About Us
Meet the Doctors
Dr. Girish Herekar ("Dr. Girish")
Santa Maria, CA
Principal Dentist
“Dr. Girish” wanted to be a dentist since the age of 12.
"In fifth grade, I had an uncle who was a dentist. I was a constant visitor to my uncle's clinic, and frequently saw the happiness that he brought to others. I knew back then that I wished to follow in his footsteps."
Born and raised in south-central India to four generations of doctors (with the first family hospital established in 1924), Dr. Girish learned many lessons from his family.
"Dr. Girish" focuses on family, cosmetic and
Orthodontics at
"The most important lessons I learned were how to balance life, and how important it is to selflessly devote myself to others. Also, my family's dedication to excellence in quality service and care for others, as well as the importance they placed on being a good sportsman, translated to making me think about different approaches and options to provide patients as to how to proceed with their dental care. I learned that everyone is unique, and the care given to them must be personalized to fit their needs."
Pursuing his dream to become a dentist, Girish went to the University of Bombay and received his degree in dentistry (at the age of 21). Next, he went to the University of Nagpur in central India where he received his Masters in Orthodontics. He then studied at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where he received his Masters in Dental Biomaterials. This gave him a great deal of knowledge about the materials used in dentistry and their interactions with the human body.
Following his studies in Alabama, Girish fell in love with America and decided to leave India in 2002 to settle down in America.
He has been practicing dentistry for over 15 years, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the office.
“I moved to the Central Coast of California this past year, because I was looking for a place to bring my family and settle down that would provide cultural diversity, a wonderful climate, and a friendly community of which my family can become a part. San Luis Obispo provides a wonderful, vibrant college community with plenty of activities, Grover Beach and the five city area provides a mixture of friendly young and old people, family-oriented people, and a comfortable, relaxed lifestyle. Santa Maria provides the opportunity to expose my family to a wonderfully culturally diverse population.”
In his spare time, Girish enjoy chess, table tennis, tennis, cricket, and soccer. He has a wife--Karla--who you may meet at our offices, and the darling of his life, his young son Jayant (9).
"I look forward to getting involved in the community and meeting many of you!"
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