To me, being a dentist is not just a job. It’s my passion. It’s what gets me excited Monday mornings. It also offers me the flexibility I need in my time, so I can devote my time to my patients and also be there for my family. I grew up in India. I grew up in a family of doctors, so it’s cliché. They say all Indians are doctors. Unfortunately, it’s true. Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s true in my case too. I grew up watching my mom, who was a doctor, working every day, see the passion she had for her profession and for her patients.
After residency, I did do additional courses to improve my skills in placing implants. I’ve done courses on Invisalign and Six Month Smiles, which are short-term orthodontics. I take continuing education courses all the time. I think I take one almost every week. Why it is important to keep continuing education is because I want to be abreast with all the treatment modalities out there, so I can provide my patients with the best options they have.
The most rewarding part of being a dentist is getting to help people. At Newman Springs Dental Care, we see patients. We have our patients who are loyal to us. They come back to us. It’s knowing what their needs and wants, and providing the best quality care available in a world-class environment.
Dr. Aparna Menon Strives to Meet Patients’ Needs
Dr. Aparna Menon grew up in India among a family of physicians. She was blessed with strong female role models (including her mother and aunt, who are both doctors) who taught her the value of independence in a society that gives males preferential treatment. Education was a top priority in her family. Money, she was taught, can come and go, but education is something that no one can take away.
Dr. Menon doesn’t even remember going to the dentist as a child in India. As she grew older, she realized that dentistry wasn’t given nearly enough attention. This – combined with the fact that there were no dentists in her family – made her decide to pursue dentistry as a career.
Dr. Menon got high marks in her national examination scores, which meant she was able to go to the top universities in India. After earning her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from Manipal University, she had the opportunity to come to the United States. When she got here, she studied at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, formerly the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). She was on the dean’s honor list for two years and graduated in 2015 before going through a yearlong residency at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. She has advanced training in cosmetic dentistry and dental implantology. She has earned her fellowship at the AAIP. She will be awarded her ICOI fellowship in November 2022.
She understands that each patient’s needs are unique and strives to develop treatment plans based on an in-depth understanding of her patient’s needs and goals for the best outcome. She’s committed to providing the highest caliber of care in the most comfortable setting. To further her dental knowledge and provide the best care she can, Dr. Menon still takes continuing education credits. She also stays up-to-date on the latest advances in dentistry through memberships in the following professional organizations:
- The American Dental Association (ADA)
- The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)
- The New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA)
- The Monmouth-Ocean County Dental Society (M-OCDS)
- International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)
- American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics (AAIP)
Dr. Menon practices sedation dentistry to help her anxious patients. She is multilingual; she speaks English, Hindi, and Malayalam. She also serves as a Captain in the US Army Reserves. She is an avid runner and has completed several half marathons and full marathons. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her husband, Rajive, and her son, Shaan. Dr. Menon also enjoys traveling, cooking, and reading.
Dr. Menon is a firm believer in karma. In her opinion, what goes around, comes around – so it’s important to do right by people. She strives to treat people how she wants to be treated because she believes if you put good out there, it comes back to you.