Dr. Salil Bhende DMD, FICOI, President and Founder

In 2019, Dr. Bhende founded WorkingVet LLC to apply his dental expertise to information technology solutions needed in dentistry. He brings knowledge of CAD/CAM, CT Scanners, insurance processing, back-office functions, etc.  

Dr. Bhende has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years. He received his BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree in India. After his residency, he practiced in India before attending 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 training in Implant Dentistry. He received a Fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (FICOI) in 2003.

Dr. Bhende moved from NJ in 2006 to settle in Hickory, NC. He lives in Hickory with his 13 year old son. He started EcoDental in Hickory, in 2010 to serve the Western Piedmont area.

Dr. Bhende has always been enthusiastically involved in the community. In India, Dr. Bhende has given free consultation and treatment in several remote villages for the underserved 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 Boston Globe for this work. Dr. Bhende has also served in the US army. He was deployed for “Operation Noble Eagle” in 2005. He retired from the Army Reserves as a Captain after serving the country for 8 years.

In North Carolina, Dr. Bhende has volunteered for the "dental bus" sponsored by the NC Baptists Association to provide free 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 was the past president of the Western Piedmont Dental Society. He has also volunteered for the NCMOM clinic to provide free dental treatment to the needy. Dr. Bhende has also been an integral part of facilitating the NCMOM clinic in Hickory in 2012. Dr. Bhende provides free dental treatment at the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM) on a regular basis.

Dr. Bhende also supports causes like the Child fund, WWF, Salvation Army, Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM), Shriners Circus, UNICEF and Doctors without Borders by making financial contributions on a regular basis.