Gentle Dental Orange

About Me
Dr. Pootrakul is committed to the highest quality dental care. As an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon he appreciates his role in providing pain relief to his patients through often complex 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 options that are specifically designed around each patient’s needs.
Patients that have had traumatic dental visits in the past at other offices, are pleasantly surprised with his kind manner and gentle approach to Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. Whether you are having a simple extraction or all four wisdom teeth removed under sedation you will feel more like you are at a spa then a dental office. His scope of practice ranges from extractions to full facial reconstruction. His education and surgery training allow him to handle the most complex medical and dental cases without the need to go to a hospital.
After graduating from St John’s University, Dr. Pootrakul earned his D.D.S. from the SUNY Buffalo School of Dentistry. He received his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training from the Westchester Medical Center. He also speaks Spanish and Farsi.
Away from the office, Dr. Pootrakul likes spending time with his wife and son. He enjoys relaxing with exercise and is a classic car enthusiast.

Education

B.S., Applied Math–St John’s University
D.D.S.–SUNY Buffalo School of Dentistry
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training–Westchester Medical Center

Affiliations

American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
Academy of General Dentistry

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
Dr. Nishikawa says, “I am very gentle and I will do everything that I can to ensure that a patient is as comfortable as possible at each and every appointment. The best part of being a dentist is helping patients have a positive experience in the dental office and giving them a healthy and beautiful smile. Although I am not a pediatric dentist I love working with kids. So, send me your little ones!

After graduating with a B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA, Dr. Nishikawa received her Dental Degree from the UCLA University School of Dentistry. She’s a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the Orange County Dental Association and the North Orange County Implant Group. She is also Invisalign Certified.

Dr. Nishikawa says, “I enjoy making beaded jewelry, hiking, boot camp workouts, watching college football, and traveling. I really enjoy arts and crafts, and helping people. Dentistry really combines both of those interests!”

EDUCATION
B.S., Psychobiology–UCLA
D.D.S.–UCLA School of Dentistry

AFFILIATIONS
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
Orange County Dental Association
North Orange County Implant Group

ABOUT ME
Dr. Pruss encourages her patients to be involved in their treatment in order to achieve the best results possible, and is always open to questions and is attentive to each patient’s needs.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Dr. Pruss received her Dental Degree and her Endodontic Certificate from the Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine. To keep up with evolving technology, she’s a member of the American Association of Endodontics, the American Dental Association and the California State Dental Association.

She dedicates a considerable amount of time volunteering with missions to Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as well as volunteer mission to Israel, Spain, Rwanda, India and Congo.

Dr. Pruss is an avid traveler and has been to over 115 countries and counting. She enjoys skiing, running and spending time with her husband and two kids.

EDUCATION
B.S., Physiology–Michigan State University
D.M.D.–Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine
Endodontic Certificate–Nova Southeastern University

AFFILIATIONS
American Association of Endodontics
American Dental Association
California State Dental Association.

ABOUT ME
Dr. Salamati says, “I know that as a parent you want the best for your kids and I strive to provide your children with the best dental care in a fun, comfortable setting. The thing that attracted me to dentistry was having the ability to provide quality dental care–which is both an art and a science–to my patients and provide them with beautiful, healthy smiles”

After graduating from University of Washington, Dr. Salamati received her Dental Degree from the University of Washington School of Dentistry and her Pediatric Dentistry Certificate from the Jacobi Medical Center at UCLA, She’s a member of the American Association of Pediatric Dentists, the Washington State Dental Association and the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She also speaks Farsi.

Away from the office, Dr. Salamati enjoys hiking, reading, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.

EDUCATION
B.S., Biochemistry–University of Washington
D.D.S.–University of Washington School of Dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry Certificate–UCLA, Jacobi Medical Center

AFFILIATIONS
American Association of Pediatric Dentists
Washington State Dental Association
American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Featured on cover page of ADA News regarding outreach activities
Dental Alumni Association Award of scholarship
Certificate of Appreciation, Office of Educational Partnerships and Diversity University of Washington Dean’s List
First Aid, CPR, HIV/AIDS and Blood Born Pathogen certifications from ARC Howard Hughes Medical Institution (HHMMI) Integrative Research Intern Scholar Distinguished Tutor Award from Everett Community College
CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) Certified Tutor

About Me
With a true passion for crafting beautiful smiles, Dr. Randa Nasr’s dedication to her patients is evident through the care and concern she gives to each individual. Her primary goal is to deliver a positive, painless, and comfortable dental experience so that her patients leave their appointments with a smile!

A graduate of Cairo University’s School of Oral & Dental Medicine, Dr. Nasr was accredited by the California Dental Board in 2006. She is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. While she focuses on General Dentistry and comprehensive care, she also enjoys Cosmetic Dentistry and performing smile makeovers. Dr. Nasr stays aware of the latest techniques in cosmetic and restorative dentistry to provide her patients with the best and most convenient services.

In her free time, Dr. Nasr likes to swim, travel, dance, and spend time with her family. She is fluent in Arabic.

Education

D.D.S. – Cairo University (Egypt)

Affiliations

American Dental Association
California Dental Association
The Dentists Insurance Company
American Academy of Implant Dentistry

ABOUT ME
Dr. Taghavi says, “The best part of my profession is bringing a smile to my patient’s face when they are out of pain and make them happy once again! I’m here to listen and answer any questions you may have regarding your dental needs.”

After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Taghavi received his Dental Degree from the Northwestern University Dental School. To keep abreast of cutting edge technology, he’s a member of the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association. He also speaks Farsi and Spanish.

Dr. Taghavi says, “In my free time I enjoy getting outdoors for gardening, jogging and weight training.”

EDUCATION
B.S., Biology–UC Berkeley
D.D.S.–Northwestern University Dental School

AFFILIATIONS
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