A Revolution in Dentistry: Meet Pearl. Dentistry Imagined
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Pearl.-Dentistry-Charlotte-NC
The thought of going to the dentist can send even the most even-keeled person into a fit of anxiety. From the tools used to the traditionally sterile office environment, there is a population of folks that would classify themselves as anti-dentite and dread going for regular checkups.
Well, that is about to change thanks to a new Charlotte dentistry concept. Meet Pearl. Dentistry Reimagined. Opened and operated by Dr. Jenny Gandhi (Dr. Jenny to patients), Pearl. is not the traditional dentist office found in Charlotte. From the décor to the technology, the focus of Pearl. is to put clients and visitors at ease and to change perceptions of the dental care experience.
/2024/01/06/1704522859187.jpg)
/2024/01/06/1704522859703.jpg)
“I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to create a completely new concept,” Dr. Jenny said. “Our culture in our office can’t be beat and we strive to create a positive and fun experience for our patients.”
/2024/01/06/1704522860061.jpg)
/2024/01/06/1704522860384.jpg)
Intrigued, I made an appointment to have a teeth whitening procedure done so I could see for myself (and report back to Agenda readers) about the Pearl. experience. FYI, Pearl. patients get free teeth whitening for life!
Pearl. is located on the ground floor of 1 Bank of America Center in Uptown and offers clients validated parking for the adjoining parking deck. Walking into the office, I immediately noticed the modern waiting area and the music playing over the speakers (Dr. Jenny’s husband customizes the music selection himself). I was led back to the treatment area, sat in a comfy leather chair, and was greeted by Dr. Jenny herself.
/2024/01/06/1704522861187.jpg)
/2024/01/06/1704522861540.jpg)
/2024/01/06/1704522861890.jpg)
Dr. Jenny graduated from the University of Georgia where she earned her B.S. in Biology. She then went on to receive her D.M.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. It was while walking through the cafeteria at Nova that she experienced love at first sight when she saw her future husband who was studying to become a physician. His eventual job offer from OrthoCarolina brought them to Charlotte.
Dr. Jenny focuses on getting to know all of her patients as individuals, as well as getting to know individual dental goals. In addition to the traditional X-rays, patients at Pearl. also have photos taken of his/her teeth and mouth. Dr. Jenny uses these photos to further engage patients in their dental health.
/2024/01/06/1704522862299.jpg)
Dr. Jenny spoke with me about how as children, some dentists give lollipops to the young patients they treat. She likened the Pearl. experience as the equivalent of a lollipop experience for adults. Some of the lollipops awaiting me, and all Pearl. patients, include a comfy treatment room with two TV’s (one facing the patient and one hanging from the ceiling), Beats by Dre noise-cancelling headphones, and a Roku remote to watch Netflix or to stream music.
/2024/01/06/1704522862723.jpg)
“There has been an amazing reception from Charlotte to the Pearl. concept,” Dr. Jenny said. “We’ve been open for three months and we don’t have time to sit. We constantly have clients coming in and I attribute that to our location, unique design, outside the box concept and our culture in the office.”
In three months, Pearl. has created a buzz about dentistry that has not been previously seen in Charlotte. A sign that they are doing something right, aside from the volume of appointments, is the number of offices starting to offer similar concepts.
“We worked really hard to create a unique concept, but I didn’t expect other practices to copy our ideas,” Dr. Jenny said. “From our curved wall design, to our furniture, and our whitening services, we have seen others try to copy our concept. The thing that makes Pearl. so unique that others can’t copy is our team and how we work together to make a positive experience for our patients.”
Dr. Jenny explained the whitening process, the foods/drinks I would have to avoid for the next 48 hours (including coffee) and then she handed me my remote and we got started. Three episodes of How I Met Your Mother (Season 1) later and I was done. I didn’t even realize that over 40 minutes had gone by because I was laughing at Barney and the other characters from the show. As I left, Dr. Jenny gave me a hug and gave me a final run down of what to expect in the coming days.
My final thought about Pearl. is that I am a believer. It’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced. All formality was gone and I appreciated how Dr. Jenny and her staff strive to engage patients in their dental health instead of just saying what you should and shouldn’t do. The Pearl. concept focuses on the patient, the experience, and taking the negative stigma out of dentistry. Two days after my treatment, I noticed my smile was brighter and I couldn’t wait to tell others about my experience.
Pearl. strives to create a five-star experience at an affordable, in-network price and accepts most PPO insurances. In addition to teeth whitening, Pearl. is a full service dental practice that offers cleanings, root canals, and other dental procedures. Follow them on all the socials to get a better feel for their office, culture and the overall Pearl. experience.
Photos taken by Katy Hill