I am the Chief Dental Surgeon and Orthodontist at Dr. Paulin's Multispeciality Dental Clinic & Healthcare.

Watching my mom as a medical professional, I always aspired to be one—and somehow, I made it.

The most rewarding part of being a dental professional is connecting with new people, engaging in meaningful conversations, alleviating their pain, and offering solutions to their dental concerns.

I enjoy spending time with my husband and child, caring for my fish, tending to my plants, and having long chats with friends.

Prosthodontics is my favorite subject. While some find it messy, I love the process of creating dentures and restoring smiles, especially for elderly patients.

My least favorite subject to study was orthodontics, but ironically, I ended up becoming an orthodontist.

Studying with my best friend was incredibly helpful. Having someone to study with makes a big difference—it keeps things interesting, enjoyable, and motivating. I also learned the hard way that revising after finishing a topic is crucial. While I tried preparing my own short notes, I found it easier to retain the notes my friend made.

I enjoy orthodontic and prosthodontic work more than anything else.

To be honest, neither! But lately, I’ve been trying to develop a liking for extractions.

Gender bias and underpayment are real issues in my profession. As a young female doctor, I often have to work harder to gain trust. On top of that, dentists as a whole tend to be underpaid compared to other medical professionals. Despite these challenges, the satisfaction of helping patients and transforming smiles makes it all worthwhile.

My friends would be the best ones to answer that—but if I had to guess, I’d probably have to ask them! A few terms they use for me are keerakeeri, 40 Pauly, and padipi (nerd)–lol.

Some of my most memorable days include my first day in the college hostel when I met the friends who stayed by my side for the rest of the years. Dance practices, binge-watching K-dramas, eating nonstop, train travels, silly fights, and even the ragging—all of it made those years unforgettable!

Yes, dentistry definitely made me avoid sodas, especially Coke, as well as sticky, sugary foods. After getting orthodontic treatment, I stopped biting into hard fruits—instead, I cut them into small pieces, fearing a relapse!

I brush twice a day, get a full-mouth prophylaxis yearly, and always make sure to rinse my mouth, especially after consuming sweets.

If not a dentist, I’d probably have been a civil engineer.

I want to build a chain of clinics and uphold a high-quality practice in India. I have no plans to move abroad, except for vacation visits.

The Northern Lights in Norway and Christmas in New York are definitely on my bucket list!

Some of my secret talents are playing the harmonium and skillfully hunting down mosquitoes.

Although most people assume I can sing, I actually can’t!

“Everything in life happens for a reason, and ultimately, it’s for the best.”