Today we’d like to introduce you to Phuong Tran.
Hi Phuong, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My parents came to the United States as refugees and a soldier during the Vietnam war without any money or belongings. They learned English while working multiple jobs and raising five kids, graduated from the University of Washington with a Masters and eventually opened up a successful computer business in Washington and California together. They instilled in us the importance of a hard work ethic. A job in the medical field was always what I had in mind growing up, but it was the idea of owning my own practice as a dentist that caught my interest in the field.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was blessed to have a smooth and enjoyable time throughout college at UC Santa Cruz and then dental school at the University of the Pacific’s accelerated dental program in San Francisco.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My office is a General and Cosmetic dental practice in Encinitas, California servicing patients from all over San Diego County since 2013. We do most phases of general dentistry including crowns, implant restorations, veneers, fillings, periodontal cleanings, dentures, clear orthodontics, and surgical extractions.
We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle, high quality care using the latest dental technology. We set ourselves apart from other offices by demonstrating integrity and compassion, making patients feel relaxed in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
Dentistry is easy and enjoyable to me. Most people don’t enjoy going to the dentist, but most patients I see actually leave the office happy. So I guess I am doing something right!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The field of dentistry was recently listed as a one of the few jobs that will not be affected by AI in the near future and with the ever increasing population and number of older dentists retiring, there will be a shortage of dentists and a higher demand for dental care. Locally, with the construction of a large 250-unit housing complex adjacent to my office and an increase in the number of individuals moving into the area in general, dental appointments may be harder to book and so wait times will be higher.
A major shift in dentistry is that more and more dentists are choosing to opt out of insurance network participation. Dental insurance reimbursements are not keeping up with the cost of living and running a business. Patients don’t realize that dental insurance is basically just a coupon for two free cleanings a year. Patients still have to pay a premium on top of their deductible and copay for services. In addition, dental insurances are also increasing denials of treatment and dictating treatment that is not in the best interest of patient care. Overall oral health will decline if dental insurances continue to favor the wealth of their stockholders rather than the health of the general population.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.NewLeafDentistry.com
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/phuong-k-tran-dds-new-leaf-dentistry-encinitas-2
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=phuong+tran+dds+google&sca_esv=
