Meet Dr. Dalia Bazirbashi

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I'm Dalia Bazirbashi. I'm a dentist. I am a wife for a wonderful husband and a mom for two beautiful kids. Um, I'm a founder of Lux Smiles Dental in Winchester, Virginia. It's another baby. I will say, like, a three babies, not a two babies, kids. Um, it's just like a, you know, a new, it's, uh, eight months old. Mm yeah. Awesome. I can't wait to learn more about- Okay. your journey.

Why Dentistry Became Her Passion

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Can you tell us what originally drew you into dentistry, and what made you decide that you would, you wanted to take that career path? Okay. Um, let me tell you, my passion is nature and my hobby, like, you know, art and traveling. I love to travel and- Mm-hmm see you know, a lot, like, uh, you know, over the world, like, you know, countries and all that thing, be know new cultures and all that thing. Dentistry, it's a combination between science, art, and communicate with people. Mm-hmm. You know? So that is things I think it's combine everything I like in one thing. Dentistry for me is not just a dentistry. It's, it's a passion. I love it. I love it. If anyone ask me about dentistry, I say it, it's an awesome, I graduate in 2007, and I continued my prosthodontist training and implant surgery, um, and that it's for, you know, which I can restore smile and, rebuild them. Awesome. When you first started, did you know that you wanted to go into prosthodontics, or was that something that you learned along the way in your journey? That's a good question. That has been a long time ago, but, it's always any patient coming to me- it's coming, there is a story behind, like, you know, either hiding his smile or, you know, having fear or- putting off their appointments or something. But I always see one patient Like smiling and tell me, "I can smile again." Yeah. "Thank you for bringing my smile again." It's really... That's made my day, I will say. Yeah. And that's why I think prosthodontist is the thing. It's where rebuild and re, you know, rebuild the smile and reconstruct it. Mm-hmm. So yeah. Yeah. I- And yeah, especially it's, it's more artistic, you know? Yeah. I like to draw and doing like some artworks- Yeah and all that things, so I feel this is the thing that it's more to that, so that's why it's- Mm-hmm I feel it, yeah. It's like each person's mouth is a different canvas, right? Oh, yeah. There's no smile. It's not-- There's no one smile for everyone. Each one have a unique smile. Yeah. Awesome.

Lessons From Practicing Worldwide

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So you've experienced practicing dentistry in different countries before continuing your career in the United States. Correct. How did those experiences shape the way you approach dentistry today? Oh it's really shape my vision, my experience. Each country, they have their own system or tech- or their own technique and, or their own way as well. Like I didn't know that like dentistry in, for example, in Europe, how they are looking to things slightly differently than in the US. And like I worked in Dubai, and this is where I elevate my, you know, cosmetic dentistry. Over there, they are really in cosmetic and all these- Mm you know, um, veneers or smile, all that thing. Yeah, like, but the labs and all that thing, they are, there is a lot of like they're really in a high end over there. Mm-hmm. So this is where I got and elevate my cosmetic dentistry when I worked there. Yeah. It's so interesting how each country looks for like different things. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Some of them it's more, you know, looking for more treatment option for patients. Mm-hmm. Some of them more co- con- convert- conservative for their patients. Mm-hmm. Some of them, you know, um- Like we're looking more cosmetically for case. Yeah. Okay? But I found some more, something like, connecting with all these things. The key to serve the patient is number one, to listen to the patient concern. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Why patient? What their concern, why he's here, why he's coming to you. And then from all my, you know, different experience I got from different, you know, countries- Mm-hmm I know how to give them their option that they want. Like I can give them an option for their smile. Yeah. That's so awesome. You're able to treat so many different people, and you have those skills from, you know, all your experience in different countries. Yes. Yes. So you specialize in prosthodontics- which a lot of people might not be familiar with. What exactly does a prosthodontist do, and what makes this specialty different from general dentistry?

What A Prosthodontist Really Does

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Okay. So yeah, you're right. A lot of people when I say like a, a trained, like a special trained with prosthodontist. So what that mean is prosthodontist is where we are restoring teeth, prosthetic teeth, like, you know, either restoring missing teeth, either do mouth rehabilitation. What that's mean, there is a lot of patient or people, they are lose their, like we said the video, it's where is, they eroding their teeth, so they missed like where is their teeth supposed to be. We are returning, the functional concept for the patient, cosmetic as well, phonetics as well, like all of these together. So yeah. Awesome. What do you consider, you know, when you create a treatment plan for different patients? What I consider First of all, I would say I would consider patient concern. So number one for me, it's listen to the patient, see why, what's his concern, and why he's here, why he's hiding his smile, or what h- why he has a fear from dentistry, and I go from there. Okay. Awesome. And then how do you balance what the patient is looking for versus what might be best for them in your opinion? Okay.

Health First Then Personal Style

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I always facing that in my clinic. Yeah. Okay. So I always like, first of all, definitely if there's something gonna affect his, um, dental care or overall health- Mm-hmm oh, well, that it's my, my red flags. Like, "No. I see this and this and this, and this is how I'm gonna treat it, okay?" Mm-hmm. "That's because this is the best, okay? And this is how it's supposed to be." But, some of patient let's say so other patient, I educate them- and tell them, like, you know, why they need this and why this is better than this one, okay? But again, let's say for cosmetic perspective, and this is where a lot of, controversial about this. Let's say there's some of people, they like the natural look, which is I like and I prefer. Mm-hmm. But not all people are the same. I have patient, they're coming and said, "I want a front gold teeth." Or, "I want a front, like a two teeth with a silver." This doesn't match my type, yes. But this is what patient love. Mm-hmm. And this is how he feel confident with his smile, and this is how he's gonna like it. You know, this is- is not gonna affect his health or anything. Mm-hmm. It's my gonna not matching what I, how I look and what I like, but doesn't matter. It's what he wants in this- Yeah thing. Yeah. So prioritizing their health and then what they want. Correct. Awesome. Yeah. And so you have a passion for cosmetic dentistry. Mm-hmm. What do you love about being able to transform someone's smile? The result

The Hidden Planning Behind Smiles

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when they are smiling- Yeah and feeling happy. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, I like to look for everything. I like to look for the smile. Well, while drawing the smile, and I told you like before, it's not one sm- perfect smile for everyone. Mm-hmm. So each one is coming, like, you know, the shape of the teeth, if it's like a male or a female, it's gonna be different, we are shaping it. The face, how the feature of the face, if it's like a, and if it's like a oval face, rectangle face square face- Mm-hmm chubby patient, no skinny patient. Mm-hmm. That all give us, like, how we gonna customize the teeth, um, looking for the smile line, how the patient smile. Some of patient, they have crooked, like, you know, teeth. Some of them they have misalignment. Some of them like, you know, we go f- we study that, all of them. Mm-hmm. Like, uh, where's the gum position as well? Is it the it's not symmetric, it's symmetric. We know we need to shape this side more than the other side. So all of these, it's a play, with drawing the smile. Yeah. That's so interesting. There's so many different things that go into creating the smile for them. Yes. Yes. Yes. When it comes to... Oh, I think you already answered that one. So when, when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, there can be misconceptions that it's just about making the teeth look whiter or straighter. What do you wish more people understood about the artistry and the planning that goes into creating that customized smile for your patients? Okay. I would say so not always we need to do veneers or sometimes patient, they have beautiful teeth. We just align them. Mm-hmm. You know? Doing a little bit of whitening, that is gonna give them the perfect smile, okay? Aligning them or doing veneers and all that thing and draw them. It, it depends for case by case, I will say. Does it ever happen where a patient will come in looking for one thing, but then you would recommend them something else? Yes. It happen a lot. Mm-hmm. Like for example, that's why I like to listen. Yeah. Always I like to listen to see. Some of patient, they're coming to me and say, I want veneers." And I look to their teeth, they're beautiful. It just, you know, doing aligning the teeth to p- put like with Invisalign or ortho treatment and doing whitening, they will have the result that they are in their mind or what's in their mind. Mm-hmm. Um, not always... I always tell my patient, "You don't need to come with a treatment that you want," okay? Mm-hmm. Like, you don't have to wait till to know what your treatment do you wanna do. It's come, let's talk and see what's your concern. Why, why you don't like this in your smile, and from there I can give you the option, okay? Mm-hmm. Yes, there is some of patient coming and as I mentioned, they want the gold teeth. Yeah. Okay. But for patient, like they are coming to me and they are already having, a lot of like crowding, okay? And deep bite, and then coming to me, "I want a veneer." And this ti- that time I will say, "Oh, let's talk. Let's see something in differently." Like, you know, it... Because if they gonna do the veneers, they will start to chip and break. He's not a candidate for that. Mm-hmm. You know? I will be more aggressive for prep- prepping and all that things, so we need to put to customize a treatment that reaching their goal. Awesome. So bringing in your concerns before trying to find an answer- Yeah by themselves. Awesome. Dental

Dental Anxiety And Earning Trust

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anxiety is something that you've encountered throughout your career. Oh. What do you think is behind that fear for so many patients, and how do you help someone feel comfortable enough to move forward with their treatment? Oh, dental anxiety. You couldn't imagine every day I have one, two, or three patient a day- Mm having, that dental anxiety. Either either for past experience that they had, like a, you know, traumatic experience, a story they listen. You know, you brought to my mind one patient I cannot forget this patient. Mm. And recently, like I finished, but this is the patient that he's gonna be... Recently, I finished his smile, but this patient, he's gonna be always in my mind. Oh. He come to my office. He was shaking to do even the- Oh, man X-rays. Shaking. He was like, we're taking the, you know, the panoramic. He was literally like you're putting him, like, on electric chair- Yeah and shaking. And when I went, like, you know, went to the room, he's sweating and all that thing. And I said like, "Wait," like, "What's going on?" Mm-hmm. And his wife, she said like, "He's thinking we're gonna extract all his teeth." Mm. "And he never he haven't been smiling since long time. And I brought him today because that starts affecting even overall health." I sat with him, start to talk slowly, slowly and then he starts to calm down. Mm-hmm. You know? And when I coming, like even at the beginning, he even, like, was putting his hand on his mouth. Oh. He doesn't wanna even talk. Mm-hmm. Or even he, when he's talking, he's just hiding. And she told me, like, he had been talking with the people like this since a long time. And slowly, slowly we get, and, I get able to let him, overcome of his fear and all that thing. Actually we finished his teeth. And when we- he was in temporary, he hopped, he and his wife to, to my clinic, and they came and he said, "Doctor" And he, it was without any like- appointment. And he said, "I just want to show you something." And I told him like, "What?" You know, at that time it's like, is he is on pain? Anything happen? What's going on? You know? It's like... And he said like, "Look," and he show me, and his wife told me, "This is our first selfie." Aw. He's taking it since long time, and he's with a temporary still, and he cannot stop smiling. Mm-hmm. Actually when I delivered his, all, like his teeth, he was thinking at the beginning when he came, he, we need to extract all his teeth. Luckily we could, like, you know, I fixed them- Yeah and I give him the smile he wants. And when I delivered and all that things, say, she told, like, his wife told me like, he's starting to taking care of himself. He start to book his, like, uh, his doctor appointments." "He's changing all his habits- all his life." You cannot imagine how that really make my day and feel like I am, this is why dentistry, okay? Yeah. So yeah. I mean, know that you ask me about like a patient. But this is what I say beautiful smile is reward for everyone. Mm-hmm. But getting patient trust, I think it is the thing that I always like looking to that seriously. Yeah. And I think a lot of people can underestimate what a smile means for everyone. You know, watching- Oh them transform as a person and watching their confidence grow, you know, after they- When you come to, if you see anyone in the street or anyone, what is the first thing that you do? Or when, when you're talking to anyone- Mm-hmm like first things, first impression is the smile. Yeah. So you offer sedation for pat- for patients- Mm-hmm who experience significant dental anxiety. How

Sedation Options That Change Everything

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can sedation change the experience for someone who might have avoided the dentist for years? Okay. Actually sedation, it's play a major role in dentistry that's helping a lot of patient, there is multiple type of sedation, which this is where I go with the patient and educate them, and this is when I sitting the first visit, when I sit with them, I see how much, and listening their stories, which is the behind of their fears, telling me that. And from there, and from their medical history and all that thing, I can know which type of sedation. We have, like, four type of sedation in dentistry, from the very light one, the nitrous oxide, the... and, until, like, you know, the GA, whereas we put them, like, totally under sleep. Mm-hmm. Um, there is sometimes pills we can give them for the patient, and that's help them, you know. IV sedation, all that thing. So, in our clinic, we have a very awesome anesthesiologist coming to our, our office and help us if patient, they need, like advanced sedation, and we go from there. For, like, in our clinic, something they wanted light or something we do everything in that. Yeah. Yeah. And it's nice that you have different options for different people- Yes with, like, the different levels of- Yes den- dental anxiety. Mm-hmm. Yeah. What is the conversation like when someone comes in and they believe that there's nothing that can be done to improve their smile? Um I will listen to them. I will ask them why. Mm-hmm. Why nothing? Why-- If he's thinking it's nothing gonna improve his smile, I don't think like a patient coming to a dental office and they said, "Nothing gonna improve my f- smile." I think they are coming to hear a solution- Mm-hmm to, to a hope. So it's always there is something to improve- Yeah a smile. There is always a way. There is... That's why I say always patient deserve to know their options- and get involved for discussing their, their dental care to feel and feel that they are, that's met what they are looking for. Awesome. So technology

Digital Scans And AI In Dentistry

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continues to change dentistry from- Oh, yes diagnostic treat- diagnostics to treatment planning and cosmetic procedures. What advancements are you most excited about, and how are they changing what is possible for patients? I will say digital technology, it's involved a lot in our, dental care and in dentistry. For example, let's say, um, digital scanning, that-the digital scanner that I have right now, we scan each patients. They're coming to the office. They can, you know, they have like the 3D model already. In one minute they can see it. Wow. Okay? Instead of doing these impressions with, you know, like bad taste- Mm-hmm just feeling gagging. It's messy. Yeah. Um, with the digital scanner, even if patient, they are coming and they are concerning about their smile, their look, and all that thing, now what I have in my office, I can show them their te- Like in one minute I can show them how their smile gonna look like, either if we're gonna do veneers, either if we're gonna aligning their teeth, if they are gonna do, you know, any alignment or any like... Or combination as well. Like sometimes we-- I do that a lot, like do a combination between aligning the teeth and do the, you know, veneers. Mm-hmm. That just makes me like, uh, know that I'm providing the patient like a minimum, like a prep for the teeth and give them the best result for them. And a-in addition, that we're putting patient on the right occlusion. So prosthodontists as well, like we're looking in occlusion a lot, like the bite. That it's a key. That it's a- Mm that it's very important for each patient. Not only that, actually it's, a lot of dentists coming to exam patients, and then they will say, "You are having crack teeth. You need a crown. You need like blah, blah, blah. There's a a filling. It's broken," and all that thing. But patient, they said, "Okay, fine." But when we do the 3D scan, like a 3D scanning the scanner, patient, they can see their teeth. There. And they will see. Like, sometimes I don't say it. The patient's like, "What is this? There is a crack on my tooth." "Yes." "Oh, that's feeling it's so broken." "Yes. What do you think about that?" And he said, like, immediately, "Oh, what do you, what, what we need to do, doctor?" Mm-hmm. Okay. Um, I said, "Okay, that's need this, the X, X, and Y." He said, "Yes, let's do it," you know? Yeah. They will see what we are talking about. They will appreciate when they are, like, you know, when we're, like, when we show them that. Mm-hmm. Okay? Even, uh, like in my protocol, I do like that digital scanning for the teeth every year. Mm-hmm. So, we are monitor the teeth, you know. I can see, you know, if there is, like, a light crack over here, if it's extended next year, so I have to take care of that, you know, sooner than waiting. For example, if there is starting gum... Even the gum. They can see if they can start having a gum recession or no, or there is improving here- Mm-hmm what they are doing all of these things. So, digital scanning, I can say, it's playing a very, like, a big role in our, field. I think AI is- Yeah the new era as well. It's coming. You know, I was last, like, uh, last weekend in Las Vegas with that, um, dental conference. Mm-hmm. Um, it was amazing. There was a lot about AI- Mm in our field, like, you know, how it's y- getting in and all that thing. Yeah. Um, yes, I think it's the new thing. That's so interesting. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And I think especially with the digital scanning, that's super helpful for people to actually be able to see a visual of their teeth. Yes, because, you know, it's always like, "You know, we're gonna do this and this. We're gonna improve your smile- Yeah with doing a veneer," and all this. Like, they are kind of this where they are scared. Mm-hmm. They are cannot imagine how they will look like on their face and all that thing. Yeah. But when they see it, they will, you know, they will know how it, how it's gonna look like- Mm-hmm how they will look like on that. Yeah. That's, yeah. And then that reduces their anxiety- Yes a little bit, too. Yes. Awesome you've described the moment when a patient who was once afraid eventually comes back smiling confidently as one of the most rewarding parts of your work. What

Why Confidence Is The Real Result

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does that transformation mean to you as a dentist? When they're coming, smile with confidence. That's mean a lot. Yeah. That's what it makes me feel I... Because I'm changing their life. Mm-hmm. Not only the smile. That's reflecting on all their life. I saw it in many patients. Not only sometimes the smile, sometimes even establish the oral health care. They are coming- they are, like, putting off their visits for a long time because, they're scared from coming to the dentist. Mm-hmm. And even we don't need, like, to do that much. It's just like, uh, you establish the oral health care. Let them overcome of their fear and start, like, you know, coming a regular patient every six month. That's even a smile. You know? That's reflecting y- like, they will feel that they are already that accomplished, and I'm, I am always, like, uh, encourage them for that, they are doing a big step. Yeah. It's always the first step is the biggest step. Yeah. You know? It's always hard at first. Yes, and when they are smiling, either it's, where the smile that we always draw... smile it's precious. Mm-hmm. Everyone, deserve it. Yeah. So, yeah. Awesome. You've

Building A Practice With Support

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also built your own practice while raising a family. What has becoming a practice owner taught you about yourself that you didn't expect? Hard question. Let me think about it. Okay. I'll do it... The-- When I open my practice, I will say, I will be-- I, I recognize how much I'm blessed, like people around me, like from my f- my husband, my family, my kids even support me. A lot of my friends and people I know they all help me in building that practice. Mm-hmm. So yeah, I recognize that. Yeah. And I'm just- And it's so important to have a support from your friends and your family too. Yes. Yes. Yeah. As cosmetic dentistry continues to grow in popularity, what do you think patients should look for when choosing a dentist for something personalized like veneers or a full smile transformation? Okay. The, all dentists can do, you know, there's multi- many dentists can do veneers, can do, you know, drawing smiles and all that thing. I will say the good dentist is, and all, all these things, even like, uh, you know, with technology and all that thing, we all have the tools. These are, again, it's a tool. The good dentist who's listening to the patient putting a carefully treatment, like exam carefully putting a treatment plan and give the patient the option that it's matching their concern. I think this is the thing that they need to look to more than, like it's, like every, the tooth is like important, but the good dentist, I think this is why, what is make it like different than the other dentist that have even a tool. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And then having a good experience. Awesome. For, or looking ahead, what would you love to continue building at your practice, and what are you most excited about for the future? I will say it's just I opened my practice, you know? It's eight months old, my baby. Make my practice growing and meet my patients' goal. Make sure my goal for my Lux Smiles Dental, it's the welcoming environment that patient will feel comfortable, and feeling comfortable till like they know their option, discuss their, their treatment with me and all that thing. Feel that they are overcome of their fear, feeling comfortable and trust. This is very important. Building that for the patient, this is the thing. Mm-hmm. It's, and building my practice, getting bigger and all that thing, definitely yes. Yeah. Um, I'm looking like, you know, maybe in the future getting more offices. Mm-hmm. But yeah, slowly, step by step. Yeah. Exciting. And for someone

Where To Connect And First Steps

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who wants to learn more about prosthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, or the work you do at Lux Smiles Dental, where can they connect with you? They can search to my, my office. It's Lux Smiles Dental in Winchester, Virginia. Um, there it's easy even to reach me. The phone call is there. Even like they can book their consultation. They can book it online on my website. They're already, they go ahead, they get like a go book online, and they can go. They can even follow me on my Instagram. Um, I have a page for myself, um, for my clinic, and they can go ahead. I'm happy to contact with them. Awesome. Lots of different places to find you. And as we wrap up, is there anything you'd like to add that we haven't touched on today? Um So I would say to the people you know, that either they, uh, wanna improve their smile or they have a missing tooth, or they are, putting off their dental visits since long time because their anxiety, dental anxiety, take the first step. You don't need to know about the treatment that you need to come. Come and talk about it. Talk about even your fear, even anything. If you want to, get even the, the dental care, established dental care, take the first step. Don't be embarrassed about anything. We are not for judging. We are, like, h- here to help. Awesome. Thank you so much, Dr. Bazervashi, for joining me on "The Alimond Show" today. I wish you the very best in all that comes your way in the future. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me, and yeah, thank you so much.