It’s not only about being a successful woman in my business; I want to inspire people to become leaders and be a good example for the community.
Soft music, candles, soothing colors, a massage room . . . these are not things one would expect to find upon entering a dentist office. But at Comfort Dental in Rhode Island, Dr. Carmen Sanchez is putting the comfort of her patients first in hopes of relieving any fear and making their experience as enjoyable as possible. Since opening both locations of her practice, in Providence and Central Falls in 1999, Sanchez has seen her number of patients grow to an impressive 17,000, many of who are from the Latino community.
Sanchez came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 1994, and attended Boston University’s advanced dental program before she was invited to work at a health center in need of dentists. Recognizing a need in the Latino community for a dentist who speaks their language, she started dreaming about what her ideal dental practice would look like, putting an emphasis on the patient experience with a spa-like atmosphere. In 1999, her dreams became reality as Comfort Dental opened its doors.
Sanchez genuinely loves people and what she does, and that positive energy is felt throughout Comfort Dental. “I love to sing,” she says. “I create an atmosphere that is very unique. We even dance, my staff and I, when we are a little overwhelmed. It’s a good energy.” Sanchez sees her role as an opportunity to improve her patients’ self esteem, whether it’s through giving them a beautiful smile or simply talking to them about their lives. “I can be a good example for people who have some limitation when they come to this country to show that they can do it,” she says.
For Sanchez, the biggest challenge in starting her small business was overcoming the language barrier and navigating the business landscape of the U.S. But through forging strong connections with her patients and focusing on providing the best service to them possible, success has followed.
“I always wanted to be an extraordinary human, but with a humble heart, because I believe that success without fulfillment is a failure.”
Photos by Shaul Schwarz