pathway. At the time, I did not fully appreciate how valuable that advice would become.
Like many dentists, my path was not linear. I stepped back from implant dentistry during pregnancy and postpartum — a personally and professionally challenging period. Returning to advanced dentistry felt intimidating. I knew I needed structure and support to rebuild my confidence.
That led me to pursue advanced training in implant dentistry and Full Mouth Rehabilitation at NYU. As cases grew more complex, I found incredible mentors in Dr. Jason Kim and Dr. Deepak Bhagat, who guided me through my first full-arch implant case with a surgical guide. Through AAID, I later met Dr. Mike Calderon, whose encouragement pushed me to pursue the fellowship pathway seriously. I recently completed my written examination and am working toward my Associate Fellow credential.
What stands out most about AAID is the mentorship culture. After taking Dr. James Rutkowski's course, I began incorporating corticosteroids more thoughtfully into my surgical protocols — and even now, he still responds when I reach out with questions. That kind of ongoing accessibility is rare and genuinely formative.
Looking back, I wish I had pursued the fellowship pathway six years earlier. If I could offer one piece of advice to younger dentists, it would be this: find mentors early and stay connected to organizations that genuinely support clinical growth. Implant dentistry can feel overwhelming at times — but you do not have to navigate it alone.
Dr. Ekta Pandya, DDS, maintains her private practice at Ariel Dental in New York, with a clinical focus on implant dentistry, full mouth rehabilitation, and comprehensive restorative care. She is a Clinical Associate in the NYU Full Mouth Rehabilitation program, where she mentors dentists in treatment planning and restorative dentistry. Dr. Pandya is currently pursuing her AAID Associate Fellow credential and is passionate about advanced implant education, minimally invasive dentistry, and interdisciplinary patient care.