SMILE- AN ACTION OF LOVE!

EVERYTIME YOU SMILE AT SOMEONE, IT IS AN ACTION OF LOVE, A GIFT TO THAT PERSON, A BEAUTIFUL THING- MOTHER TERESA

Thanksgiving Greetings

SMILE ALWAYS COMES BACK

A SMILE IS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT GIVE AWAY, IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO YOU.

Compassion is the Cornerstone

Relationships are built when there is an atmosphere of caring and trust. "As a healthcare provider, I'm very aware that trust begets trust." Dr. Vijaya Cherukuri believes  that healthcare, in particular, is a field  where compassion and trust are critical elements.

"Some of my ideas about caring for individuals come from my deep philosophical belief that we are all part of one human family. That's why it is so important that I treat everyone (patients and staff) as family." That thought is the cornerstone  of her Chino, California dental practice. "I witnessed firsthand the immeasurable kindness that the world extended to my family when we experienced a moment of loss. This strengthened my resolve to give back to people and the community as a whole. I truly believe that what comes around, should go around. It drives me to always give my best to my patients."

How does she do this? As a lifelong learner, Dr. Vijaya Cherukuri is always staying up to date on her knowledge and skills. "I attend conferences, study clubs and continuing education classes throughout the year. This makes sure my skills are at their best for my patients." Dr. Cherukuri also says that it allows her to be exposed to diverse dental materials and how to apply them in her practice to benefit patients. "When I meet with other dental practitioners from all over we are able to share our experiences and then learn and grow from that knowledge. Not to mention that continuing education gives me an opportunity to merge the office/patient experience with the latest dental innovations and trends. Being able to do that is really exciting to me!"

How does all this affect her dental practice? "I place most dental implants in my office as well as restore them as a convenience for my patients." This means patients are able to have the complete treatment, from start to finish, performed by one person in one location.  "It makes it easy for patients." Using local anesthetic allows Dr. Cherukuri to comfortably insert the implant in the perfect position for the final crowns or dentures that will later be placed. "I love being able to offer most of my patients this option."

Dr. Cherukuri also provides convenience to her patients by being a certified Invisalign provider. "I love how Invisalign can correct tooth placement by using invisible retainers that can be taken out to clean." Doing orthodontics this way means that her patients' teeth and gums will have less damage. "I love general dentistry because of the variety of procedures it allows me to perform. My goal is to give my patients every treatment option, make it convenient for them, and then deliver the best care possible." 

A KIND HEART

A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles 

                                                                                                       

SMILE! IT'S GOOD FOR THE HEART

IT TAKES 

A LOT OF WORK FROM THE FACE 

TO LET OUT A SMILE, 

BUT JUST THINK WHAT GOOD SMILING CAN BRING 

TO THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSCLE OF THE BODY--

THE HEART!!!!

VALUE OF A SMILE!!

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts for ever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.----Author Unknown

A Happy Family

A happy family is but an earlier heaven.

Meet Claudia!

"Come on back," Claudia says cheerily. I see a tall man in the reception area rise. Their conversation continues as they move toward one of Dr. Cherukuri's treatment rooms. "How are your boys?" she asks. The man's face lights up and he quickly fills her in.

Family is how Claudia came to be at Dr. Cherukuri's office. "It was meant to be," she tells me. "My mother and father-in-law were patients of Dr. Cherukuri's."

Claudia decided to go to school to become a dental assistant. After she finished her internship she worked for several years. "Then one day I found myself looking for a new position. I was hired by another office, but the morning I was to start my new job, I was rushed to the hospital and had an appendectomy. When I was finally ready to go back to work, the office that had hired me, no longer had a position available. My mother-in-law mentioned Dr. Cherukuri needed someone to cover a pregnancy leave. Well, I filled in during the maternity leave." Claudia shrugs. "That was nine years ago."

I watch as Claudia works to make her patient comfortable. Her easygoing manner makes all seem effortless while her soothing voice calms. "I originally thought I wanted to be an orthodontic assistant. I liked the idea of working closely with patients but independently. I'm fortunate that I found an office where I have a lot of autonomy."

Claudia also likes the pace at Dr. Cherukuri's. "We are not in a hurry to get patients in and out. You know in some offices it feels like you are a people-mover. Not here. Instead we have the ability to focus on each person and develop a relationship. That's why the patients become like family. It's all about the time we get to spend with them."

While Claudia has known Dr. Cherukuri for a number of years, she hasn't always worked there. "I've taken time off to have my own family, but I seem to always come back." Now with three children all very active in sports, Claudia has her hands full at home. "My weekends are spent watching baseball, basketball, football and soccer. My husband coaches baseball."

The procedure is over and the gentleman rises to leave. Claudia escorts him to the front and jokes with him a bit before she returns to clean the treatment room. "He's one of my favorite patients," she tells me. Claudia knows how to care for them all. "I want them to forget they are in a dental office. The best way to do that is to make sure all the attention is on them." It's an area where Claudia excels.