Today we’d like to introduce you to Beryl Otchere.
Hi Beryl, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Dr. Beryl Otchere and I’m a wife, mom of two little ones, dentist, blogger/content creator, and owner of Life Smiles Dental Studio. I grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in a Ghanaian household. My parents were caring, hard-working, and disciplined and my both of them instilled in me a spirit of determination and focus. My dad worked as a nurse in the Emergency Room and loved getting to impact his patients positively. My dad also had a love for photos and capturing every moment, which stuck with me and inspired me to do the same.
Sometime around high school, as I had a mouthful of braces and found myself visiting the dentist often, I discovered an interest in the field of dentistry. The more I looked into the dentistry, the more I realized that dentistry was very fascinating to me and that it would truly be an opportunity to help people. It was at this time that I began my journey towards becoming a dentist. I knew it would be long and hard but I didn’t know how hard it would truly be.
Early on during my college career, my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. This cancer eventually took a turn for the worst and led to his passing. This was such a shock to my system and rocked my world in the worst way. The only things that brought me through this time, still seeking to succeed in dentistry, are my faith in God, and my desire to live up to the legacy my dad had left. So I pressed on towards my goal.
Along the way, I was able to gain acceptance to multiple dental schools and chose to go to Houston. This was an eventful time and I even got married to my best friend Prince after my first year of dental school. Sometime during my time there, I began my blog, Bloom Beryl, where I documented all the lessons I was learning on how to bloom, grow, and thrive in any environment. As life continued to evolve and I eventually became a dentist and a mom to my daughter Thea and my son Isaac, I continued to chronicle my story both on the blog and on my Instagram account @Bloom_Beryl.
After achieving my dream of becoming a dentist, my next dream was to have my own dental practice. My family had settled in San Antonio in 2021. As God would work it out, I became the new owner of Life Smiles Dental Studio here in San Antonio earlier this year. Being the first dentist in my family, a first generation immigrant, and a young African-American female, this achievement is huge. I’m so humbled and excited for the opportunity to serve patients in my own practice where I aim to help them achieve the best smile of their life. Please come see me there if you need a dentist!
These days, I stay busy chasing my two year old son and five year old daughter, managing my practice, leading out the young adults at my church, or spending time with friends. Thank you Voyage San Antonio for the opportunity to share my story!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I had several challenges along the way on my journey…
My first and most difficult challenge was losing my dad to stomach cancer at the age of 18. This was such a devastating loss for myself and my family. The anchor that held me after his passing and allowed me to press on was my faith in God. I continued to work hard in my dad’s honor and become someone he could be proud of.
The next biggest challenge for me was getting through dental school. This 4 year education in dentistry was one of the hardest four years of my life, The program was intense with so much didactic curriculum as well as the hands on portion. It was the process of training my hands to operate within tenths of millimeters in order to best restore my patient’s teeth. I persevered and I was able to get through it and complete my DDS degree.
The last major challenge I faced was experiencing post-partum depression after having my son Isaac. This was a dark season but my faith, family support, and therapy allowed me to rise above it and live to spread awareness and help others who might be going through a similar challenge.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Life Smiles Dental Studio, we aim to help our patient’s achieve the best smile of their lives. We are a dental practice that provides general, family, and cosmetic dentistry. We see patients of all ages.
What sets us apart is that we are truly a family and treat our patients like family too. From the moment you enter our doors, you will feel welcomed and cared for by the entire team. We know that a dental office can be a difficult place to be for some, so we are dedicated to your comfort. We offer amenities like blankets, overhead Netflix while you’re being seen, hand warmers, a coffee bar, cold bottled water, and more.
We do all types of procedures such as routine cleanings, deep cleaning, fillings, crowns, extractions, root canals, dentures, teeth whitening, Invisalign, veneers, and more. Come on in and see us!
How do you think about happiness?
Spending time with the people I love the most makes me happy. These people include my husband Prince, my kids, my sisters, my mom, my close friends, and more. Being around them is when I feel like I can truly be myself and laugh uncontrollably with no judgement. This is my happy place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifesmilestx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloom_beryl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeSmilesDentalStudio
