Meet the Dream Team

Why I Insist on Gentle, Painless Dentistry

Since I was very young, I have had aspirations of becoming a dentist.  It all started when at the age of five, I had a four hour long root canal procedure. Since I lived in the USSR there was NO anesthesia used and my mother couldn't even be by my side.  Hearing my sobs of pain from the waiting room she lost consciousness shortly before I did.  After that horrible experience, I vowed to never let that happen to anyone! At that moment my odd but well intentioned dream was born. I am proud to say that now my dream has become reality. This is an exciting time in my life and I want to share my passion for dentistry with you in our practice.

Dr. Dan Kazachkov attended Tufts School of Dental Medicine, one of the world's most renowned dental education programs. Dr. Dan also attained a Fellowship from the American Dental Implant Association and belongs to many accredited dental institutions. He takes extensive continuing education courses in esthetic and implantology dentistry, from luminaries such as Dr. Frank Spear, Dr. Lindsey Pankey, Dr.Arun Garg and Dr. Noshir Metah.

Welcome to Dental Arts of Westwood, I'm Dr. Dan, how can we help you improve your oral health?

Having been a patient in the dental chair many times throughout my life, I understand that having a trustworthy dentist is extremely important. I have been through many dental procedures and I use those experiences to better explain and help patients understand the importance of oral health. Most importantly, I know that having "bad teeth" does not mean they are beyond repair! I am enthusiastic about giving my patients hope in the midst of the most grim circumstances.

I grew up in Toyko, Japan and moved across the globe to complete my undergraduate education at Brandeis University. After receiving my Bachelor's Degree in Biology, I realized my love for Boston was too great and began working at a research laboratory in Boston's Children's Hospital. I then attended Boston University School of Dental Medicine where I earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree and graduated magna cum laude. I have taken numerous continuing education courses in order to stay up-to-date on new and efficient dental procedures. I am also a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society and the American Dental Association.

When I am not practicing dentistry, I love to explore new and exciting places to eat. However, if the weather is nice, you can find me outdoors skiing or hiking.

"Before coming to the United States, I practiced restorative dentistry in a highly populated city in China. Although the fast-paced clinical practice prepared me well as a prosthodontist, I was disconcerted by the lack of time to communicate with my patients. I strongly believe that everyone is a unique being and there should be no exception to individually tailored dental care. Therefore, I moved to the United States with the aspiration to provide quality and ethical care based on thorough communication and mutual understanding."

Dr. Shen graduated first in her class from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She was inducted into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society, emblematic of her scholastic achievement and professionalism. With the knowledge of oral health and diseases gained from her research experience (M.S. in Oral Biology from Boston University), Dr. Shen provides the most current state-of-the-art care available to her patients with an evidence-based approach.

Dr. Shen lives in Newton with her cellist husband and their lovely daughter. In her free time, she enjoys playing the cello, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Ever since my first dental service trip to Ecuador, I knew I wanted to pursue the field of dentistry. After assisting my father with a difficult extraction on a child, it was life changing for both the patient and I! The gratitude that the mother expressed to us for getting her son out of pain is something that has still impacted me to this day. I am from Gainesville, Florida, where I graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. degree in Biology. After being admitted to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, I was ecstatic to start a new life in Boston.

While at Tufts Dental School, I was involved in a variety of clubs and organizations. I was President of Tufts’ Academy of General Dentistry club and well as Vice President of Hispanic Dental Association. Through HDA, I went with a large group of Tufts students and faculty each year to the Dominican Republic to offer free dental care to underserved populations. In addition, I was inducted into the Tufts’ Honos Civicus honor society for my extensive community service throughout dental school. After receiving my Doctorate in Medical Dentistry I completed a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Fenway Health Center here in Boston. I am excited to be a part of the Dental Arts team to help deliver painless, high quality dentistry to the people of Westwood and surrounding areas!

Outside the office, I enjoy running, weightlifting and traveling around New England with my girlfriend. I am an avid sports fan and enjoy rooting for the Florida Gators and the New England Patriots. I am a member of Massachusetts Dental Society and currently serve on the executive board for Boston District Dental Society. I enjoy taking continuing education courses related to fields of Implantology and Endodontics.

Dr. Alana is an orthodontic/Invisalign specialist who entered the practice in March, 2021. Dr. Dan and Dr. Shauna first met at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where they trained under the same mentors. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, Dr. Alana continued her training at Tufts University and completed her specialty training in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Over the past 7 years, Dr. Alana has been perfecting smiles of all ages on the East Coast as a Board-Certified Orthodontist.

As we have an ever-growing number of children in the office, Dr. Alana would like to make sure your children are on track with their growth and development. We are recommending children starting at age 7 to have a consultation to plan for future care. However, Dr. Alana does not only treat children and loves the results she is able to achieve with Invisalign in adults.

Dr. Alana is originally from Nashua, New Hampshire. Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends (outside of Covid-19), running, and baking. She is a loving mother to her 3-year-old son and golden retrievers.

"Nika should pursue dentistry. She would make an excellent dentist." These were some of the last words my father, a physician, uttered before his passing. That same year, at the age of 15, living in Iran, I was faced with the difficult decision of choosing a career path. I reflected on the intricate surgeries that I observed with my father and the rewarding moments he shared with patients. It was this youthful curiosity for surgery, in addition to a longstanding interest in the biological sciences, that initially led me towards a career in dentistry.

At the age of 18, I was awarded a scholarship which allowed me to continue my education in Canada. Although life as an immigrant was rough at times, I saw this as a unique opportunity for personal development. I was challenged to re-define my world view, make autonomous decisions, and begin cultivating my passions through my course of study. I learned to navigate cultural and linguistic differences and adapt to a new way of living. This exposure to different educational and social perspectives drove my interest to learn more about society and its problems: capturing it with photography and applying it to my education in the social sciences. I was able to combine my passion for the sciences and humanities, which provided me with a diverse educational background that strengthened my desire to pursue dentistry.

When I am not practicing dentistry, I'm either traveling, hanging out with friends, working out or exploring new places.

Doctor Nika Darabi is a graduate from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and is currently attending a periodontology residency program at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.

When I was seven, in a dental exam, it was found that I had two cavities on my adult molars. I remember that my mom was devastated with the news, and I could sense from my mom's reaction that getting a filling is a horrible and painful thing. The dentist assured my mom and I that I would be just fine. The dentist was really nice and explained everything during the filling procedure and to my surprise, it was a pleasant experience and not painful at all! I still vividly remember that at the end, the dentist and I had a pinky promise that I would brush and floss well every day and these two cavities would be the last cavities I get. And that has been a promise that I have kept till this day.

I spent majority of my childhood in Shenzhen, China and moved to the US for high school. I graduated magna cum laude from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and am committed to be a lifelong learner. I have taken numerous continuing education courses pursuing an Academy of General Dentistry Fellowship, including at the prestigious Pankey Institute. I am affiliated with numerous professional organizations such as the American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society.

When I am not practicing dentistry, you can find me doing ballet, yoga, or baking. I truly believe that having a well-balanced life allows me to provide whole-person care to my patients, instead of just seeing them as someone with teeth.

Dr. Chiu received his doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry in 2016. He then received his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study and Master of Science in Dentistry from Boston University School of Dental Medicine in 2019.

He offers various Periodontal treatments, including comprehensive Periodontics, dental implants, crown lengthening, bone grafting and gingival recession treatments.

Dr Chiu is committed to continuing his education in the field of dentistry, as well as educating young dentists. He is currently a member of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontists. He is also a current Assistant Professor of Periodontology at Boston University. From Taiwan and Vancouver, Dr. Chiu resides in Boston. He is fluent in both English and Mandarin.

Dr. Paul M. Kaplan, or Dr. Root, as he is affectionately known in this area, has been practicing as an Endodontist (Root Canal Therapy Specialist) in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for over twenty four years. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine, as well as the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. He received his specialty certificate in Endodontics from the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Additionally, while at the University of Buffalo, he was awarded a Masters of Science degree in the Oral Sciences for pioneering research he completed in the field of Digital Subtraction Radiography.

Dr. Kaplan has been awarded many honors, including being selected nationally as America's Top Dentist in the field of Endodontics for the past 18 years in a row, and being honored locally as a Rhode Island and Massachusetts Top Endodontist on multiple occasions.

In addition to treating patients in our dental office, Dr. Kaplan is involved in the academic arena of dentistry as well. He served as clinical instructor and professor at Tufts University's School of Dental Medicine and Boston University's School of Dental Medicine, where he taught the post-graduate endodontic residents. Currently, he runs the Endodontic department and teaches the AEGD residents at U. Mass Memorial Hospital.

Away from the office, Dr. Kaplan performs cantorial concerts, teaches tennis, and enjoys quiet time boating and fishing with his family.

I graduated from the Forsyth Dental Hygiene program at MCPHS University of Boston. I am very passionate about dental hygiene because I get to know my patients as well as help them reach their oral hygiene goals and answer any questions they may have.

In my spare time you will find me with my family, significant other and friends. I am a huge animal lover and have a Shetland sheepdog named Pearl.

Although I enjoyed the patient centered care aspect of working in the psych field for 10yrs, I am excited to transition into the dental field. After completing a rigorous hygiene program at Bristol community college I am happy to be a part of the dental arts of Westwood team. I enjoy helping others and creating a stress free environment where anxiety and nerves have the potential to be high. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling and driving.

My love for dentistry started early on as a dental assistant in high school. So, it was an easy decision for me to major in Dental Hygiene at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA. I love working with my patients to improve their oral health from in office treatment to teaching proper home care.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my friends and family, and relaxing at home with my significant other and my cat named Mackie.

I graduated from Porter and Chester in 2016. After completing my internship with Dental Arts, I officially became part of the wonderful team! Every day I learn something new and that is one of the things that I love most about this job. Dental Arts has taught me more than I have ever expected to learn from a dental office. I look forward to the many years ahead and all the new experiences I will have.

In my spare time I enjoy being with my family, friends and long weekends in the Cape.

I started working in the dental field after I graduated High School in 2014. I attended Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School where I perused dental assisting. I enjoy being a dental assistant because I like helping people and facing new challenges. In my spare time I enjoy traveling and spending time with family, friends and my puppies Romeo and Juliet!