Dr Thomas Nechupadam: Experiments With ‘Tooth’ & Entrepreneurship

A mender of countless smiles, an ace entrepreneur, and an upcoming author, Dr Thomas Nechupadam, who is a maven in aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry, wears many hats with ease. He is also winning smiles of awe in entrepreneurship, in grooming beauty queens for national pageants, and in exploring avenues of innovation, which include the world of letters.
A Chip Off the Old Block
Dr Thomas Nechupadam is the illustrious son of Dr K T Paulose, a dental surgeon par excellence who is the torchbearer of the Nechupadam brand. All his three siblings are dental surgeons who are following in the footsteps of their dad. While his father is based in Kolenchery, Dr Thomas Nechupadam runs the Dr Nechupadam Dental Clinic in Marine Drive, Kochi, where he dons the roles of Appearance Expert, Orthodontist, Dentofacial Orthopaedician, and Implantologist. He bagged his dental degree from Mangalore University in 2000 and did his master’s in Orthodontics from Rajiv Gandhi University in Bengaluru. Dr Thomas Nechupadam also underwent endodontic training under Dr Omar Zidan of Minnesota University in the United States.

Dr Thomas Nechupadam & Dr Nithia Sara Thomas

The Smiling Entrepreneur
Although Dr Thomas Nechupadam mends crooked teeth and corrects smiles, he nurtures a passion for entrepreneurship thanks to his zest for innovation. However, his entrepreneurial journey was never devoid of twists and turns. He has endured the painful process of learning, unlearning, and relearning to master the art of taking business along with his profession. His diversification drive has fetched him many feathers for his cap.
Mission Startups
He has invested time and dimes in numerous sustainable eco-friendly startups like Enerz, EcDenntistry, Payspoon, Learnstroke, Pet’M and many more. He is an advisor and mentor for startups to fend the initial bootstrap time efficiently. Interestingly, his clinic has a well-decorated meeting room that is effectively used for startup pitches, investor meetings, and reviews. The companies that come under his purview are diverse–from fintech like Payspoon and AI-based Dental software ECDentistry to millet-based pet food Pet’M and solar-powered transport system in Enerz.
ECDentistry & Enerz
This application is an effort of two brilliant youngsters Dr Ajai and Dr Prince mentored by Dr Thomas Nechupadam to build a learning platform for dental students and dentists alike. The power of Artificial Intelligence is used to simplify learning the different subjects of dentistry in an interactive and fun way. On the other hand, Enerz is an ambitious project to harness solar power to propel future transportation in a smart secure, and reliable way.
Maybe the fact that he hails from Kolenchery could be one of the reasons behind his entrepreneurial pursuit as the hamlet is known for its contractors, industrialists, and business houses. The business acumen and the quest for new horizons have always taken him to numerous business ventures he has founded, cofounded or catalysed. Dr Thomas and his better half, Dr Nithia Sara Thomas, made their mark on corporate grooming, appearance facelifts, and organic farming in the entrepreneurial journey.

Dr Thomas Nechupadam

Pageant Groomer and Judge
Perhaps, Dr Thomas Nechupadam could be one of the few doctors who are closely associated with beauty pageants. With the same ease with each he mends broken teeth and handles implants, he can handle grooming sessions for beauty contest participants. He teaches them how to smile in the right way to win hearts, and the correct manner to pose for shutterbugs. An expert in adult orthodontics and clear aligner therapy, Dr Thomas also grooms the contestants on how their facial appearance should be while sashaying on the ramp and what accessories to pick and choose. He has been the groomer for various national pageants since 2011 and served as the director of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dr Thomas was also the sub-title committee chairman of beauty contests like Miss Queen of India, Miss South India, and Miss Asia. He used to put his judging skills to good use during the Miss Beautiful Smile category to select the contestant with the best ravishing smile. He also actively supports Pegasus Events and supports the cause of excellence in fashion.
The Media-Savvy Doctor
Dr Thomas Nechupadam is a familiar presence on TV Channels like Asianet, Kairali TV, and Jaihind to name a few. He appears before the camera to educate the public on dentistry and oral hygiene. His idea is to reposition dental treatment as a tool to save and beautify natural teeth rather than to replace them. When the social media revolution gained momentum, he shifted his focus in 2010 to online platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. He harnesses the power of social media to publish videos to educate people on advanced dental care and various treatment modalities. His Palludoctor Instagram page has 92.8k followers. He also offers dental insights through his Wikidontist channel on YouTube.
Foraying Into the World of Letters
In spite of his busy schedule, Dr Thomas Nechupadam finds time to pen blogs, articles for newspapers, and posts for social media platforms. Determined to explore the world of letters in a profound manner, he is also penning down excerpts from his professional life to enlighten readers, and provide oral care tips and diverse options for treatment. His book entitled “My Experiments with Tooth” will hit the stands soon.
Family

Dr Thomas Nechupadam Family

Dr Thomas Nechupadam is the eldest son of Dr Paulose, who was the first private practicing Orthodontist in Kerala and the founder of the Nechupadam Dental Clinic way back in 1965. His pillar of strength, Dr Nithia, is the Chief Dental Surgeon at Dr Nechupadam Dental Clinic at Marine Drive. The power couple is blessed with three children—Nissi, Nidhi, and Noah who are poised to take forward the illustrious legacy of the Nechupadam family.
Keeping Alive the Networking Spirit
Dr Thomas Nechupadam has proven his mettle in diverse networking platforms like the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Young Indians, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and many other business organisations. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of MOSC Medical College and Hospital in Kolenchery. He is on a journey of entrepreneurial excellence through collaboration and development.