Barry Coulter
“Everything starts with a smile,” says Dr. Tahereh Riahi. “That’s the first thing you come into contact with, when you meet a person.”
Dr. Tara is bringing this motto, and her love of dentistry and 35 years of experience, to Creston.
With her arrival, Creston Valley Dental is moving forward into the future, with a solid foundation in the past and present, as Dr. Tara takes over the practice from Dr. Stephen Small.
Dr. Small started Creston Valley Dental in 1987, and has seen it grow into a thriving practice with a loyal patient-base and clientele. Dr. Tara recently moved to Creston from Cranbrook, where she practiced dentistry for the past five years.
“It’s been a great experience — to have the opportunity to see the community evolve in so many positive ways,” Dr. Small told the Advance. And while it is his intention to continue practicing part-time, Dr. Tara is taking over the practice as principal dentist and owner.
“This is my final destination for my [career] as a dentist,” Dr. Tara said. “I’m trying to put all my experience and all my dedication and love in dentistry in caring for the patients, and I think Dr. Small’s beautiful practice is one of the best opportunities to do what I really can do.”
Working in a small town, dentists have to have “a very big tool box, a broad set of skills, in order to be able to deal with things that come through the door,” Dr. Small said. “Anything and everything from hockey player injuries to young children to the elderly.
“That’s the difference between working in a small town and a larger centre, where you have ready access to dental specialties. In a smaller community, if someone needed to see a specialist, it would mean travelling to Kelowna, Lethbridge or Calgary.
“The thing that I feel really positive about is the skills and experience that Dr. Tara brings to the office.”
Dr. Tara says she’s passionate about her job.
“I’ve alway been very dedicated and very much in love with what I do. I have put time and effort in to always being up to date with the knowledge of the day with dentistry.
“And I think that with all the good work that Dr. Small and other dentists do in town, there are still things needed. People are travelling for those things — which we can provide for them now. [For example] placing implants to replace their missing teeth. Implants with new dentures, which will be very helpful, to have more retentive dentures, which will make them feel more comfortable. And probably fewer visits to the dentist, because they have better dentures in their mouth.
Creston Valley Dental offers surgical and implant services, and works in conjunction with the Creston Denture Clinic.
“And treating some of the orthodontic cases that can cause trauma in a person’s mouth, like excessive crowding, or crossbites, or things like that, which can cause traumatic bites for the patient. And it has consequences.”
As well, Creston Valley Dental can now give botox for the myofascial pains and migraines, often caused by excessive grinding and clenching. “Many people have it,” Dr. Riahi said. “Even if they don’t have symptoms, they have worn out surfaces which show they have a lot of pressure on their teeth.
“So the botox can help them decrease that amount of pressure and relax those muscles.”
Dr. Tara values the aesthetic aspect of dentistry, as well as the functional aspect.
“It’s the time of the century when we can provide aesthetics, plus function to our patients. I’m a member of the AACD [American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry]. I really value keeping both of these things together.
“These are the services we can add, as a general dental office. We are a very team here, and we have a very good staff, and very loyal patients.”
Creston Valley Dental is open to accepting new patients, “and will be happy to see them.”
Human teeth all follow the same patterns, with the same amount of teeth usually, that grow the same, that serve the same function. And yet, and individual’s teeth are always unique with each person, with a different story, with different needs.
“That’s what keeps our days interesting, what keeps us on our toes,” Dr. Small said. “You never really know some days what’s going to come through the door.
“But a healthy mouth is important to general over-all health.”
Teeth and mouth health are not only vital to a human’s digestion, adds Dr. Tara, but affect human physical structure and posture.
“Everything is related to everything,” she said. “Teeth are not separate from the rest of the body. Taking care of the teeth and gums … plays a very vital role in in the general overall health of a person.”