Meet the Protego Family
We're a family who decided the world needed more relationship-centered dental care — so we built it ourselves.
Meet the Team
Four Patels, one mission: to make dental care feel like it used to — personal, unhurried, and built on trust.
Dr. Serena Patel
Dr. Serena Patel grew up watching the dental industry become increasingly corporate — and decided she'd rather do something about it than complain. After graduating top-10 from the #2-ranked dental school in the country, she trained at multiple Boston-area practices before returning home to build the practice she always dreamed of: one where patients are people, not appointment slots.
Serena's approach to dentistry is evidence-based, meticulous, and deeply human. She'll take the time to explain what she's seeing, why she's recommending what she is, and what your options are — always. No upsells, no rushed exams, no vague answers.
Outside the office, you'll find her skiing the slopes, watching (and rewatching) her favorite TV shows, or planning the next family trip. Burlington gets to keep her now, and she couldn't be happier about it.
Meet Dr. Serena Patel — video coming soon
Raj Patel
Raj spent his career at the intersection of technology, business, and human experience — first as the youngest lead product manager at GE Healthcare, then as a financial planner and entrepreneur. When Serena called with the idea for Protego Dental, the answer was never in doubt.
At Protego, Raj handles everything outside the clinical chair: the business, the operations, the systems, and making sure every patient who walks through the door has an experience worth coming back for. He's the reason the beverage bar exists, the reason you'll get a follow-up call after your first visit, and the reason the whole thing works.
His obsession with patient experience comes from a simple belief: great healthcare starts with great care — for the whole person, not just their teeth.
Meet Raj Patel — video coming soon
Alka Patel
Alka spent 20 years as an anesthesiologist in North Carolina outpatient clinics — a career built on precision, patient trust, and keeping people calm in high-stakes moments. So when her daughter and son opened a dental practice, she figured it was time to add a new skill to the list.
Alka recently completed her dental assisting training, and she brings a calm, steady presence that puts even the most anxious patients at ease. She's seen more complex medical situations than most, and she'll remind you (kindly) that a dental cleaning is going to be just fine.
She's also the one most likely to offer you a blanket and ask how your family is doing — and she'll remember the answer next time.
Koda Patel
Koda is a four-year-old Bernedoodle with a flawless safety record and zero complaints on file. His primary responsibilities include greeting nervous patients, patrolling the waiting area, and ensuring that no snack goes unnoticed.
He holds no formal credentials, but his hugs are widely regarded as restorative. He is available for consultations on request, subject to his nap schedule.
Koda is proof that the best dental practice isn't the one with the fanciest equipment — it's the one where you walk in anxious and leave smiling (and possibly with dog hair on your pants).
From a Dream to a Dental Chair
Protego Dental started as a conversation between siblings: what if we stopped waiting for dentistry to get better, and just built the practice we always wished existed?
The idea was simple — a family-owned practice that put relationships first, offered hours that worked for real people, and created a space that felt nothing like the dentists of your childhood nightmares.
Six years of planning, designing, building, and believing later — we're here. Burlington, meet Protego Dental.
The Idea
Serena and Raj start sketching out what a better dental practice would look like — one built on relationships, not revenue per chair.
Planning & Research
Deep dives into practice models, patient experience design, location scouting, and figuring out how to actually build this thing from scratch.
Finding Our Home
Secured the perfect space at 1 Wheeler Rd, Burlington — close to the community we wanted to serve, with room to grow into.
Building & Buildout
Construction, equipment installation, and turning an empty unit into a dental practice that finally feels like it was designed for patients, not spreadsheets.
First Patients
We begin scheduling our very first patients — real people, real care, and a moment we'd been working toward for six years.
Grand Opening
Protego Dental officially opens its doors to Burlington with a community celebration. The Patel family is ready. Are you?
Our Office in Burlington
Located at 1 Wheeler Rd, Unit F — near Trader Joe's, Burlington Mall, and Life Time Fitness. Clean, modern, and designed to put you at ease from the moment you walk in.
photo coming soon
photo coming soon
photo coming soon
photo coming soon
photo coming soon