There was little doubt growing up in Burnaby that one day Shamil Hajee was going to use his talents to help people.
Dr. Hajee, the newest member of the team at Diamond Dental Centre in New Westminster. And, the goal has remained constant for him - help people with their health, specifically their dental health.
“For me, it’s always been about caring for people. And with the dental practice, it starts with helping them feel at ease and comfortable when they come in,” Hajee says. “I always had nothing but positive experiences around visits to the dentist when I was young. And I like the practice of recreating that by having a very social aspect - I enjoy meeting many different people and hearing about their lives.”
Keeping the mood light is also an important aspect, he adds.
“I like to crack a lot of jokes to keep things positive and cheerful, when, for some patients, a visit to the dental office can be a stressful environment for them.”
Another key component of care at Diamond Dental Centre is clear and informative communication with each patient to ensure they understand the treatment process they are going through, with the end goal of achieving better oral, and overall, health.
“Don’t ever underestimate the value of a healthy smile, with straight teeth,” Hajee says.
“Having straighter teeth isn’t all about cosmetics,” he adds. “If you look at it from a functional point of view, if your teeth are nicely aligned they are easier to clean, and your gums have a better chance of staying healthy.
“In turn, that also helps the underlying bone to also remain healthy, and allow patients to keep their teeth longer.”
The long-term results of that are quite evident, Hajee says.
“Our healthiest, older patients are the ones who have all of their teeth. That speaks to the link oral health has with overall health, and that includes cardiovascular health and even conditions such as diabetes.”
In April, Hajee joined Dr. David Burdett at the group practice which features state-of-the-art equipment and treatments, including dental implants, root canals, teeth cleaning and whitening, and emergency care.
“Dr. Burdett has been practicing for around 40 years and I am a new addition to the team,” Hajee says, adding he brings with him a number of new services, including dental implants, cosmetic procedures and orthodontics, which Hajee enjoys offering with the implementation of Invisalign treatments.
Invisalign is a series of clear, plastic retainers a patient wears, that, over time, slowly alter the alignment of their teeth, rather than the traditional method of bonding metal brackets and wires to teeth in order to move them into place.
The Invisalign process also uses 3D digital scans of a patient’s teeth to show them the course of treatment, and the before and potential after results.
“And it’s never too late to start. I have patients in their 90s who have just started with Invisalign,” Hajee says.
To help spread the word about Invisalign, Diamond Dental Centre is hosting a special Invisalign Day in July. For more information, contact the office at 604.449.7689, or visit their website at diamonddentalcentre.ca.
