PASSIONATE PEDIATRIC DENTIST MURPHY
Get to Know Dr. Nelson Hui
Dr. Nelson loves being able to work with children of all ages, improve their oral health, and show them that dentistry doesn’t have to be scary or painful. His goal is to make sure his young patients stay healthy and confident throughout their formative years while also having a positive relationship with dentistry that will serve them well into adulthood. Ethics, empathy, and excellence play a large role in the way Dr. Nelson practices pediatric dentistry here in Murphy. He is an avid proponent of minimally invasive dentistry and strongly believes in meeting children where they are while rendering the highest standard of treatment. He’s eager to take care of your favorite smile, and below, you can learn a little more about him.
Why Did You Decide to Become a Pediatric Dentist?
Dr. Nelson knew that dentistry was his calling after shadowing a dentist during one summer break in college. He loved how dentistry incorporated both science and art, and later on, his affinity for helping children made specializing in pediatric dentistry an easy decision.
Dr. Nelson worked as a general dentist for almost a decade, before pursuing a specialty in pediatric dentistry. During these years, he encountered many adult patients who postponed routine dental care due to prior traumatic dental experiences as children and would not visit a dentist unless severe tooth pain developed. As a dentist committed to encouraging and preserving the wellness of teeth, Dr. Nelson found it concerning that this delay in dental care often led to the need for extraction of permanent teeth, which poses lifetime consequences.
These experiences uncovered Dr. Nelson’s passion to become a pediatric dentist in order to help children on the front end to create positive childhood dental experiences that will lead to a lifetime of preventive care and healthy smiles.
Where Did You Study Dentistry?
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in finance at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Nelson was offered the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine.
Following dental school, Dr. Nelson moved back home to Texas to practice dentistry and obtained a wide range of clinical experiences, from reconstructing smiles with veneers to donating basic services to the underserved pediatric population. He eventually completed his specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida.
While in his pediatric dental residency, Dr. Nelson was selected by his attendings to be the Lead Resident and subsequently the Chief Resident. He had been practicing as a general dentist for many years before transitioning exclusively into pediatric dentistry, so he understands the implications of how baby teeth can affect the permanent adult teeth. With his prior experiences in general dentistry, he is very comfortable treating complicated cases involving permanent teeth in pediatric patients. He has also done a lot of cosmetic dentistry in the past and feels very confident translating those skills into his pediatric dental work.
Today, Dr. Nelson is board-certified and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) as well as a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).
Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?
Dr. Nelson grew up in Grapevine, Texas and is the son of two immigrant parents who came to North America for college and worked full-time to fund their tuition. As a result, he was raised with the value of being hardworking and fully dedicated to whatever he pursues. Away from the office, he likes to listen to music and play the piano—he even composes! Recently, he has gotten into playing pickleball with friends, and he is also a huge foodie who is always eager to try new restaurants and cuisines.