Today we’d like to introduce you to Argina Kudaverdian.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story starts off as a little girl accompanying my mother to her dental cleaning appointments. I somehow fell in love with her dentist and would always tell my mom, “I want to be like the dentist when I grow up.” Since then, it’s always been a dream of mine to have my own office and practice clinical dentistry. I was born and raised by immigrant Armenian parents who instilled in me a strong sense of work ethic and ambition. I witnessed them struggle through language barriers, working multiple jobs to create and live that “American dream.” I was blessed that they prioritized education above all else. I was hyper-focused on getting a good education to become successful. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UCLA and went on to graduate from UCSF, completing my professional training and receiving a Doctorate in Dental Surgery. Right after, I completed a one-year residency program in advanced dentistry at the VA Sepulveda Hospital, where I improved my skills in more specialized dental procedures and surgery.
Now, five years later, I finally opened up my own office in Tarzana, just blocks away from where I went to grade school. In my eyes, I’m just at the beginning of my journey. I am learning every day about what it takes to be a business owner and a good clinician. I also realized after all these years, that there’s more to life than reaching academic or career goals. As a newlywed, I make sure to spend quality time with my husband, family, and friends. I am now well too aware that life is too short as I endured my own loss of very close loved ones over the years. Where I am today is still on my journey, where I strive to improve patients’ lives through dentistry as well as continuously work on myself to live a life full of intention and joy.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There were struggles along the way that created bumps on the road. One of the major ones was that my mother was diagnosed and suffered from a terrible autoimmune disease while I was in high school. Since we did not have any family members in the health field or any experience with disease, it was really hard for us to cope with her illness. I made many sacrifices in my teen years to take care of her and spend as much time as possible with her. During college, I commuted by car for at least one hour every day and worked all four years to be able to care for her physically, emotionally, and financially. Her dream was to see me graduate from college, which came true. She passed away right after I graduated from UCLA. Losing her in my life was and is still quite challenging for me. Of course, dental school and business ownership is not easy just by itself. There have been many moments where I questioned myself, wondering if I made the right choices. What helps me the most is remembering that all these experiences is part of the journey that makes us who we are.
As you know, we’re big fans of 32ology Dental Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
32ology Dental Studio was founded with a mission to deliver exceptional dental care with personalized attention. We are a primary, general dental practice with a focus on conservative cosmetic treatments. We provide a vast number of services from preventive care like teeth cleanings to veneers and oral surgery. I am a true believer in less is more, so I focus on saving as much teeth and tooth structures as possible. For example, I usually plan porcelain onlays for teeth versus crowns in order to save healthy tooth structure and lengthen the lifetime of the tooth. I also believe in comprehensive long-term solutions. So what sets me apart from other dentists is my ability to create treatment plans that will preserve natural teeth for a lifetime. My practice also centers on education and prevention. I like to teach every single patient from their very first visit how to improve their daily hygiene and dietary habits to stop the progression of gum disease and tooth decay.
I worked really hard to create the 32ology brand and am proud of the name/logo. It’s quite different from the typical tooth or smile logo that most dental offices have. 32ology exudes an upscale, fun, and creative approach to dentistry. The name has a specific meaning. Humans typically have thirty-two teeth, and “ology” means “study of.” The logo has two mermaids facing each other while studying a pearl in the middle. Mermaids represent transformation, and the white pearl represents teeth. So, the 32ology brand represents the study and transformation of 32 teeth that humans have.
My office also offers up-to-date technology, including a handheld X-ray machine, a 3D cone beam CT, and intraoral cameras and scanners. These devices make taking X-rays much more comfortable and fast. The CT machine also allows for more accurate diagnosis and planning for major procedures like root canals and implants. All in all, the goal is to use the latest advancements with authentic care to make going to the dentist more comfortable and enjoyable, ultimately leading to better oral health outcomes.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love to collaborate with people interested in educating the general public on how to care for their mouths and teeth. You can email me at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: www.32ology.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/32ology
- Facebook: facebook.com/32ology
