Meet NYSDA’s President Elect, Dr. Prabha Krishnan: The First Woman of Diverse Origin Elected to this Position!

As part of Women’s History Month, MLMIC would like to celebrate the role that women have played, and continue to play, in contributing to the practice of dentistry.

MLMIC recently had the pleasure of connecting with New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) President Elect Dr. Prabha Krishnan, who will be installed as the 144th President of NYSDA at their House of Delegates taking place May 31 through June 2, 2024. Dr. Krishnan will be the second woman president in NYSDA history.

Q: Tell us a bit about your background and the early days of your career in dentistry.

A: I’m a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry, where I received both my DDS degree and my specialty training in Periodontics and was among the youngest at that time to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology when I received my board certification as a Periodontist.

I started my practice in Queens from the ground up immediately after graduation. I rented space but had no patients — literally zero!

Joining the Queens County Dental Society right away was a tremendous help in terms of networking with my peers and building my practice. During this time, I also met my soulmate, and we started a family. I had to juggle many different roles at the same time — being a professional, a business owner, an educator, a wife, a mother and more!

Q: An American Dental Association (ADA) article published in June 2022 noted that for the first time in 2021, the majority, 56%, of first-year dental students were women.

A: The dental profession has certainly come a long way, and opportunities have opened! Just 10 years ago, women only made up approximately 35% of first-year dental students.

I think it would be great to see the profession reaching out to students early on, let’s call them predental students. We need to talk about the career of dentistry, especially in minority communities, to show them how and why the dental profession is one of the top careers in the nation.

I will be the second woman president in the history of NYSDA and the first woman of diverse origin to hold that position. If I can do it, anyone can do it!

Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges for women in dentistry?

A: I’m someone who looks at everything as an opportunity. Of course, there are always challenges, but I believe everything is best approached with a “glass is half full” attitude. So, I see challenges more as opportunities, with each being a chance to learn and grow.

Starting my practice from the ground up was an opportunity for me to get involved at Queens County Dental Society, which fueled my commitment to being involved in organized dentistry.

To build my patient base, I had to reach out to the local dental community and knock on the doors of dentists practicing in my area to let them know that “Hello, I’m a periodontist. I just graduated and started my practice, and I’m happy to help you with patient care.”

I reached out to establish relationships for the betterment of the community and to help build my practice in the process. Through this challenge, I met many future patients and fellow professionals who helped advance my practice.

So, my best advice to young women and men would be to look at everything as an opportunity. With innovations in dentistry on the upswing, there are opportunities for everyone.

Another challenge that young dentists face, and perhaps young female dentists even more so than males, is acceptance: establishing trust with patients and gaining their confidence in your decisions and treatment plans. This may be due to patients simply being more accustomed on some level to older, male dentists.

As a specialist, I’ve had instances when a patient was referred to me and I had to tell them things they don’t want to hear — that they have to lose some teeth, or they need gum surgery, or anything else they may perceive as painful. They look at me as if to ask, “How long have you been doing this?”

Trust and confidence must be developed with the patient through honesty, sincerity and establishing a good rapport. Always keep in mind that some patients may wish to get another opinion from a male dentist or one they perceive as older and more experienced.

Q: How do you deal with pressures to change your treatment plan?

A: Great question. These can be difficult to manage, and not getting swayed by feeling the need to please everyone — from patients and their families to the colleagues who refer patients to you — is critical. You need to advocate for, and provide patients with, the treatment that you honestly and ethically feel is the best course of action. You do not want patients or others to dictate the treatment plan.

Q: Do you have any special closing thoughts you would like to share?

A: I would emphasize to both female dentists and new dentists in general the importance of getting involved early on with your community — where you live, where you work and with your peers — and give back to the public we serve.

Dentistry is my profession, but organized dentistry is my family and has given me camaraderie, friendships, and the gift of being part of a community of people who understand what’s needed to succeed and are willing to help by providing education, direction, and motivation.

So, join local and national dental professional associations like NYSDA and be part of the decision-making process. You will quickly realize that you’re not the only one who has a particular issue or problem.

Dentists who would like to become a member of the New York State Dental Association can complete a membership application here.

Dentists who are interested in obtaining dental professional liability insurance through MLMIC can apply here.