The logo for Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has these words: “A smile is the same in any language.” It is a statement that expresses a basic truth of daily living and guides the work of the professionals who work at this family-friendly dental office.
Before she chose dentistry as her career, Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD, says she considered becoming a physician. But, learning first-hand how the power of a smile can change one’s life set her on the road to Tufts School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in 1996. The road after dental school ultimately brought her to open Family & Cosmetic Dentistry on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., located just south of County Line Rd. (in the same plaza as Amscot) in New Tampa, where she has been practicing dentistry for the past 10 years.
Dr. Jasthi says it was her own experience with orthodontics, while wearing dental braces that helped move her teeth into proper and visually appealing alignment, that enlightened her to the importance of helping people with one of their most basic physical attributes — their smile.
“I had an orthodontist who inspired me,” Dr. Jasthi says. “I saw how it changed my teeth and how a smile is so important. It shows your character and you can boost others and show compassion with a smile.”
Relieving people’s pain and improving patient health are other reasons Dr. Jasthi cites for pursuing her career as a dentist. She is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Florida Dental Association (FDA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).
By investing in training and technology, Dr. Jasthi and her team are able to provide numerous services, ranging from procedures that maintain oral health or repair dental damage to cosmetic treatments that can brighten and enhance a smile. Some of the available services include basic dental cleanings and exams, fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, veneers, whitening, Invisalign braces, dentures and extractions.
Working with Dr. Jasthi to deliver high-quality care is her team of about a dozen dental technicians, assistants and hygienists, as well as Dr. Sandra Pojtek, DMD, who recently joined the practice.
“My team has to reflect my values in providing the best care possible and being sensitive to patient needs,” Dr. Jasthi says.
The growth of Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s patient population created a need for an additional dentist and resulted in the hiring of Dr. Pojtek, who is a 2014 graduate of the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Dental Medicine in Montreal, Canada. She also completed a one-year residency at East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, NC. Just as Dr. Jasthi found a sense of direction from an established dental practitioner, so has Dr. Pojtek.
“I would consider her (Dr. Jasthi) a mentor figure,” says Dr. Pojtek. “We have similar values. The philosophy here is about putting the patient’s needs first and the quality of work, offering the best dentistry.”
The hiring of Dr. Pojtek means patients can now schedule treatment or a consultation at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Some of the advanced technology used at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry are the i-CAT Cone Beam 3D Dental Imaging machine which, according to its manufacturer, provides more detailed images than analog X-rays, improving diagnoses and treatment. The office also offers crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers, often in one visit.
But, even with advanced technology to improve treatment options and outcomes, Dr. Jasthi is a firm believer that each of her patients actually provides the first-line of their own dental (and overall health) defenses when they develop good habits like proper brushing and flossing, as well as becoming informed about how proper dental hygiene contributes to their overall well being.
“I’m also concerned about (my patients’) physical health,” she says. “We educate our patients about oral and gum health and how it will impact their general health.”
Multiple Payment Options
Paying for dental work is always a consideration in choosing where to get treatment. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry accepts most dental insurance plans, major credit cards and Care Credit Financing. Another option is an in-office dental savings plan for patients can enroll in. These plans carry enrollment fees of $99 for adults and $69 for children 13 years and younger, but enrollees receive one cleaning and exam at no charge each year and a 15-percent discount on many procedures, such as fillings, perio scaling, crowns and veneers. Check with Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for complete details, including restrictions. Patients also accrue financial credits to their accounts through a new patient referral program. And of course, first-time patients can schedule a free consultation appointment.
Sharing the talents and skills that she and members of her team possess with people whose needs exceed their ability to access dental care is one of the values Dr. Jasthi upholds. Her practice participates in scheduled dental camps at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, providing basic dental care to patients without charge. “I try to help people as much as I can,” she says.
Building successful dental practice one smile at a time has paid off in terms of positive online reviews at sites like Zocdoc.com and Healthgrades.com as well as patients like Rana Hayes of Wesley Chapel, who are happy to share their experiences at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.
“Dr. Jasthi is a perfectionist,” says Hayes, who lives in Bridgewater. “She pays strict attention to detail.”
Hayes has been a patient of Dr. Jasthi’s for more than 10 years and also commended the staff at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.
“They’re extremely courteous and professional,” Hayes says. “You’re treated like you want to be treated.” She adds that she found the staff to be helpful and accommodating, even when her appointments sometimes needed to be changed.
Another patient, Denis Cole, an Englishman who lives outside of London, includes stops at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in his travel plans. Cole resides in the Wesley Chapel area from October to April each year and now starts and ends his annual visits with dental cleanings and checkups at the office after undergoing extensive treatment from Dr. Jasthi four years ago.
“She’s very good and has a good staff there,” the self-described “rainbird” says. “They did the work very efficiently and at a good price. You won’t get that kind of work with National Health in England.”
Treating international visitors and residents of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas is facilitated by the ability of the staff at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to communicate in several languages besides English. Other languages spoken at the practice are: Telugu (a native language in India), Spanish, French, Russian, Slovak and Lithuanian.
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (20441 BBD) treats patients age 4 and older. For more info, visit DrJasthi.com or call 866-9913. There is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week answering service available if the office is closed when you call. Or, use the office’s online contact page at DrJasthi.com/contact-us to ask questions or to request an appointment.
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