Dr. Shouresh Charkhandeh began his post-secondary education at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Sciences. He continued on to pursue Dentistry at University of Alberta and completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2006. While attending Dental School he obtained his Bachelor of Medical Sciences in 2004. He graduated as one of the top students in his class, earning numerous awards including; Arthur D. Cumming scholarship, Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics and The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Award for Excellence in Prosthodontics.

After completing his degrees, Dr. Charkhandeh returned to Calgary to begin his Dental career. He joined Sierra Centre for Dental Wellness in June 2006 as he found that it fit with his ideals of patient centered care. He enjoys all facets of Dentistry but his particular areas of interest include Cosmetic Dentistry, Sleep Apnea, Orthodontics and working with children. Most recently, he has developed a program for patients suffering from sleep apnea in an effort to bring more awareness to this serious health risk, which he feels has not had much exposure from the dental community in the past.

Dr. Charkhandeh has taken numerous advanced courses on Cosmetic Dentistry including courses from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry (LVI), Orthodontics, TMD and Sleep Apnea. He strongly believes in the importance of continuing education to expand his knowledge of dentistry and also to be familiar with the most recent findings, technologies and improvements in this ever-progressing field.

Dr. Charkhandeh is an accredited member of:

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
• Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry (LVI) Alumni
• American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
• International Association for Orthodontics
• Canadian Dental Association
• Alberta Dental Association and College
• Calgary and District Dental Society

In his relatively short time with Sierra Centre Dr. Charkhandeh has created a solid client base built on trust and open communication. He has been an excellent asset to the team at Sierra. When he's not busy working or taking continuing education courses, he enjoys being with his family and friends.

Here are what some of Dr. Charkhandeh's patients had to say about their experiences...

Sierra Staff Member:

Earlier this evening Shouresh prep'd a Full Upper Arch for me.

I have to say I have been extremely stressed about this appointment given my fear of dentists (very weird givenI work in a dental office)However, being a classic British case, my experience with Dentistry has been far from positive in the past.

Today - I can put all these fears aside!!! I have had two crowns done by Dr Giesbrecht in the past and was amazed at the care and lack of pain, but found it difficult to believe a Full Upper Arch would be just as painless.

Shouresh and his team (Karolina and Stephanie) have lived with my constant dirty looks in the appointments leading up to this one. When I can't say what I want it shows all over my face!! They did this with patience and humor and lots of explanations of procedures.

I am proud to say I did not take any sedation and made it through the whole procedure with no pain, palpitations or dirty looks to the team!! I did at one point nearly bite off Shouresh’s finger; however I do not do well with impressions...

My teeth look fantastic, I feel great, my experience was nothing but positive. I cried at the end of the appointment as I was so happy - for those who know me well I do not cry often (or hardly ever!!) I am so glad to have Shouresh look after my case and am very happy not only to be a patient at Sierra Centre but an employee also..... Everyone at the Centre this evening complimented my new "Look" and made me glad to be part of that team.

Thank you, Thank you Shouresh, Karolina and Stephanie. You are truly a dedicated team who work so well together!!

Tracy Saunders

Sierra Accountant

Dr. Dan Rootes was born May 31, 1977 and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) obtaining his degree in Agricultural Sciences. He continued to pursue Dentistry through UBC and received his DMD in May 2006. While attending UBC he played on the Varsity Football Team, winning a National Championship in 1997 and was awarded All-Star recognition.

After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Dr. Rootes traveled for one year to South-East Asia and Australia; a trip that readied him for the arduous journey through dental school. Upon graduating, Dr. Rootes decided to make the trek East to Calgary, Alberta. He joined the Sierra team July 2006. He was attracted to the practice as he shared the same philosophy as Dr. Knebel; every client is unique and a holistic view of their health, along with genuine listening to the client's needs, was imperative before an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan could be determined.

He enjoys all aspects of dentistry but is especially interested in Prosthodontics, Esthetics, Endodontics and Family Dentistry. Recently, Dr. Rootes was awarded "Outstanding Promise as a Young Dentist" with a scholarship to attend LVI courses, selected from numerous affiliations within the dental community. He is a Certified Laser Therapist, completed an externship in oral surgery at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health hospital in New York City and has attended numerous other continuing education courses in his first two years of dentistry.

In his spare time Dr. Rootes is very active with outdoor pursuits including hockey, football, snowboarding, golf, and fishing. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and he continues to pursue his Dental education through courses and conferences throughout Canada and the United States. Dr. Rootes has quickly become an integral member to the Team at Sierra Centre for Dental Wellness through his ability to communicate and develop strong rapport with his clients.

Here are what some of Dr. Rootes patients
had to say about their experiences...

Nicole's Story - Cavities don't hurt

I told my friends that Cavities don't hurt when you go to Sierra Dental, especially when you have Dr. Rootes for a dentist.

Nicole - Age 12

 

 

Dear Dr. Knebel,

I am writing this e-mail to inform you of the work of one of your colleagues who I believe went above and beyond the call of duty, Dr Rootes.

My son Charlie (9 years old) was at a rollerblading party on Sunday March 14th and fell and chipped his tooth in half, he was in a lot of pain. My wife called your emergency line and was able to contact Dr. Dan Rootes who met us at the centre almost immediately on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Dr. Dan settled my son down, made him feel comfortable and put us both at ease. He proceeded to do a very professional job (wasn’t in a rush to get out of there, unlike Charlie) which was definitely challenging since he had to continually change gloves (no assistant to help him get and find materials).

Anyway, I will be telling everyone I know this story and recommending the Sierra Centre. It is very refreshing and nice to see a young professional like Dr. Dan who shows that much care and enjoyment in his work.

 

Just thought you should know
Thanks again Dan
Rick Laycock

 

"Self conscious of my smile"

For as long as I can remember I have always been self conscious of my front teeth because of the gap in between them. I eventually had the gap closed with bonding which made me feel a little better about them but I had to be careful what I ate because the bonding wasn’t very strong and would break quite easily.

When I moved to Calgary I met with Dr Rootes and he had me rate my smile on a scale of 1 to 10. He asked me what he could do to make my number higher. He provided me with several options and I decided to go with veneers on my four front teeth. I have always been nervous about the dentist due to past experiences not being very favorable. Dr Rootes always asks you during the procedures, "How are you doing?" or "Are you feeling anything?" It’s nice to know that making sure you are comfortable, is one of his priorities. The whole process was very quick and easy. The end result is amazing!!! I don’t think I have ever smiled this much in my life and I am no longer ashamed of the way that my teeth look. Throughout the whole process, Dr Rootes and Nicole worked with me, both being extremely understanding and caring. I felt safe and had total trust in them.

They have definitely changed my outlook on going to the dentist and I am no longer as nervous. I would without doubt recommend Dr. Rootes to all my family, friends and colleagues. I feel very fortunate to have met Dr. Rootes and to have him as my dentist. He went above and beyond all the expectations that I had.

Thank you so much for making me smile, not only on the inside but on the outside too!!

Jacquie

 

"Embarrassed about my front teeth"

Just a quick note to say thank you so much for the work you did on my teeth. My front teeth were something I have always been a bit embarrassed about and I can honestly say that, since having the work done on them, I now hold my head higher, am not embarrassed to smile and it has given me an overall confidence boost.

The care that I received from the Sierra Centre for Dental Wellness, in particular from Dr. Dan Roots and Nicole was above and beyond any dental experience I have ever been through in the past. The care was personal, I truly believed that you cared about me and that the work that you did was top notch.

I do not know how to thank you enough for a job well done. I would recommend you to anyone and everyone.

Thank you, from one very satisfied customer!!!

Kim

Dr Frank Giesbrecht graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry in 1970. He received awards each year in the Faculty of Dentistry for Academic and Clinical excellence. In his 4th year he was elected Student Body President and that remains one of his most cherishing and fulfilling memories of being a dental student.

He engaged in a brief 6 year career as a Dental Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces gaining an honorable discharge and retiring with the rank of Major. Following his departure from the military he relocated his family to Calgary and continues to practice to this day.

Dr Giesbrecht has practiced General dentistry for 30 years and has continued to study and become proficient in a variety of areas such as sedation dentistry, head and neck pain, smile designs and all aspects of adult general dentistry.

After selling his practice in the winter of 2005 he took some time to travel and rest and has since joined the team at Sierra Dental as an associate dentist.

Frank has 4 young grandchildren and has found his new role as a grandparent very fulfilling. Aside from interests in tennis and golf he enjoys being a leader of small home group bible study.

Dr Giesbrecht continues his passion for dentistry and looks forward to continuing his beloved profession as an associate at Sierra Dental for many years to come.

Visit Dr. Giesbrecht's Personal Website

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Here are what some of Dr. Giesbrecht's patients
had to say about their experiences...

 

"Compassion makes a world of difference"

Thank you so much for my message at work. Everything is going great. I can't believe what a great experience I had yesterday. It's refreshing to have a dentist who actually believed me when I said, "freezing doesn't work" and strives to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. You have genuine care and compassion for your patients which is very much appreciated. I no longer dread going to the dentist - I almost look forward to it. One of my major goals is to have a healthy smile.
Thank you so much for taking the time to fix my tooth so quickly (and the other work as well). I look forward to our future appointments to fix the rest. Thanks again!!

Kristal Shaw

"Pain Free, Quickly"

After at least 10 days of a toothache I phoned the Sierra Centre and received an immediate appointment with Dr. Giesbrecht 3 hours later that day. The problem with the tooth was identified and root canal work was scheduled 2 days later. Dr Giesbrecht and his assistant were an efficient team, completing two long  (1.25mm) narrow root canals plus a temporary filling in the process. In less than one hour they were done and had saved my existing crown.

No subsequent pain was experienced and I even received a follow up call from Dr. Giesbrecht two days later to see how I was doing which was appreciated."

Ernie Wheodo

Dear Dr. Giesbrecht,

"I thank you very much for each very considerate phone call following my visits to your office. I am truly grateful to Dr. R. Johnson for referring me to your office, for the safe removal of my mercury filings. I not only found a most competent Dentist, but a truly holistic approach to wellness. At your office, I have found as much expertise as I could want, and yet no small job was unworthy of your attention.  You recognized the compromised movement of my cervical spine and jaw pain and didn’t ignore it.   You came forward with help and compassion and a referral to Dr J. Shelten. I am so grateful for your caring concern for your patients. I just wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I do wish to come to your office for getting my teeth cleaned plus any other procedures I might need.  Thank you again for your excellent service and care."

Kathryn Rehm

Dear Dr Giesbrecht,

"Just a short note of thanks for your care and attention during my recent root canal procedures at Sierra. Not ever having had a root canal before, I was quite anxious about the procedure, but you were sure to provide the proper amount of freezing which totally eliminated any discomfort during the entire process. It was wonderful to obtain immediate relief from the toothache which I was experiencing when I came to see you."

Gary Boucher

"We Could Fix Everything…

My name is Leslie and I have been a patient of Dr. Giesbrecht and his team for the past two years.  I came to Dr. Giesbrecht just after a year of grueling chemo therapy treatments. As a result of my chemo and the stress of my cancer I had managed to crack and or break several teeth. My teeth were a mess and I was both reluctant and terrified to contemplate any more invasive treatments. I cried the first time Dr. Giesbrecht took my hand and told me we could fix everything. It had been a long road of stress fractures, root canals, inlays and most recently a bridge. Dr Giesbrecht is always available; often calling in evenings and weekends to check on me. He and his team are truly kind and compassionate. He is professional and optimistic and always takes the time to explain procedures and alternative treatments. I walked into Sierra Dental having recently moved from Toronto. I asked for someone with compassion and experience and was directed to Dr. Giesbrecht and his wonderful team. Unfortunately, I don’t think he has seen the last of me. However I can say that I walk into the clinic less afraid, knowing that I am receiving the best possible care."

Leslie

"Service Stands Out"

My emergency dental call at midnight Wednesday was returned promptly at 7:30 Am Thursday morning. The receptionist asked how soon could we get there and told me they would be ready for me. Twenty two minutes later I was in the chair meeting my new dentist friend Frank Giesbrecht.  In thirty minutes he got me out of pain and able to rehearse and perform for the weekend. He knew exactly how to proceed thru this for me. Dr. Giesbrecht phoned me from the office, the airport and twice from a seminar he was attending in the United States over the next few days. He helped with pain management over the weekend and took steps to assure the proper procedure on Monday morning.  I have always taken pride in my performing abilities but the success of that weekend is definitely attributed to my new dentist friend Frank Giesbrecht. Thank you Frank and your wonderful reception staff as well.

Another lesson in my retirement… Dental emergencies are still what they have always been….EMERGENCIES. Thank you for your care."

Guy Duern
Loyal patient since 1984

"A Way Around TMJ"

I suffer from TMJ. As a result, a trip to the dentist for anything extensive is almost impossible as I cannot open my mouth wide enough for an extended period of time. I decided to try sedation dentistry and nothing could have been easier.  The dentist gave me medication for sleeping the night before and a pill to take one hour before the appointment. There was no pain and no residual effects other than sleepiness after the appointment. I would highly recommend this type of dentistry."

S. Reynolds

"Sedation helps me to forget to be Scared"

I have always had a great aversion to dental work. I got anxious and worried for months in advance of any upcoming dental work. I heard about Sedation Dentistry and asked my Dentist Dr. Frank Giesbrecht about it.  Turns out he was trained in Oral Sedation  and we gave it a try.

Now I don’t get anxious or worried about going to the dentist. I have no pain and don’t remember a bit of the procedures. I have been very pleased and relieved to be able to have sedation for difficult procedures."

Sincerely,
John B. Johnsen

"No hesitation recommending your dental sedation service"

I would like to express my appreciation for your sedation services during the past three years. Due to an unfortunate experience in 2005 with another Dentist I began to fear the Dentist at a higher level than I did previously. I knew avoiding the dentist office was not going to solve this problem so I turned to the option of sedation and to your services.

My experience with your service has been excellent; your staff are professional, courteous and considerate. Your instructions to prepare me for the appointment are always easy to follow and I arrive for my visit in a relaxed frame of mind. I don’t remember anything after climbing into the dental chair and I am completely relaxed the entire time and when I arrive home.

I have no hesitation recommending your dental sedation service to anyone.

Ted Shaver

"The Sedation worked so well"

I wanted to send a note to say thank you so much for helping me. I have had a fear of the dentist for so long that I let a small thing become a big problem in my mouth. You were kind to me and the sedation worked so well that I can’t remember anything about the procedure. You took the time to realize my fears and had the compassion to prescribe the right medication so that my pain and discomfort were forgotten entirely.  I would recommend you to anyone who has a fear of the dentist and will not hesitate to return to you as a patient going forward.

Thank you for everything you have done for me.

Yours,

Pat Wiebe

Dr. Felix Zhang completed his 1st dental degree in 1988 and received a master degree in oral surgery in 1991 in China. He worked for 5 years as an oral surgeon before moving to Canada in 1996.

In 2000, Dr. Felix Zhang obtained a PhD degree in oral health sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a 2nd Dental degree in 2005 at University of Alberta. He joined the Sierra Centre in November 2005 on a part-time basis, during which, he focused on oral surgeries and root canals. He enjoyed working at the Sierra Centre so much that he accepted a full-time position a few months later. Dr. Zhang offers all aspects of dentistry with special skills and interests in difficult extractions including wisdom teeth, implant, bone graft, gum surgery and difficult root canals.

Dr. Zhang's wife, Nancy, was also an oral surgeon in China but now focuses on raising their two children. His 18-year old son, Richard, is attending university in the fall of 2007 and also has an interest in dentistry. His daughter, Carol, 4 years old, is going to kindergarten.

Visit Dr. Zhang's Personal Website

Dr. Tymkiw is a native of Western Canada where he completed his undergraduate education. He earned his dental degree with honors in 2003 and practiced general dentistry for 2 years before returning to the University of Iowa to study periodontics. He earned his Specialty Certificate in Periodontics and a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Iowa in 2008. He also received his certification in Intravenous Sedation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Dr. Tymkiw is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and an active member of numerous dental organizations and societies including the American Academy of Periodontology, The Canadian and B.C. associations of Period ontology, The American Academy of Ossteointegration and The American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists.

Dr. Tymkiw is committed to academic study and has published several articles on periodontics and has lectured at numerous venues. He has advanced training and experience in all faucets of periodontics and implant surgery and is dedicated to offering the latest surgical techniques.

• Limited or complete periodontal evaluation
• Surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy
• Surgical implant placement
• Ridge and sinus augmentation
• Extractions and ridge preservations
• Gingival grafting
• Functional & Esthetic crown lengthening
• Periodontal regeneration
• Oral Pathology
• IV conscious sedation

Dr. Tymkiw look's forward to assisting you and your family members with their periodontal health.

Dr. Griffin Myers has been a resident of Calgary for a total of 27 years and is a proud Calgarian. He began his distinguished career by receiving a Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary and completing a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. After completing dental school, Dr. Myers and his family moved back to Calgary where he can raise his three children in a family oriented city with plenty of outdoor activities and day trips. Growing up Dr. Myers was a member of the Blizzards soccer team, Cowboys football team and the Canada Olympic Park ski team.

Dr. Myers continually strives to advance his knowledge of modern dental care and procedures. He is a member of many prestigious professional organizations such as the Alberta Dental Association and College, the Nevada Dental Association and the Calgary Dental Society. He looks forward to caring for the dental needs of Calgarian’s and giving back to the City that has given him the opportunity to pursue his dreams.

Dr. David graduated from the  University of Alberta Department of Dentistry in 1998. Following this he participated as a general practice resident at the University Hospital in Edmonton for one year where he treated medically compromised patients. Since then he has held several teaching positions through the department of Dentistry including:

1. Assistant clinical instructor in the dental student oral surgery clinic at the Department of Dentistry in Edmonton.
2. Clinical instructor in the University of Alberta Hospital dental clinic.
3. Clinical instructor in the University satellite clinics  located in High Level and McLennan.

During this time he also practiced  general dentistry in remote regions such as Fort Nelson and Jasper returning back to Calgary in 2001. In 2003 he began to narrow his practice focus to surgical procedures until 2005 when he limited the majority of his practice to surgical procedures. During this year  Dr. David became certified in single agent conscious sedation upon completion of the course offered by the University of Alberta Department of Dentistry. Dr. David is a general dentist; thus, he still performs dental procedures when operating as a locum. However, the majority of his work is surgical in nature.