Dr. Bhende
Dr. Bhende has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years. He received his BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree from India. He went on to do a residency and then practiced in India before coming to the United States. He then attended Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine where he graduated with honors and received his DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree in 1999. He later attended New York University for further training in Implant Dentistry. He received a Fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (FICOI) in 2003.
Dr. Bhende moved from New Jersey in 2006 to settle in the Western Piedmont Area. He lives in Hickory with his son. He established EcoDental in 2010. His patients include Doctors, Surgeons, Pediatricians, other specialists, nurses, CEO’s other Dentists, Hygienists, dental lab technicians and their families. Some of his patients travel over an hour to be seen by him. He has several patients who have been with him over a decade.
Dr. Bhende is also a U.S. Army Veteran. He joined the U. S. Army in June of the year 2000 as a reserve. He was awarded the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity in June 2003.
He was mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle (Homeland Defense and Civil Support) in 2005. He was also cited for meritorious achievement and extraordinary effort on behalf of the Mills Dental Clinic and the West Point DENTAC in March of 2005. He was promoted to the rank of Captain for his patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 2008.
Dr. Bhende has always been enthusiastically involved in the community. In India, Dr. Bhende has provided consultation and treatment in several villages for the underprivileged population. He volunteered for the “Special Olympics” dental screening for patients with special needs in Boston in 1998 and 1999. He was featured in the newspaper “The Boston Globe” for the same.
In North Carolina, Dr. Bhende has volunteered for the Dental Bus sponsored by the NC Baptists Association to provide dental treatment for underprivileged children and adults in Hickory, Lenoir, Newton and Conover areas. He has also volunteered for providing dental treatment for children in need at the Viewmont Baptist Church. He volunteered for the NCMOM (NC Missions of Mercy) to provide dental treatment to the needy. Dr. Bhende has also been an integral part in facilitating the NCMOM clinic in Hickory in 2012. He has also donated his services at the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry (GHCCM)
Dr. Bhende is a past president of the Western Piedmont Dental Society and is currently on the board of Exodus Homes a non-profit organization in Hickory. Dr. Bhende also supports causes like the Child fund, WWF, Salvation Army, Shriners Circus, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Bhende and staff members have also gone on mission trips to Haiti and Romania to provide dental treatment to those in need.