Today we’d like to introduce you to VAIDEHI MEHTA.
Hi VAIDEHI, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Our Journey: From Mumbai to San Antonio — A Story of Family, Dentistry, and Dedication
I was born and raised in Mumbai, India, in a middle-class family that emphasized education and hard work. From a young age, I was drawn to healthcare, and I pursued my dental education at one of the top dental colleges in Mumbai. It was during this time, in 2002, that I met my future husband, Dr. Viral Patel. We’ve known each other ever since, sharing both our personal and professional journeys side by side.
In 2011, we took a big leap together — moving to the United States to pursue our Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees at Boston University. Those years on the East Coast were filled with growth, learning, and early steps in our dental careers. After graduating, we both worked as associate dentists while building our life together.
In 2014, we welcomed our daughter, Shanaya, into the world. A few years later, in search of a warmer, more outdoor-friendly lifestyle for our active daughter, we moved to San Antonio, Texas. This city quickly became home. Today, Shanaya is thriving and is a proud member of the Cygnets of San Antonio Artistic Swim Team — a joy that may not have been possible without that big move.
San Antonio has also been a wonderful place to grow our family and our careers. Our son, Arjun, was born in 2018. Around the same time, the dream of owning our own dental practice began to take shape. In 2020, we were fortunate to meet Dr. Soan Ngo, who was preparing for retirement. We had the opportunity to take over his well-loved practice, and in September 2020, we officially began our journey as private practice owners.
From day one, we’ve believed that a private dental office should feel like a family practice — warm, welcoming, and built on trust. We were fortunate that our patients embraced us and our approach. With the support of a dedicated team and the strength of our partnership — both as spouses and as dentists — we were able to successfully transition three additional retiring dentists’ practices into our fold.
We named our practices SA Family Dentist — inspired by the first initials of our children, Shanaya and Arjun, and as a proud nod to our city, San Antonio. It’s more than just a name; it’s a reflection of who we are and what we stand for.
Running multiple practices while raising young children hasn’t always been easy. There were long days, sleepless nights, and countless weekends spent together in our offices. But our children have been resilient, growing up in an environment that values hard work, responsibility, and community. We’ve always made it a point to show them the importance of dedication — not just in words, but in how we live every day.
After five years at our original location — an older building that served us well but was showing its age — we recently completed a major milestone: building our very own dental office from the ground up. It’s a space designed with care, intention, and our patients in mind — a true reflection of how far we’ve come.
This journey has been full of challenges, growth, and immense gratitude. We’re proud of the path we’ve taken — from Mumbai to Boston, and now to San Antonio — and we’re excited to continue serving our community as a family, for families.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to becoming a dentist in the U.S. was far more grueling than we had imagined. Together with my husband, Dr. Viral Patel, whom I met in 2002, we navigated one of the most difficult parts of our journey: the U.S. dental boards. We traveled back and forth between India and the U.S. — not for vacations or reunions, but to sit for dental exams that demanded months of preparation, cost thousands of dollars, and carried no guarantees. We had to wait endlessly for interview calls, return again on sheer faith — not knowing if we’d be accepted, not knowing if all our sacrifice would amount to anything.
In 2011, both of us were admitted to the Doctor of Dental Medicine program at Boston University. We had made it — but just barely. The cost of studying as international students was staggering. We took on massive student loans, stepped into a new country on student visas, and started from scratch. It would take years — and a mountain of legal paperwork — to finally become legal permanent residents of the country we now call home.
In 2011, we took a leap of faith and moved to the United States to pursue our Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees at Boston University — a decision that meant leaving behind our families, our comfort zones, and everything familiar. Adapting to a new culture, excelling in a rigorous academic program, and building a life from scratch in a foreign country tested us in every way possible. Every step forward came with sacrifice — emotionally, financially, and physically. Between student loans, the demands of parenting, and the challenges of running a household, the thought of entrepreneurship was daunting — yet we never let go of it.
Between 2014 and 2018, I experienced three miscarriages — each one painful and silent, endured between patient appointments, school pickups, and the responsibilities of being an associate dentist. It was a time of deep personal grief that few saw — because we didn’t stop working, didn’t stop trying. In 2018, we welcomed our son, Arjun — our miracle after so much loss.
In 2020, after years of uncertainty and saving, we were fortunate to meet Dr. Soan Ngo, a retiring dentist looking to pass his legacy on. We took over his practice in September 2020 — right in the middle of a global pandemic. While most businesses were struggling to survive, we were stepping into ownership for the first time, navigating shutdowns, supply shortages, staffing issues, and a fearful patient base. It was one of the hardest years of our lives.
And just recently, we completed one of the hardest things we’ve ever done: we built our own dental office from the ground up — without knowing a thing about construction. We juggled permits, design, decisions, and delays — all while managing patients, team members, and the everyday chaos of parenting. We questioned ourselves every step of the way, but we held on to the belief that something built with love and purpose will always stand tall.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about SA FAMILY DENTIST?
we have 3 dental practices in San Antonio, called SA Family Dentist for the initials of our kids Shanaya and Arjun and also for San Antonio. In March 2025 we acquired Dual Arc Dental in Schertz as well. They are all owned by Dr Vaidehi Mehta, woman entrepreneur. We are all private dental offices with the highest quality of care and great customer care which reflects in or reviews. At SA Family Dentist in San Antonio, TX, we believe in delivering personalized, high-quality dental care for every patient. Our trusted providers, Dr. Viral Patel and Dr. Vaidehi Mehta are dedicated to creating healthy, confident smiles with a compassionate approach. Our services can be found on www.safamilydentist.com and www.dualarcdental.com
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
perseverence
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.safamilydentist.com
