Meet the Team

Airway-Focused Dentists in Greensboro, NC

Meet Dr. Priyanka Dand

Journey into Wholistic Dentistry

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Dr. Priyanka Dand discovered her passion for wholistic dentistry and the mouth-body connection when her daughter struggled with a tongue-tie. Her daughter faced related health challenges, including repeated ear infections, but doctors never treated the root issue. Once Dr. Dand discovered that stress during pregnancy and labor contributed to the issue of a tongue-tie, it sparked her commitment to discovering the root cause of problems, guided growth development, and airway-focused dentistry.

SOMA Philosophy

Dr. Dand’s practice is rooted in an integrative, airway-centric approach that prioritizes treating the underlying causes of health problems rather than just symptoms. She believes every individual deserves the opportunity to achieve optimal health. From routine dental care to veneers to airway assessments, her philosophy focuses on the impact of oral health on overall wellness. By evaluating and correcting issues like underdeveloped facial structures, narrow palates, tongue dysfunction, or sleep-disordered breathing, Dr. Dand helps patients of all ages achieve better sleep, metabolism, immunity, vitality, and overall health. She empowers them to be the best, healthiest version of themselves.

Education and Training

Dr. Dand’s extensive education reflects her deep commitment to excellence and patient care. After earning her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Mumbai, she pursued a Certificate in Restorative Dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry. She went on to complete her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, graduating at the top of her class. A proud graduate of the prestigious Kois Center in Seattle, she is rigorously trained in comprehensive, integrative dental care.

Dr. Dand has also refined her expertise in airway-focused dentistry through a wide range of specialized programs, including training with Dr. Ellen Crean; Oralase Plus training with Dr. Angie Tenholder and Dr. Darick Nordstrom at Synergy Academy; airway collaborative training with Dr. Mark Cruz and Dr. Ellen Crean; advanced airway education with Dr. Steffen Decker and Dr. Christian Leonhardt; and additional airway-focused training with Dr. Steve Lamberg and Dr. Steve Acker. She has also completed a dedicated tongue-tie release course with Dr. Richard Baxter.

Her commitment to lifelong learning through continuing education ensures she remains at the forefront of modern, patient-centered dentistry.

Home Life

Dr. Dand enjoys family time with her husband, Dr. Rahen Kakadia, and their daughter. She cherishes traveling with her family, practicing Pilates, and spending time with her parents, who sacrificed greatly to support her education and career.

Meet Dr. Rahen Kakadia

A Journey of Dedication and Growth

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Dr. Rahen Kakadia’s passion for dentistry is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and the desire to build lifelong relationships with his patients. Alongside his wife and partner, Dr. Priyanka Dand, Dr. Kakadia has journeyed across continents, from earning a doctoral degree in dentistry in India to advanced specialty training in Restorative Dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry.

Dr. Kakadia continued to broaden his clinical expertise by completing his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the world-renowned Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California. For five years, he served as a faculty member at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He is also a graduate of the Kois Center in Seattle, which is dedicated to the latest advances in restorative and comprehensive dentistry.

A Learner’s Approach

Dr. Kakadia’s commitment to lifelong learning and continuing education has shaped his approach to providing the highest level of comprehensive dental care. Through his experiences, Dr. Kakadia strives every day to “become an even better dentist than before,” guided by the belief that true excellence is a journey - not a destination.

Philosophy of Integrity and Empathy

For Dr. Kakadia, dentistry is about far more than treating teeth. He is deeply committed to an integrative, whole-body approach that recognizes the profound connection between oral health and overall well-being. He believes that every individual deserves to be listened to, respected, and cared for like family.

By continually seeking the underlying causes of dental and health challenges, Dr. Kakadia empowers his patients to make informed decisions and pursue the healthiest version of themselves. He is known for his warmth, patience, and ability to put even the most anxious patients at ease.

life and family

Dr. Kakadia believes that life is meant to be savored, whether through meaningful patient relationships or simple joys at home. As a devoted husband to Dr. Dand and proud father to their daughter, he cherishes family time, delicious food, and travel adventures. When not caring for patients, he can often be found enjoying football games, catching up on movies, or joining in his daughter’s latest creative projects.

A Letter from Dr. Welch

With mixed emotions, I announce my retirement from clinical dentistry, passing the practice to Drs. Priyanka Dand and Rahen Kakadia, a compassionate husband-and-wife team. Serving you has been a privilege, and your relationships and trust have been the greatest joys of my career.

Drs. Dand and Kakadia are active Greensboro community members bringing over 1,000 hours of advanced training and a whole-health approach to dentistry. As proud parents to their young daughter, Pehel, they understand and embody the values of family, integrity, and personalized care. They’ll continue delivering the relationship-based, high-quality care you expect, with advanced airway evaluations, integrative dental therapies, and a focus on wellness-based dentistry.

I’m confident in this family-oriented team to uphold our core values of trust and respect with a deep commitment to your health and comfort. Rhonda and I give our heartfelt thanks to our exceptional, dedicated staff for making my career so rewarding.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Dr. Scott Welch