Dr. Rubecca Shahid - Your Top Seattle Dentist
BDS DMD
Dr. Rubecca Shahid was born and raised in India, the product of a family of doctors. Her father is an internal medicine physician, and her mother is a pathologist, and throughout her childhood, she witnessed their compassion and dedication toward patients. With this devotion to others deeply engrained in her as she grew up, she knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps and care for her own patients.
Dr. Shahid’s Journey to Smiles on 35th
Dr. Shahid’s dental journey began in 2003 when she enrolled in dental school at Rajiv Gandhi University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) as the youngest in her class, she completed a residency in a busy community hospital. While there, she saw, on average, 50 patients a day, and this significantly improved her judgment and clinical skills. And since this hospital mainly served the underprivileged, she gained a whole new level of humility.
Dr. Shahid then made a bold move to the United States, where she worked and volunteered as a dental assistant for two years as she dreamed of attending a doctoral-level dental school.
The next step in her dental career began when she was accepted into the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. As a student, she was elected as president of her class, which helped her develop leadership skills and gave her a servant leader attitude.
Upon graduation with her DMD, she received two prestigious awards for her excellence in implantology and diagnosis and treatment planning.
Dr. Shahid then worked as a dentist in Chicago until her husband, Naj, landed a new job brought them to Seattle. Then, in July 2018, she enjoyed the happiest, most blessed moment of her life when she became a mother to Aliza.
In November 2019, she purchased Smiles on 35th, a practice that was established 35 years earlier.
Why Dr. Shahid’s Patients Love Her
Patients love Dr. Shahid’s passion for providing the highest level of quality dental care while treating them like family with compassion, dedication, and gentleness. She brings an easy-going, jovial attitude to the chairside, which helps her patients relax and even enjoy dental visits.
Dr. Shahid genuinely cares about her patients and goes above and beyond to ensure they are comfortable and well informed. If she feels treatment is needed, she explains everything in detail so her patients can fully understand their diagnosis and treatment plan. She then collaborates with her patients, getting their input and answering questions. She never forces treatment on anyone, but instead provides education and works hand in hand with them to make the best decisions for their oral health.
Patients also love that she is available for emergency appointments. Whether the emergency calls for a filling, root canal, or extraction, she can provide the necessary treatment to get them out of pain and restore the strength and integrity of their teeth.
Moreover, her patients know they can trust her, as Dr. Shahid is diligent with keeping her knowledge fresh through continuing education. Because of her commitment to be the best clinician possible, she utilizes the most advanced dental technology and provides each patient with personalized care.
Dr. Shahid loves to get to know her patients, and she takes her care and concern beyond the dental office. She not only listens to her patients, but she hears them, and many are surprised when she asks about little details in their life they mentioned at the previous appointment.
And while many patients don’t often think about the size of a doctor’s hands until those hands are in their mouth, many of her patients comment on being thankful for her small hands.
Why Dr. Shahid Loves Her Patients
Dr. Shahid most loves serving her patients the best dentistry possible while building bonds with them that extend beyond dentistry. She genuinely cares about her patients, and she appreciates that most of her patients reciprocate by caring about her and trusting her education and treatment recommendations.
And since Dr. Shahid values and cares about her patients’ health, she appreciates her patients who have a high dental IQ and care for their own oral health.
Through her patients, she has learned appreciation and humility, and she looks forward to continuing to serve her community by providing quality healthcare.
Education
Undergraduate Degree & School
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India
Graduate Degree & School
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, Chicago, IL
Special Certifications/CE Focus
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Invisalign certified
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Nitrous oxide certificate
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Implant Continuum certificate
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Simplifying Complex Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry
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CEREC CAD/CAM certification
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DENTSPLY: Overdenture Implants and Straumann Single Tooth Implants hands-on course, Hands-on Endodontics course, Painless Injection technique.
Professional Associations
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Washington State Dental Association
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Seattle King County Dental Society
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American Dental Association
Professional Awards
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Elected president of DMD class
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Dr. Jerry F. Balaty Award for excellence in diagnosis and treatment planning
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Straumann scholarship pre-doctoral implant award
More About Dr. Shahid
Dr. Shahid enjoys sharing her life with her husband, Naj, and their beautiful daughter, Aliza.
Her favorite stressbuster is cooking, and she loves to experiment with new recipes and collect cuisine ideas from around the world. So far, she has used her creativity and extensive kitchen gadget collection to recreate recipes from five continents.
When not caring for her patients or having fun in the kitchen, she enjoys dancing, listening to music, traveling to new places, and admiring the beauty of the pacific northwest.
She also loves to give back by volunteering her time and expertise for worthy causes. Some of her volunteer/service experiences include:
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Give Kids A Smile
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Community Health Chicago
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Illinois Mission of Mercy
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Compassionate Care Network
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Collaborative Undeserved Relief and Education Network