You’re the owner of a brand new dental practice in the Beach Cities – what drove you to
become a dentist in the first place, and to set up shop here?
My dad was a pediatric dentist. I was very close with my dad and I always wanted to
follow in his footsteps. I learned from him that you have to love what you do in order to
be successful. In addition, I studied psychology in college and I loved learning about
child development. Pediatric dentistry combines both child psychology and medicine.
As far as why I decided to set up shop in the Beach Cities, I live nearby in Hermosa
Beach and my kids go to school in Manhattan Beach. This is our community and I
consider myself extremely fortunate to serve families in the Beach Cities.
Despite so many dental options for kids in our area, your practice is already booming.
What sets you apart from the competition?
First and foremost, as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, I have
extensive specialized training in pediatrics that I completed after dental school.
I also take pride in offering personalized pediatric dentistry. Every kid has different needs
and I take a lot of pride in customizing treatments and the overall experience to meet the
individual needs of each child. This is a huge deal for me, because I have a child with
special needs and I know firsthand how important it is to avoid a one-size-fits-all
approach.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I really love chocolate. I know dentists always tell patients to avoid sugar, but I like
chocolate just as much as everyone else. I just make sure to brush my teeth afterwards.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Eli (age 6) and Chloe (age 4)
With two kids and a thriving business, your life is pretty busy! What does a typical weekday look
like for you?
I am definitely busy, but I love it! I am mom until I drop the kids off at school and then I
become Dr. Shari afterwards. Unless I am teaching at Children’s Hospital of Los
Angeles, I spend the whole day treating my little patients (although I often like to take a
break and meet my husband for lunch). I usually make it home just in time for bedtime
routine with my kids.
I have to ask about the sensory room in your dental office, because it’s one of the coolest things
I’ve ever seen (and I’ve never seen anything else like it.) Tell us more!
The sensory room goes hand in hand with the concept of offering personalized pediatric
dentistry. If I have a patient who had an awful experience in the past, then the last thing I
want to do is replicate that experience. I created a sensory room that looks nothing like a
typical treatment room in a dental office. The room has a floor-to-ceiling sensory wall
and colored sensory lighting. In addition, my office creates a unique sensory profile for
each child that helps me determine how I treat each child.
Aside from your dental practice, you are a professor at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Tell
us more about that part of your work.
I am a professor at the USC Pediatric Dental Residency at Children’s Hospital of Los
Angeles (CHLA). I split my time between working at CHLA and my practice in Redondo
Beach. The commute to the hospital is not fun, but I love teaching.
What are some of your favorite local things to do with your kids?
We love to go to the beach or to the park (usually South Park). We also love going out to
breakfast on the weekend (my kids love the pancakes at Good Stuff).
Please visit Redondo Beach Kids Dentist for more information and booking!
