Marysville dentist honored nationally by the American Dental Association for excellence in clinical dentistry, leadership, and research
CAMP HILL, Pa. (April 11, 2023) — A Marysville, Pennsylvania, dentist was recently recognized nationally for her expertise in providing comprehensive dental care to underserved communities, contributing to dental literature, and advocating for her profession.
Dr. Saniya Setia was one of 10 dentists in the United States to receive an American Dental Association (ADA) 10 Under 10 Award, and the only recipient from Pennsylvania. The award honors dentists who demonstrate excellence and inspire others in science, research, education, clinical practice, philanthropy, leadership, and advocacy.
Growing up in India, Dr. Setia saw the profound impact that restricted access to oral care had on mental and physical health.
“I saw a lot of disparity in health standards and access to quality dental care in underprivileged communities,” Dr. Setia said. “Oral health has such an impact on our body and well-being. It’s why I was inspired to help people who did not have the resources or access to care. Everyone should have the right to a healthy and beautiful smile.”
It inspired her to study dentistry and make high-quality public health systems and dental education a focal point of her practice.
A native of Chandigarh, India, Dr. Setia was India’s only graduating dentist in 2013 to receive the International Certificate of Merit for her contributions toward dental literature, academics, and community service. She moved to the U.S. to further her dental education and training at the University of Colorado, where she graduated top of her class. In addition, she was inducted to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, which is by invitation only and has since been a leader in the dental field.
After completing her training in the U.S., Dr. Setia practiced at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Georgia that cared for patients who had financial barriers to dental health and did not have dental insurance. She advocated for equality in oral care and provided a full scope of dental services to these underprivileged individuals.
She ran programs to specifically educate OB/GYN physicians and the community on oral health, sleep-disordered breathing, lactation, and child jaw development.
When she moved to Central Pennsylvania, Dr. Setia joined Progressive Dental Concepts (PDC) and currently practices as the only dentist in Marysville, which is a small, rural community in Perry County. In less than two years, she has transformed access to care in the community, adding comprehensive preventive and therapeutic modalities, which includes restorative and esthetic dentistry, pain management, and sleep apnea treatments.
“I’ve been actively working to enhance the scope of dentistry from both the dentist and patient perspective,” she said.
Dr. Setia is accomplishing these goals by serving as a researcher and thought leader, coauthoring textbooks, publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals, and speaking at national and international conferences about a range of public health topics, dental and medical conditions, and dental student education.
In addition, Dr. Setia actively advocates for patients and the dental profession.
She became one of the youngest recipients to be awarded an honorary Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy, which is an international dental honor society. She now serves as the chair for its Pennsylvania chapter and helps recognize and award the Academy and Oral Health Foundation Student Scholarships. She also inducts new fellows who demonstrate clinical and philanthropic excellence and leadership skills, and provides students with opportunities for grants for research.
Dr. Setia also serves the Pennsylvania Dental Association in a leadership role as part of its membership committee, designing strategies that strive to increase membership and recruit additional dentists to the area.
“Dr. Setia has a remarkable passion for serving others,” said Dr. CJ Foer, cofounder and principal at PDC. “She is an amazing example for her colleagues both at PDC and nationally. We are excited that she is receiving well-deserved recognition for her efforts.”
About Progressive Dental Concepts
Owned and operated by and for dentists with member practices in Camp Hill, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Hershey, Marysville, New Cumberland, Palmyra, Shiremanstown, and York, Progressive Dental Concepts (PDC) is a community-focused dental support group dedicated to the growth, values and lifestyle of dental professionals, advancing practices through educational, business management, marketing and other essential support tools. By creating efficiencies and adding value on the clinical, administrative and operational sides through innovative technology and best-in-class customer service, PDC empowers practitioners to focus on their core reasons for choosing dentistry: delivering comprehensive, high-quality oral health care with an exceptional patient experience. For general information about PDC, visit progressivedentalconcepts.com.
