Dr. Adib Hajizadeh
Bonner Dental Clinic, Saint John, NB
What have you observed to be the biggest change to the dentistry profession since you began your career?
When I started my career, dental implants were around. However, over the last several years, the advancements in implant dentistry and restoring one’s dentition through implant-supported prosthetics have become much more mainstream and typical. In my practice, discussing implants with patients in need is a weekly occurrence. For some patients, it has transformed their quality of life dramatically.
What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?
I love travelling to new places, near and far. Travelling is a great way to refresh and recharge the mind. When I travel, I spend a significant amount of time properly researching and planning my itineraries. I sometimes think I’m like an unofficial travel agent when I help family and friends do the same, so becoming a professional travel advisor could be an easy transition.
What is your favourite part about being a dentist?
Helping someone overcome their fear of the dentist is the most rewarding. Nothing gives me more joy than when a patient tells me they haven’t gone to the dentist in decades, and after coming in to see me, they have now surpassed that fear. Some patients’ oral health can be in desperate need and getting them over the fear of visiting the dentist can be life-changing for them mentally, but also for their physical smile.
What is the biggest obstacle or challenge you face today?
One of the biggest challenges my team and I face is finding more well-aligned doctors to join our office to contribute to our patient’s oral health. New Brunswick is a beautiful place to live and work, but it’s also a little too small to have it’s own dental school; therefore, there’s a shortage of dentists here.
How do you measure success?
I measure my success through satisfaction and achieving goals. When my patients are satisfied, that’s a success. When my co-workers are happy, that’s a success. I love helping others, and by doing that, I find that it makes me successful. Suppose I set a short or long-term goal; once I reach that goal, that proves my success and satisfies me. The satisfaction around me and within myself is my ultimate measure of success.
What is your favourite book (or movie) and why?
One of my favourite movies is The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford. It’s full of action and suspense, but I think there’s an underlying theme that the movie shows well: doing the right thing no matter the circumstance. In the movie, Harrison goes on the run to find his wife’s true killer after he’s wrongly convicted, showing pure integrity, and standing up for what’s right and staying honest to the bitter end.
Dr. Adib Hajizadeh was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. He graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry in 2012 and began practicing in New Brunswick immediately after. He is a proud father of two boys and enjoys everything New Brunswick offers, personally and professionally.
Sponsored by:
