Meet The Doctors
Anu Palakodeti, DDS
Dr. Anu Palakodeti is a skilled and compassionate dentist who has dedicated her career to helping patients achieve optimal oral health. She completed her undergraduate studies in GDCH, Hyderabad India as summa cum laude. and was awarded the “Best Outgoing Student Award” before earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude.
Dr. Anu has had an exciting career journey, having worked as lead dentist for 15 years in Ohio and as the dental director of Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) at NYU Langone. She’s committed to staying up-to-date with the latest dental advancements and techniques to ensure her patients receive the highest quality care.
Dr. Anu takes a patient-centered approach to dental care and strives to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for all her patients. She understands that many people may feel anxious about visiting the dentist and works hard to help patients feel at ease during their appointments. She takes the time to listen to her patients’ concerns and develops personalized treatment plans that address their unique needs. Dr. Anu is a highly skilled dentist who is passionate about giving back to the community through volunteering her time and expertise at Give Kids a Smile Day and senior care facilities.
When she’s not in the office helping patients achieve their best smiles, Dr. Anu loves to spend quality time with her family. She’s always up for a fun adventure, whether it’s exploring a new hiking trail or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.
Even after practicing for over a decade in the Midwest, Dr. Anu never got used to the cold winters of Ohio. So she and her family decided to move to the warmer climate of North Carolina. She has a loving husband, and two wonderful boys – Pranav and Abhi. She and her family fell in love with the state’s natural beauty, friendly people and charming little towns. She’s thrilled to be practicing in the area and serving the local community with her expertise and caring personality.
Sree Nadella, DDS
Sree is honored to be the Chief Dental Officer for Better Dental. She was born in Virginia and moved to Roanoke Rapids, NC at a young age. She attended UNC Chapel Hill for both undergrad and dental school. Her dental niche is sedation dentistry, and she enjoys all aspects of general dentistry. Sree helps patients with dental anxiety receive dental care in a safe and relaxing environment. She considers it an honor and pleasure to listen to patient needs, provide excellent dentistry, and take care of each one personally. She looks forward to meeting you!
Her blood runs blue…go HEELS! She married her husband, Praveen, in 2004. They have two sweet teenage daughters, Jaya and Sona, and a Maltese named Murphy.
John Addison, DDS
The great William Shakespeare once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. Dr. Addison says, “Some are born to be dentists, some achieve dentistry, and some have dentistry thrust upon them”. This is a great way to understand Dr. Addison’s dental journey. A native of the south suburbs of Chicago, Dr. Addison grew up always looking forward to going to the dentist because going to the dentist meant seeing his grandfather and extended family in Canada. Dr. Addison has such great memories of hanging out with his Grampy, talking to patients, and learning about procedures at the dental office. At home in Illinois, Dr. Addison was able to continue exploring his dental curiosities by tagging along at work with his mother, a dental hygienist.
Dr. Addison was admitted to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), an esteemed public boarding high school, where he was able to passionately explore the sciences. He later attended Northwestern University, majoring in Philosophy and Physiology, while undertaking critical medical research projects. As Dr. Addison was finalizing what career to pursue, fate intervened when he was hit by a car while biking through campus, luckily suffering injuries only to his teeth. Taken by ambulance to the ER, one of the first providers to treat him was an emergency room dentist that embodied just how dentistry can positively affect people’s lives. As his smile was restored over the coming months, it became clear that dentistry was Dr. Addison’s calling. Dr. Addison attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where he excelled, graduating with honors and being awarded the respected “Excellence in Esthetic Dentistry Award”.
After graduating dental school, Dr. Addison was sure of one thing . . . he needed to leave cold weather behind! In 2012, in sunny Miami, Dr. Addison realized his life-long dental dream of owning and operating his own dental practice – Addison Dental. With extensive training in implants, cosmetic dentistry, and sleep apnea treatment from prestigious institutions like The Pankey Institute, Dr. Addison quickly became a beloved dentist, earning accolades for his work year after year.
As much as Dr. Addison loved practicing in Miami, he loves his amazing family even more! With 3 terrific kids, a mischievous puppy, and a truly spectacular wife, it was an easy decision to sell his Miami practice and move to North Carolina when his wife got the perfect opportunity to pursue her MBA and tech startup at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. While relocating to North Carolina has been a whirlwind adventure, Dr. Addison and his family are truly loving North Carolina and are certain they’ve found a place to settle down and call home. Dr. Addison is ecstatic that he has found the perfect fit and a great dental family at Better Dental. He looks forward to continuing his dental journey and using his skills, experience, and expertise to improve the health and smiles of his patients.
Dr. Hassana Ansari
Born in Pakistan, Dr. Hassana Ansari grew up with the hopes of becoming a dentist one day. She attended dental school in Pakistan and after graduation moved to the United States with her husband. She kept her dream alive and once again attended dental school, this time at UNC School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill.
Until recently, Dr. Ansari has been serving as a general dentist in the triangle area and now she is very excited to take care of the patients at her new dental home—Better Dental.
In her free time, Dr. Ansari enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids. She loves being outdoors and considers herself a foodie.
Tia Joyce, DDS
Meet Dr. Tia Joyce, a passionate and dedicated general dentist with a history of exceptional patient care and commitment to community service.
Dr. J’s journey into dentistry began while she was in college, where she triple-majored in chemistry, biology, and psychology. While in college, a chance encounter with a dentist from her hometown, during a dental emergency of her own, completely changed her career trajectory. She hasn’t looked back since. This pivotal moment ignited a spark that redirected her from a path in medicine and inspired her to pursue her passion for dentistry.
Continuing her quest for knowledge, Dr. J earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from UNC Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. Dedicated to staying at the forefront of her field, Dr. J is highly skilled and trained in various dental procedures, including IV sedation dentistry, implants, root canals, extractions, and more. Dr. J strives to stay up to date to ensure comprehensive and compassionate dental care for her patients.
Dr. J’s number one goal is to create a welcoming and comforting atmosphere for every patient, from their initial consultation to subsequent treatment visits. With her compassionate approach and unwavering commitment to quality care, Dr. J strives to make every dental appointment a positive experience for her patients.
Throughout her academic journey, she remained actively involved in various community organizations, all while maintaining her same level of academic excellence. She also made time to maintain strong relationships with her friends and family and love on her rescue dog, Gubbs, which she still enjoys doing to this day.