We believe that the smile is a literal, physical, spiritual, and emotional indicator of the whole self. Theres no other part of the entire complex, beautiful human body that can say so much about a persons well-being than the smile, so we view oral health as a representation of overall health. Your smile affects and reflects how you feel about yourself, and knowing this, we practice dentistry with a mindful consideration of who you are. Your needs, desires, and lifestyle all play an integral part in the process.
Our dental office is as high-touch as it is high-tech. We invest as much time in building relationships as we do in implementing innovative technology and pioneering techniques. We listen to you, discuss your concerns and aspirations, and together find a plan thats tailored to meet your needs. We partner with our patients for many years, often caring for multiple generations of the same family. We take pride in this unhurried approach and always take the time to sit down and discuss all options for treatment and teach self-care for continued oral health. This allows us to have continuous and comprehensive insight into who you are, where youve been, and where you hope to be.
Our goal in providing dental care is to be a guide and a resource on your journey to make the most-informed and best possible choices for your health, well-being, and sense of self. Our goal is to grow alongside you, honing our mission as we better understand your individual story. Well meet you right where you are in life, and were excited to see where we can go together.
A perpetually growing mountain of research is starting to reveal what dentists have already known for years: what goes on in the mouth directly affects the rest of the body. Many things that are considered solely dental problems have actually been shown to be closely linked to other serious systemic issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Our team keeps this important connection in mind with every exam and procedure we perform. If we spot something in your mouth that could indicate a wider problem, well make you aware and help you take steps to get the treatment you need.
To us, high quality dental care looks great, feels even better, and can be trusted to last for many years to come. The only way to achieve this kind of outcome for every patient is to take our time getting to know them and only use the most advanced technology, techniques, and materials available, so thats exactly what we do. Whether youre coming in for a routine checkup or hope to have a few missing teeth replaced, you can trust our team to provide exactly what you need using compassion and top-notch clinical skill to deliver a positive result.
Inherent in these values is our commitment to providing high-quality dental care to patients of all races, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, national origins and ethnicities. We are committed to an inclusive workforce with equal opportunities for all employees and know we are at our best when we are working together. We believe our diversity is our strength and connects us to the patients and communities we serve.
At Santavicca Dental Professionals, Dr. Santavicca uses a team-based approach to deliver world-class dental care that is always comfortable, beautiful, and built to last. She has a passion for helping people, both in regards to their health and appearance, and this motivates her to spend the extra time and effort with patients that most doctors simply wont. To start getting to know our wonderful doctors, you can click on the links below.
He loves the fact that he can make a difference in his patients lives by addressing their concerns and help them achieve a healthy, confident smile. His approach is to always listen to patient concerns and make them feel as comfortable as possible in the dental chair. Dr. Shad works with his patients to make sure they understand the treatment that is recommended for them, and the best way to work together for a perfect smile.
Dental care is an important part of the overall health of an individual. The relation between the oral cavity and other parts of the body have been widely researched and shown significant correlations. It is important to approach dental care with that mindset and I believe in customizing treatment to achieve optimal results for my patients.
Dr. Shad is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Shad also earned his Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to attending school in the United States, Dr. Shad received his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in India.
Outside of the office, Dr. Shad lives with his wife in Lebanon. Dr. Shad loves travelling, sports and is an avid movie buff. He is always looking for a hike or an outdoor activity, be it summer or winter.
As the dentist, owner, and visionary for Santavicca Dental Professionals, Ive channeled my passion for helping people through my profession of dentistry for over 20 years. What I love most about dentistry and owning a business here in the Upper Valley is connecting with others and making a positive difference in their lives. As dental health professionals, our team is in a unique position to help people on so many levels: creating a great smile, helping maintain overall health and wellness, and building self-esteem and confidence are a few that come to mind.
My dental training began at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As a dental student, I also conducted dental research and was a tutor for anatomy and biochemistry students. In 1994, I graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and then went on to Salt Lake City, Utah to earn an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) certificate from the University of Utah Hospital (UUH).
At UUH, I trained in all the dental specialties and also in plastic surgery, lasers, dental sleep medicine, and treating patients with complex medical and dental needs. Perhaps most significantly, I began to learn about occlusion (how the bite, teeth, and jaws work as a whole system). Now, understanding my patients occlusion is the foundation upon which I create the function and esthetics they desire. As a colleague recently pointed out to me, my training at UUH continues to shape my practice and career.
As a life-long learner, I invest a great deal of time in post-doctoral education so I can better serve my patients, team, business, profession, and the community. I enjoy study clubs (local and national) and hands-on workshops.
My favorite part of caring for patients is comprehensive treatment planning. I believe in order to truly care for someone and advise them, you need their active participation. Each individual is an expert about themselves. As a dentist, I am a coach, teacher, role model, technician, listener, and confidant. I believe dental health can be predictable and long lasting. I work with my patients to create a system of health and balance where the teeth, bite, muscles, and jaws work in harmony. When the system works smoothly and the individual understands what contributes to health (or lack of it), they can play an active role to maintain their dental and overall health.
As much as I love my work, I love not working! I enjoy the outdoors in all seasons. Hiking, kayaking, skiing, and biking are some of my favorite activities. Since relocating to the Upper Valley, I have a close group of friends that are my extended family. My parents, who are now retired, spend their time between my hometown of Waterford, Michigan and Naples, Florida. I have a younger brother and two nieces who also live in Michigan. Although we need to travel to be together, we remain close and are always there to love and support each other.
Currently, I live in the Upper Valley with my cat, Cava. I continue to create a dental office where patients feel comfortable and well cared for. I hope you will join our family of patients and enjoy a confident, healthy, and beautiful smile.