A new Black-owned dental practice is set to open on Charlotte’s Beatties Ford Road early next year, offering a much-needed service to the community. Somtochukwu “Somie” Agunwah, founder of Bubbles Pediatric Dentistry, chose the location deliberately to provide a safe, welcoming space for children in the area.
“I wanted to make sure I was situated in a place where brown and Black girls, and boys, that look like me, could have a safe space where they could get their treatment,” Agunwah explained.
The 4,200-square-foot clinic, located at 2012 Beatties Ford Road, will provide dental care for children from six months to 18 years old. Agunwah, 39, chose the name “Bubbles” to convey a sense of fun and positivity, aiming to create an environment that children would feel comfortable in.
Agunwah’s path to dentistry was shaped by her background. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, she moved to Charlotte with her family in 2003 after completing high school. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UNC Charlotte before moving to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a critical care nurse at Howard University Hospital.
Despite her success in nursing, Agunwah said the demanding hours and lifestyle of medical doctors did not appeal to her.
Her interest in dentistry grew after shadowing a dentist in Maryland for six months. She later attended Howard University College of Dentistry and completed her pediatric residency in Brooklyn, New York.
Agunwah’s decision to focus on pediatric dentistry stems from her desire to make a lasting impact on children’s lives. “They are still teachable,” she said, emphasizing the importance of early intervention in dental care.
A Growing Investment in Beatties Ford Road
Agunwah’s new clinic comes as part of a broader effort to revitalize the Beatties Ford Road corridor, a historically Black area of Charlotte that has seen increasing investment from Black professionals. Her dental practice will sit next door to a commercial property recently purchased and renovated by Christopher Dennis, a Black developer.
Local advocates have been pushing for family-friendly businesses that align with the community’s values. When it was announced that Yi Wah Investment Inc., the property owner at 2012 Beatties Ford Road, intended to open a smoke shop in the building, community members voiced concerns, urging the city to consider businesses that would better serve local families.
Arta Osmanaj, a senior economic specialist with the City of Charlotte, confirmed that Yi Wah Investment had applied for a Business Matching Grant in February 2022. The grant program is designed to support businesses in six designated “corridors of opportunity” by reimbursing them for renovation costs. Yi Wah purchased the property for $795,000 in 2021, and the city agreed to reimburse $65,000 to cover some of the renovation expenses, contingent on securing a tenant.
After the city determined that the proposed smoke shop was not a suitable fit for the area, Yi Wah Investment agreed to lease the space to Bubbles Pediatric Dentistry instead.
Yi Wah Investment could not be immediately reached for comment.
The opening of Bubbles Pediatric Dentistry adds to the momentum of positive changes along Beatties Ford Road, where community leaders and businesses are working to create a more vibrant, family-oriented district.
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