Today we’d like to introduce you to Shahen Rostamian.
Shahen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born in the middle east in a war torn country, I learned quickly that survival involves acceptance of circumstances and a strong belief in a higher power. Sirens would sound and we would run to the basement of our building. The kids would play and the parents would fret. I am grateful that my mother was a brave soul with strong faith. She instilled in me the belief that I would be ok because a higher power was watching out for me. I have always been resilient because of this belief. My life has had many tumultuous episodes but I awlays believe that I will be able to make it through.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moving to two countries prior to age 11 I had to learn to adapt and it was a big struggle. First in Germany, where my family spent three years waiting for permission to immigrate to the United States. I learned German and excelled academically, but I was often picked on for being an outsider and not a native speaker. There were some angels who looked out for me many times, and I made some friends eventually. The same occured in the US when I arrived at 10 years old. I had to learn English and acclimate to the culture and always felt like I was missing something. I eventually caught up and attended UCLA for undergrad and USC for Dental school. I have and continue to work on being grateful for my journey, especially the hard parts, because from those I learned the most about myself and the universe.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Tender Dentist. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I like to believe that my brand is honesty. The name is a declaration of the condition of my heart. I am unable to cause harm without feeling tremendous discomfort. This goes for physical, emotional, or financial harm. Therefore The Tender Dentist is a place that people visit because this characteristic makes their visit as comfortable and trustworthy as possible. Patients declare to me that it was their best dental visit in their whole life. I suspect its because I do my best to help them through the process, either with my words to help them understand technical details, or with my hands, by being considerate and gentle.
Somehow, over the years, I have been so lucky to attract similar people to my practice. I work with some of the most skilled, compassionate, and considerate women both clinically, with our hygienists, and office personel.
I believe strongly in the life philosophy of Kaizen. Eternal improvements in technique and knowledge. Bring a beginners mind to work and never assume you have mastered anything. In this way I come up with small adjustments and changes to my technique almost every single day, always improving. It makes life and work feel fresh and translates to a better experience for our patients.
Lastly, I am an expert in dental Cad/Cam in office crown and restoration work. I make my own restorations in office while the patients are there, allowing me to deliver same day crowns and other restoration types.
What are your plans for the future?
We are in need of a bigger space as we have outgrown the birthplace of The Tender Dentist after a decade. We will be expanding or moving somewhere super close to our office in the near future!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tenderdentist.com
- Instagram: @thetenderdentist
