Five Minutes with Dr. Raksha Batajoo, Specialist Orthodontist
If you look up the word ‘passionate’ in the dictionary, you’ll probably see a picture of Dr. Raksha. She is passionate about everything she does from cooking to yoga and reading; but most of all, she is passionate about what she does here at Pembroke Orthodontics. Helping our patients and researching new solutions to dental problems are top priorities for Dr. Raksha. She joined the Specialist Orthodontist list of Ireland in 2022.
When not engaged in orthodontic pursuits, Dr. Raksha enjoys her spare time with her family and friends. In addition, she is very involved with her Nepali ex patriot community in Ireland. She is an avid fan of movies and the cinema. Travelling and exploring the Irish countryside is also a keen pastime.
A little-known fact about Dr. Raksha? Her first concert ever was Kutumba, a Nepali folk band! Not sure who they are? Or are you a fan of their music yourself? Ask her about it the next time you are in!
What Dr. Raksha likes best about her job here in Pembroke Dental? All of the great people she gets to meet and work with; parents, patients, co-workers and the nursing team as well as the wider dental community.
Let’s hear from Raksha herself:
1. Where did you start your dentistry career?
My dentistry career started as I took my first step inside the University in Romania as a Dental student in 2010. I graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, DMD. After completion I returned to my home city of Kathmandu in Nepal and practiced as a general dentist for about a year. My particular area of interest in dentistry has always been orthodontics so I followed my dream and completed my 3-year post graduation training on Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.I am now on the Specialist Orthodontist Register in Ireland.
2. What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?
I particularly enjoy meeting new people, communicating with them and getting to know their dental and health problems and helping to solve them if I can. I thrive on difficult cases and getting entangled with new methods and technologies.
I spend my spare time mostly travelling and watching movies. Some days I totally relax and I do nothing at all-I need time to totally unwind. I do always make sure to have time for my family.
3. What is the last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?
The last thing that I have done to improve my skills/ knowledge is to attend as many Invisalign seminars and webinars that I could possibly get my hands on-they are really educational and informative. I am also attending some online training programs. I have worked and assisted many renowned dentists and grabbed many helpful tips and knowledge from their experience. I am an avid reader and study as many scientific articles as I can related to dentistry and new innovative practice methods.
4. How do you suggest for nervous patients who needs to see a dentist but are too nervous?
For every patient we need to gain their trust first. To do so, we must ensure we acknowledge their problems and the history of their nervousness. A smile and an open friendly nature never hurt. Discussing our problems in a calm and open forum can help lessen fears which I welcome and can help in easing nervousness and make my patients feel relaxed.
5. What is your top tip for oral health?
First and foremost, attaining and maintaining dental health is our top priority. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease and can help you keep your teeth as you get older. Dental health is also interlinked with general health -so some simple tips are as follows. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque. Visit your Dentist at least twice a year for a dental health check. Cut down on the frequency of sweet acidic drinks and sweet foods to help both your dental and general health overall.