Meet Dr. Dina Bambrey
“I hate the dentist—no offense!” I hear this almost daily. One of my goals in life is not necessarily to expect my patients to love coming to see me, but to at least make their experiences repeatedly pleasant. It’s one of the things that led me to dentistry. I am a nurturer by nature, I love interacting with people, I’m extremely detailed, and I love working with my hands. Dentistry requires all of these. I love the challenge of changing people’s perceptions, helping them realize dentistry doesn’t have to be painful, and impacting lives with smile makeovers! Making others feel good is the most rewarding type of medicine.
I’m often asked how long I wanted to be a dentist. I knew at age 11 and I never waivered. I was never the little girl who played with dolls…I was building things, doing puzzles, playing strategy games, and the one who took Shop in high school. I adored my orthodontist, the sounds his instruments made, and that he used his hands constantly. I was instantly hooked and the rest is history!
I’m a NoVa native and learning to help others was instilled at a very young age when my Mom would take me to Leewood Nursing Home and let me interact with the residents, while she transcribed letters for a blind woman. I was a competitive figure skater for most of my youth, and around age nine, I began working with the Special Olympics in their ice skating program, and continued to do so for nearly a decade. I tutored children in math and reading during high school. I graduated from West Springfield H.S., and attained my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia (go ‘Hoos!). My volunteer efforts continued in college where I did recreational therapy for the severely mentally and physically challenged, more elementary school tutoring, and three years in Labor & Delivery/Newborn Nursery at UVA Medical Center (I love babies!). I was also a competitive athlete on the Virginia Women’s Rowing team for four years.
I went north for dental school, graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 2000. While there, I spent a great deal of time in the pediatric special needs clinic, doing research regarding abused and underserved children, and working in the oral and maxillofacial cancer clinic. I completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2001. I strive to stay at the forefront of modern dentistry by attending as many continuing education courses as I can. In July of 2017, I earned my Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, by passing a rigorous Board-type exam and completing over 500 hours of continuing education classes. This is a distinction that less than 5% of all general dentists hold and for which I am very proud.
In my time away from teeth, I’m game for nearly anything—I just love ‘doing’ and not sitting around. I love being outside, reading, cooking, sewing, games, theater, concerts, and eating at great restaurants (I’m a total foodie!). I am obsessed with Bikram yoga. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, too, so I’ve never met a roller coaster I didn’t like! And… I’ve been hang gliding and skydiving. My ‘bucket list’ goal is to one day run The Amazing Race.
I’m married to the sweetest man and I have an amazing, special-needs ‘bonus’ daughter that came with him. I donate dental supplies to my synagogue, Temple Beth El, am a yearly ‘miracle maker’ to Children’s Hospital in D.C., support several children’s organizations, and do ‘random acts of kindness’ each year on my birthday. That’s me…in a nutshell.
I hope to hear your story one day…let’s meet…schedule an appointment soon!
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Member American Dental Association 1996-present
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Member Academy of General Dentistry 2000-present
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Member Northern Virginia Dental Society 2003-present
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Member Virginia Dental Association 2003-present
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Avid supporter of St. Jude Children’s Hospital
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Avid supporter of Smile Train
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University of Virginia Alumni Association Lifetime Member