A General Dentist Focused on Prevention
General dentistry is the everyday care that keeps your mouth healthy: exams, cleanings, gum care and decay prevention. At SMILES ON 35th, Dr. Rubecca Shahid practices it as measured prevention for every age, finding the bacteria and inflammation behind problems before they cause damage.
Looking for a general dentist in Seattle, WA who catches risk before it becomes damage? Care for you and your family starts here.
Dentistry that doesn't wait for things to break
If you already track your sleep, labs or training, your dental care can work the same way.
Many people only hear about their teeth when something needs fixing: a cavity, bleeding gums, a cracked filling. By then, whatever caused it has had time to do damage.
Prevention here means measuring first. A simple saliva test shows which bacteria are at work, a comprehensive assessment shows how vulnerable your gums and teeth are, and your cleanings are spaced by those results. If it's been a while since your last visit, you're welcome here. We start from where you are, with no judgment and no pressure.
See what your first visit includesWhich preventive care fits you?
Each of these services answers a different need. Your exam shows which ones will help you most.
Preventative Dentistry
One practice for the whole household, from a child's first visit to adult and senior check-ups, with cleanings spaced by each person's risk.
Explore family dentistry
Holistic & Biological Dentistry
Care that treats your mouth as part of your body, with testing, metal-free materials and your physician involved when it helps.
Explore holistic dentistry
Saliva Testing
A quick rinse that shows which bacteria are behind gum disease and decay, so treatment targets your results.
Explore saliva testing
Cavity Prevention
For frequent cavities: find the cause, rebuild early cavities without drilling, and strengthen enamel between visits.
Explore cavity prevention
Gum Disease
For bleeding, swollen or receding gums: treatment built from your saliva test, with comfortable laser care.
Explore gum disease treatment
What a healthy foundation protects
Healthy gums and strong enamel support everything else in your mouth. Keeping them that way protects your teeth, the dental work you already have, and your health.
Testing and imaging find early decay and gum inflammation before they hurt. Early cavities can often be rebuilt with Curodont, without drilling.
Gum disease is chronic inflammation, and research links it to heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Controlling it is one practical way to look after your overall health.
Some mouths need more frequent cleanings; others stay healthy on a longer interval. Your visits are timed by your risk, so you get the care you need without the visits you don't.
Every filling or crown you avoid keeps more of your natural tooth. Prevention is the most conservative dentistry there is.
Who preventive care is for
Everyone, from a child's first tooth to older adults keeping their own teeth for life. It matters most if you want to stay ahead of problems: families who want one practice for every generation, people with bleeding gums, frequent cavities or dry mouth, and anyone who wants their dental care measured like the rest of their health.
It's also the right place to start after a long gap. We look at where things stand today and build your plan from there.
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How preventive care works here
Comprehensive exam
We examine your teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints and airway, take quick, low-radiation digital X-rays and a 3D scan, and review your medical history.
Testing
A simple saliva test and blood tests show the bacteria, inflammation and nutritional gaps behind gum disease and decay.
Your plan
Dr. Shahid shows you the findings on screen and explains what needs care now, what to watch, and how often to come in.
Maintenance
Cleanings, gum care and home-care coaching are spaced by your risk, with regular reassessment.
A gentle dentist who champions your lifelong health
Dr. Rubecca Shahid owns SMILES ON 35th in Wedgwood and leads your care herself, gently and with time to listen. Her own health struggles, then her mother's diagnosis, left her asking what the point of all our hard work is without the health to enjoy it. Longevity dentistry is her answer: care that protects your mouth and your health, so you can enjoy the life you're building.
Her care is conservative: she saves natural tooth wherever she can, chooses the least invasive option that will last, and recommends only treatment that truly helps you. When a tooth needs more, she shows you why. She is empathetic and thorough, with clear choices and no pressure.
She champions your long-term health and has trained to deliver on it. A Kois Center graduate, one of about 1,200 dentists worldwide, she completes nearly eight times the continuing education Washington requires every year. Her training spans prevention, function and sleep, restoration and smile design, so one dentist who knows you can plan each stage, close to home.
- Advanced training in diagnosis, treatment planning and bite stabilization from the Kois Center
- Biomimetic Dentistry Practitioner with mastership from the Alleman Center
- Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
I came to longevity dentistry through my own health journey, wanting to understand why problems start and how to prevent them. What I needed then is what I want for you now: more good years, a smile you feel good about, and a dentist who listens.
The tools and training behind prevention
Preventive care is only as good as what it can detect. These are the specifics that let us measure instead of estimate.
Saliva and blood testing
In-office salivary testing and blood tests show what drives gum disease and decay, so prescriptions and home care target your results.
Laser gum care
A CO2 laser treats gum disease and soft tissue with less bleeding, less discomfort and faster healing.
Trained in whole-body health
Dr. Shahid is trained in treating inflammation in your mouth and analyzing your overall health history and markers, to build a personalized plan that supports your total body health in partnership with your physician.
Gentle, thorough cleanings
Ultrasonic scalers break up plaque and tartar above and below the gumline for cleanings that are thorough and comfortable.
What Our Patients Say About Us
Real experiences from patients who've discovered why our gentle care and comfortable atmosphere make dental visits something to look forward to.
General dentistry questions
A general dentist diagnoses and treats everyday conditions of the teeth and gums, such as decay, gum disease and wear, and coordinates any care beyond that. At SMILES ON 35th, that work starts with prevention: finding risk early and keeping your teeth and gums healthy for life.
It depends on your risk. Many people do well every six months, while people with gum disease or frequent cavities may need cleanings more often. Your exam and saliva test results set the schedule, and we adjust it as your gums improve.
Yes. We see children of all ages, as well as teens and adults, so the whole family can come to one practice.
Start with a comprehensive exam. There's no judgment for long gaps; we look at where things stand and explain what needs attention first. If dental visits make you anxious, oral sedation is available, along with comforts such as weighted blankets and heated neck wraps.
Many dental insurance plans cover preventive care, and coverage depends on your plan. We help you make the most of your dental insurance benefits, and you see the cost of any treatment before it begins. Our Financial Information page explains financing through Cherry and our in-house membership plan.
When your exam finds more
Prevention is the foundation. If your exam finds a bite problem, a damaged tooth or something you'd like to change, these pages explain the next step.
