Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Yunusov.
Hi Regina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to becoming a dentist in Cedar Park has been anything but traditional. I was born in Russia, where my fascination with dentistry began early—I loved how it could transform not just someone’s smile, but their confidence and overall health. I earned my first dental degree from Bashkir State Medical University in 2008 and began practicing there.
In 2010, I made the life-changing decision to move to the United States—my husband was already living here, and I came to build our life together. What I didn’t fully anticipate was that my Russian dental credentials wouldn’t transfer. I had to start completely over—going back to school, passing exams, and essentially rebuilding my career from scratch. I enrolled at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in California and earned my second dental degree.
That experience, while humbling, shaped who I am as a dentist today. It gave me a deeper appreciation for continuous learning and reinforced my belief that there’s always a better way to do things.
After completing my training, I knew I wanted to build something of my own—a practice that combined the most advanced technology available with genuinely compassionate care. In 2021, I founded Cedar Park Dental Wellness with that vision in mind.
Today, I’m proud to be one of only a handful of dentists worldwide—and the only female robotic dentist in Austin—certified in YOMI robotic-guided implant surgery. We’ve also invested in technologies like GentleWave for root canals, same-day CEREC crowns, and Fotona laser dentistry. My goal is to bring “tomorrow’s dentistry today” to Central Texas.
Beyond the technology, what drives me is connection. Being fluent in Russian and English—with some conversational ability in a few other languages—helps me serve our diverse community. And volunteering on dental mission trips in Africa, Mexico, and Eastern Europe reminds me why I fell in love with this work in the first place—everyone deserves access to quality care.
When I’m not in the office, I’m either with my husband and our three kids or in my garage gym at 5 a.m. I built my own home gym where I lift weights and do CrossFit—dentistry is a physically demanding profession, and staying strong helps me perform at the top of my game. I also have a sauna and follow wellness routines rooted in Eastern European traditions from my childhood. It’s how I recharge.
I’m an introvert by nature. You won’t find me at a lot of social events or big gatherings. What I’d rather be doing is researching. I’m a dental nerd at heart—I genuinely love studying dentistry, reading the latest literature, and traveling around the world to learn from the best experts in the field. I’ve trained with leaders like Dr. Istvan Urban in regenerative implant surgery and Professor Giovanni Zucchelli in periodontal plastic surgery. That pursuit of mastery never stops for me. It’s not something I do because I have to for continuing education credits—it’s what I love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not even close—but I wouldn’t trade any of it.
When I moved to the United States in 2010, I didn’t speak English. In Russia, we all had to study a foreign language as part of our school curriculum—I was assigned German. The closest I ever got to English was a Latin class in dental school. So when I arrived here, I was essentially starting from zero linguistically while also facing the reality that my dental degree wouldn’t transfer. I had already completed dental school in Russia and was a practicing dentist, but none of that transferred here. So there I was—in a new country, unable to communicate, knowing I’d have to start my entire career over from scratch.
Before I could even think about dental school, I had to learn English. And I wasn’t doing this as a carefree twenty-something. My husband and I already had two small children when I started at Loma Linda University. Then our third was born while I was in dental school.
I don’t think people fully grasp what that looks like day to day. Dental school is one of the most demanding graduate programs there is—long hours, intense coursework, clinical rotations. Now imagine doing that in your second language, one you only recently learned, while pregnant, while nursing, while raising toddlers. There were many nights with very little sleep and a lot of coffee.
There were moments I questioned everything. Was I being selfish for pursuing this? Was I taking too much time away from my kids? But I also knew I was modeling something important for them—that their mother didn’t give up, that women can rebuild and achieve at the highest level, that starting over isn’t the end of your story.
Then came opening the practice in 2021 with all the uncertainty that year brought. Building a patient base from nothing, making significant investments in cutting-edge technology when the safer path would have been to start small—those were real risks.
Being a woman in a field that’s still male-dominated, especially in advanced areas like robotic surgery, has come with its own challenges. I’ve had to work harder to earn credibility in certain rooms. But I’ve found that patients connect with someone who has overcome obstacles—they trust that I’ll fight just as hard for them.
The balancing act never really ends. My children are still young, and I’m still figuring it out every day. There’s no perfect formula—just a lot of love, a supportive husband who runs the business side of things so I can focus on patients, and accepting that some days I’m a better mom and some days I’m a better dentist. And that’s okay.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Cedar Park Dental Wellness?
Cedar Park Dental Wellness is a full-service family dental practice, but we do things differently. My vision from day one was to bring “tomorrow’s dentistry today”—to create a place where patients could access the most advanced technology available without having to visit a big hospital or specialty center.
We’re a true general practice, meaning we see everyone from toddlers to grandparents for everything from routine cleanings to complex full-mouth reconstructions. But what sets us apart is the technology we’ve invested in and the range of advanced procedures we can offer under one roof.
I’m most known for being one of only a handful of dentists in the world—and the only female robotic dentist in Austin—certified in YOMI robotic-guided implant surgery. This system allows me to place dental implants with sub-millimeter precision. For patients, that means less invasive procedures, faster healing, and better long-term outcomes. When people hear “robotic surgery,” they often think of large hospital systems. We’ve brought that capability to a private practice in Cedar Park.
We also offer GentleWave technology for root canals, which cleans the canal system far more thoroughly than traditional methods and often saves teeth that might otherwise need extraction. Our CEREC system lets us design and mill custom crowns in-house, so patients walk out the same day with a permanent restoration instead of wearing a temporary for weeks. And our Fotona laser allows us to perform many procedures with less discomfort and faster recovery than conventional approaches.
But technology alone isn’t what I’m most proud of. What I’m most proud of is the experience we’ve created. When I was designing this practice, I asked myself: what do people hate about going to the dentist? The sterile, clinical feel. The judgment. The fear of pain. The feeling of being rushed or not heard.
So we built something different. Our office feels warm and welcoming—no intimidating equipment looming over you when you walk in. We take time with every patient. We show you exactly what we see on our diagnostic images and explain everything in plain language. We give you options and help you make informed decisions without pressure.
I’m also proud that we serve a diverse community. Being fluent in Russian and English, and having some ability in several other languages, allows me to connect with patients who might otherwise struggle to communicate at a dental office. That matters to me personally—I remember what it felt like to not speak the language.
My husband runs the operations and business side of the practice, which allows me to focus completely on patient care. It’s truly a family operation, and I think patients feel that. We treat people the way we’d want our own family treated.
What I want readers to know is this: you don’t have to settle for outdated dentistry, and you don’t have to be afraid. Whether you haven’t been to a dentist in years, you’ve had bad experiences in the past, or you need complex work and have been told there’s no good solution—come see us. We’ll take care of you.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that starting over isn’t failure—it’s courage. When I moved to this country not speaking a word of English, with a dental degree that meant nothing here, I had no idea if I’d ever practice dentistry again. But I kept going. And now I get to do work I love, with technology that didn’t even exist when I started this path, in a community that has embraced my family.
To anyone reading this who feels stuck or is facing the prospect of starting over—whether it’s a career change, a move, a setback—I want you to know it’s possible. It won’t be easy. There will be days you want to quit. But the other side is worth it.
I also want to speak directly to women, and especially immigrant women and mothers. You can do hard things. You can raise children and pursue ambitious goals. You can build something meaningful without waiting for permission or the “perfect time.” The perfect time doesn’t exist—you just start and figure it out along the way.
And to anyone in the Austin area who has been putting off dental care because of fear, cost concerns, or past bad experiences—please don’t wait. Your oral health affects your whole body, your confidence, everything. We’ve built our practice specifically to take care of people who are nervous or have been avoiding the dentist. No judgment. Just care.
Finally, I just want to say thank you to the Cedar Park and Austin community for welcoming us. Every time a patient trusts me with their smile, refers a family member, or leaves a kind review, it reminds me why I rebuilt my career from the ground up. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cedarparkdentalwellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.regina.dds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkdentalwellness
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-regina-dds/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cedarparkdentalwellness
