Gentle Dental Irvine

About Me

Dr. Shweish says, “I love making a difference in my patients’ lives. I take pride in my work, and I enjoy the ability to give my patients a happy and confident smile. I listen to my patients to best address their main concerns and I enjoy getting to know my patients throughout the treatment and hearing their stories.
Born in the Kurdish city of Amuda in northeastern Syria, Dr. Shweish received her doctor of dental surgery (DDS) from the University of Aleppo School of Dentistry. She was then awarded her M.S. in Craniofacial Biology and her Certificate in Orthodontics from the USC School of Dentistry. She’s a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association.
Dr. Shweish says, “I love the outdoors and enjoy boating with my husband, traveling, attending concerts and also playing and watching tennis and soccer.”

Education

D.D.S.–University of Aleppo School of Dentistry
M.S., Craniofacial Biology–USC School of Dentistry
Certificate in Orthodontics–USC School of Dentistry

Affiliations

American Association of Orthodontists
Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists
American Dental Association
California Dental Association

About Me
For Dr. Alkatib, patient care is his first concern and he appreciates how the teamwork at Gentle Dental allows him to concentrate on helping his patients develop comfortable and confident smiles as he nurtures trusting relationships with them. He realizes that your oral health has a profound impact on your overall well-being.

Dr. Alkatib completed his dental studies at the USC School of Dentistry, from which he was also awardwd his Endodontics Certificate. Dr. Alkatib is also an internationally trained Oral Surgeon. Because of his dual training, he has a special interest in Surgical Endodontics. He is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and Tri-County Dental Society.

Dr. Alkatib is an avid swimmer and enjoys hiking and spending time with his wife and three children. During his free time, he also enjoys cooking, and traveling to different countries to learn new recipes.

Education
D.D.S.–USC School of Dentistry
Endodontics Certificate–USC School of Dentistry

Affiliations
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
Tri-County Dental Society

ABOUT ME
Dr. Ventresca says, “I am an empathic provider and am looking forward to helping you achieve excellent oral health and a smile you’re happy with. I have always been interested in health, fitness, and science. I feel it is my purpose to help people achieve better health.”

After graduating from Colorado State University, Dr. Ventresca received his Dental Degree from the College of Dental Medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences. To keep abreast of cutting edge technology, he’s a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He also speaks Spanish.

Dr. Ventresca says, “Away from the office I enjoy outdoor sports and travel.”

EDUCATION
B.S., Biological Science–Colorado State University
D.M.D.–College of Dental Medicine–Western University of Health Sciences

AFFILIATIONS
American Dental Association
Academy of General Dentistry

About Me
Dr. Nguyen (better known as “Dr. Z”) was first drawn to dentistry after volunteering at the UCLA Dental Clinic as an undergraduate. He loved the level of detail and manual dexterity involved with the profession, and was amazed by how much impact a simple dental procedure could have on someone’s life. He also certainly empathizes with patients having dental fears – he admits to having nightmares himself about bad things happening to his teeth! Accordingly, Dr. Z works closely with his patients to understand their dental priorities, educate them on oral hygiene and maintenance, and achieve the goal of having them leave the office with a healthier mouth. Esthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry are his areas of specialty.

Dr. Z received his D.D.S. degree from New York University. He is affiliated with both the ADA and the CDA, and he is fluent in Vietnamese. Outside the office, he has a variety of interests, including playing basketball, watching movies, traveling, and producing music.

Education

B.S., Psychobiology – UCLA
D.D.S. – New York University

Affiliations

American Dental Association
California Dental Association
Orange County Dental Society

About Me
As an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Needle appreciates his role in providing pain relief to his patients through surgical procedures. He applies a caring, detail-oriented approach to each patient’s case, taking time to solve their dental issues effectively, and thoughtfully provides treatment choices that are specifically designed around each clients needs.

Dr. Needle earned his D.D.S. from the UCLA School of Dentistry. He later earned his Certificate in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center. To keep abreast of cutting edge technology, he’s a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is also a Fellow, American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Away from the office, Dr. Needle enjoys tennis, skiing and travel with his family

Education
D.D.S-UCLA School of Dentistry
M.S., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery-Georgetown University

Affiliations
American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Academy of Osseointegration Fellow
American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Dental Association
California Dental Association

About Me
Dr. Stephen Kallaos’ goal is to provide a pleasant periodontic evaluation and an informative discussion of the options for attaining optimum oral health. He offers multiple levels of sedation to make treatment for his patients as comfortable as possible. He is also very active with his peers to stay on top of the latest technology and procedures available. His membership to industry associations include the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Dental Association, and the California Society of Periodontists, to name a few.
After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UCLA, Dr. Kallaos continued his studies as a Bruin, entering the UCLA School of Dentistry for his D.D.S. degree. He then focused his studies on Periodontics and earned his certificate in this specialty from the UC San Francisco School of Dentistry. He is Board-certified by the American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Kallaos has been practicing Periodontics since 1998. Outside of the office, he enjoys bicycling, snow skiing, and Sudoku, and his favorite author is Dan Brown. He is married and has three children.

Education

B.S., Biology – University of California, Los Angeles
D.D.S. – University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry
Certificate, Periodontics – University of California
San Francisco School of Dentistry

Affiliations

Diplomate – American Board of Periodontology
Newport Harbor Academy of Dentistry

American Academy of Periodontology
California Society of Periodontists
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
Orange County Dental Society
Tri-County Dental Society

About Me

Dr. Pham says, “I love that I have the opportunity to meet and care for a variety of patients, each with different needs and concerns. I strive to give each patient the highest level of quality dental care in a comfortable, efficient, and painless manner. It is essential to me that each person in my care is treated with compassion and provided the individual attention that they deserve.”

After graduating from University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Pham received her Dental Degree from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. To keep up with evolving technology, she’s a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association and the San Fernando Valley Dental Society.

Dr. Pham says, “Away from the office, I like to travel and trying new restaurants. I enjoy getting outdoors for hikes with my dog.”

Education

B.S., Biology–University of California, Los Angeles
D.D.S.–University of Southern California School of Dentistry

Affiliations

American Dental Association
California Dental Association
San Fernando Valley Dental Society