Leaders

Dr. Poonam Batra is one of India’s most sought-after Dentists, revered for her industry-best ethical practices. After completing her post-graduation, Poonam Batra singlehandedly carved out her own niche in the city of Delhi in a male-dominated profession by setting up the Dr Poonam Batra Multispecialty Dental Clinic around 30 years ago. Back in those days, Delhi already had well-established iconic dental clinics. Eventually, Dr. Poonam’s work would gradually gain prominence due to her persistent push towards offering high quality dental services. Composed of Dr. Poonam and four highly experienced specialists, Dr. Poonam Batra’s clinic were among the pioneers to introduce the most advanced cutting edge Dual Laser Technology. Dr. Poonam’s clinic was also the first in the country with a certified and trained Periodontist onboard adopting highly technique sensitive Periodontal Plastic & Esthetic procedures (Gum Graftings) with Lasers. Her clinic was featured in Sydney Morning Herald in 2013 as a premier destination for international dental tourism. Dr. Poonam Batra’s practice has been a primary destination for dental evacuations for the US Embassy and USAID in Kabul, Afghanistan for a number of years. Nowadays, she partners with local NGOs and takes a mobile dental van to slum and underserved areas to provide free dental evaluation and treatment to children.

Recently, the WE Magazine got an opportunity to catch up with Poonam Batra. In the interaction that followed, the battle hardened dental expert shared some of the challenges she had to overcome in her early career that later enabled her to forge one of India’s most advanced and sought-after Dental clinics.

What Were The Major Challenges That You Encountered During The Establishment Of Your Multi Speciality Clinic? Throughout This Journey, What Factors Motivated You To Venture Into The Field Of Dentistry As An Entrepreneur?
After I finished my dentistry, my parents anticipated that I would open my practice in their sprawling home in Chandigarh. But, instead, I wanted to chart my own course independently and came to Delhi to explore my options.

It was unusual and unacceptable for a single woman to live alone and have a career 30 years ago, and as a result, I faced massive obstacles. I started from scratch in a big city with no support system. Those were my primary challenges. Professionally I just kept moving forward. I started alone, on my own, in a tiny space and could not compete with the well-established clinics already based in Delhi. Hence, I did not. I began my own journey and decided that I would provide the best dentistry I could, one patient at a time and see how that would evolve.

After a year of working in a well-known dental practice, I opened a hospital based clinic in 1992. Shortly later, I opened my own clinic in 1993 at my residence. At the same time, I was also seeing compromised patients with a doctor’s team at a heart hospital.

Over an eight year period, I single-handedly conducted two clinics. In time, I consolidated my practice to one single clinic and simultaneously, expanded with my superb team of five specialists. Four of them, including myself, are women.

Given the diversity of our specialties, we provide the most integrated and advanced approach to care of our patients. And most importantly, due to our utmost level of clinical and professional standards, we laid the foundation of the highest degree of ethical practice in India.

“With State-Of-The-Art Facilities And Technology To Provide You With A Higher Standard Of Dental Care”

Our clinic is among the first to introduce the most advanced cutting-edge Dual Laser Technology, Epic Diode and WaterlaseiPlus 2 from Biolase, USA. We were also among the first to start the cutting edge and now popular teeth alignment technology known as Invisalign or clear braces. Our clinic is also one of the select few practices in New Delhi to use Microscopes during root canal and restorative dental procedures. Patient comfort is a priority and for that reason, we also offer Nitrous Oxide for sedation.

How Has Dr.Poonam Batra Multispeciality Clinic’s Growth Journey Been So Far? What Are The Different Facets Of Your Personality Or Leadership Style That Have Helped Your Clinic Reach New Heights?
When one strives for quality, a benchmark is created and this encourages other professionals to consider how they are practicing their profession. I believe that by setting standards, it raises standards. We have immense talent in India; however, there is often a lack of ethics, accountability, and discipline. Almost anyone can practice dentistry; however, it is how you practice it – that is the game-changer.

My aim was to run a high-quality practice as opposed to a high-volume practice. We grew through word of mouth and our clientele is primarily expat. I had been seeing dental tourists from Europe, USA, Japan, Australia and many other regions of the world since the mid-’90s. Our name was in the Guide du Routard in France, and this brought us among others, French-speaking patients from various countries.

This kind of clientele has high expectations of service and as a result, this requires immense planning and attention to detail as well as tireless days and nights due to deadlines. We have had long-standing loyal patients and a constant flow of new patients. We treat the “Who’s Who” of the world. Dignitaries fly in or return for dental procedures due to their trust in us.

My journey has been very personal. What has been truly humbling and gratifying is that over the past three decades, we have received thousands of letters of appreciation, personal letters and emails, comments on social media, from our patients across the world thanking us and recommending us to their family and friends. Several of these professional relationships have evolved into deep personal friendships.

In Your Opinion, What Factors Make Drpoonam Batra Multispeciality Clinic A Cut Above The Rest In The Dental Industry?
I believe we are preferred for our impeccable standards, unparalleled sterilization practices, attention to detail, compassionate and personalized care all the while in a warm and friendly environment. Additionally, we instill confidence due to our transparency while working in our patient’s best interest. Our outstanding specialist team adheres to the highest professional standards and provides cutting-edge dentistry. We are often sought out for specific treatments that patients cannot access elsewhere as well as in their own countries. Foremost, as I appreciate, patients do their homework before they connect with us. That trust is established from word-of-mouth referrals even before they walk in for their first appointment with us.

Poonam Batra, Founder, Dr Poonam Batra Multispeciality Dental Clinic
Owner of a multi-speciality clinic situated in Delhi that provides a wide spectrum of state-of-the-art dental treatments ranging from Restorative Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontics, Full Mouth Rehabilitation to General and Preventive Dentistry, as well as specializing in Pediatric Dentistry.