I am MDDS: Artemis Khazaie, DDS

What influenced your decision to choose dentistry as a career?

From palatal expanders to braces and headgear, I spent a lot of time in the dental chair. The treatment process was always intriguing, and I often wondered what it would be like from the dentist’s perspective. Later, in college, I watched a periodontist place a bone graft. He walked me through the procedure and the final goal—implants to restore the patient’s function and esthetics. I was amazed; there was so much more to dentistry than I had imagined before. It was love at first sight. I found what I wanted to do. Dentistry is such an incredible mix of different trades. It really is true what they say, you’ll never get bored.

You recently had a baby boy. (Congrats!) How has motherhood changed your practice of dentistry?

These last few months have been wild! But in the best way. While I have always strived to be understanding of my patients’ lives outside of the office, this experience has given me a different perspective and allowed me to be more empathetic of my patients’ wants and needs, especially when it comes to their time. It has also helped me set clear boundaries and priorities to create a good work-life balance.

What advice would you give to someone struggling to balance their career and family?

Your and your family’s well-being comes first; otherwise, you won’t be able to focus on your patients. Be kind and patient with yourself as you learn to navigate these new waters. Starting a family is essentially starting a new career while simultaneously continuing the one you already have. And much like dentistry, you are constantly learning as you go, and you are constantly having to adjust. So, give yourself time and reasonable expectations while you are picking up these new skills.

Looking to the future, with respect to both your career and the profession, what are you most excited about?

I’m excited about what I am seeing in organized dentistry. Being part of a community that bands together to make our voices heard has been very encouraging. We have many driven individuals in our field who strive to protect and better our profession and I have enjoyed and look forward to continuing to be part of the movement.

As a new Director on the MDDS Board, what changes are you hoping to see for dentistry in Denver?

I would like to see our dentists have a greater voice when it comes to directing patient care and making decisions for the dental field. All too often have we seen measures implemented for our profession by non-dental individuals who do not fully understand the consequences of their regulations.

What would you be doing if you were not a dentist?

I have many hobbies but none that I see myself turning into my full-time career. I’m still learning in this one and there are still many different directions I can take. I can’t think of anything else I would rather do at this point. Although, in a perfect world where I win the lotto every other drawing, I would definitely be globe-trotting. Traveling has always been a passion of mine and seeing the world would be a dream come true.