Big Step Forward: Dental Board Gives Voice to Group Dental Practices at State Level

Dr. Vidhyalakshmi Sampath, the clinical lead across all 14 Bright Now! Dental offices in Colorado, has been appointed to the Colorado Dental Board. This is significant to the dental industry as a whole, and specifically the group dentistry community, because now a group dental practice voice will be heard on a state board.  As the industry continues to experience consolidation, this appointment will highlight the importance of groups, and a core principle: that the emergence of larger group dental practices has helped expand access to affordable dental.  The dental profession faces a unique set of challenges in today’s healthcare environment. Preventative dental care is critical to overall wellness; however, 40% of the populations lacks dental insurance and an equal proportion of adults don’t receive regular care. State dental boards help providers navigate these challenges while also maintaining standards for care quality.

Dr. Sampath was selected from an impressive group of nominees based on her exemplary dental credentials, commitment to community service and strong desire to promote the industry. Born and raised in India, Dr. Sampath received the Gold Medal for Dentistry upon graduation from The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University (Ragas Dental College) in 1999. She then came to the United States and received a second dental degree from New York University College of Dentistry in 2004.

Strongly impacted by the events of 9/11, Dr. Sampath opted to join the U.S. Army as a professional contractor and practiced at Fort Polk in Louisiana before moving to Colorado and joining Bright Now! Dental in 2006. Dr. Sampath graduated from Cornell University in 2014 with a certificate in Executive Leadership for Health Care Professionals. She consistently finds time for community outreach, offering advice and free dental care through several local non-profit organizations, including; the Smiles For Everyone Foundation, HealthTap, the Colorado Mission of Mercy organized by the Colorado Dental Association, and “Children’s Dental Health Month” organized by the US Army dental command.