Posted on Oct 31, 2019 in
FEATURES
Dr. Amir Hassan.
By M.G. Angulo | Photos by Alisa Murray Photography –
Dr. Amir Hassan had always been interested in the field of healthcare – “I looked up to and shadowed my uncle and aunt, who were both practicing physicians,” he recalled – but it was a mission trip to Belize, through the Rotary Club at Texas A&M University, that drew him to dentistry. On this trip Dr. Hassan had the chance to assist dentists with their work, and that experience led him to dental school, a decision that brought him exceptional happiness. “I saw what a difference you can make through dentistry and discovered the many benefits of the profession,” he said.
Returning to His Hometown
Dr. Hassan earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University before receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Afterward, he completed an advanced education in a general dentistry program at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Now, Dr. Hassan, 32, is taking over Colony Dental in Sugar Land, which opened in 1995 by Dr. Sam Cress. As a 2005 graduate of Clements High School in Sugar Land, Dr. Hassan said he was first intrigued by the location of the office because it was next to his alma mater. “I very much desired to be in my hometown of Sugar Land,” he shared, adding that many of his family members live in the area. “I was then attracted to the beauty of the practice and saw how unique it was in the quality of relationships Dr. Cress formed with his patients.”
Dr. Hassan, who said he “looks to build upon what Dr. Cress has established,” speaks highly of Dr. Cress, who he met during a continuing education course in Dallas in February 2019. The course was through the Clinical Mastery Series, and it was an encounter that led the two men to not only becoming good friends, but to also discuss Dr. Hassan buying Colony Dental.
This change, Dr. Hassan explained, will allow Dr. Cress to focus his energy on treating patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and sleep apnea. “I feel fortunate to have met him, as it helped us both focus on our goals,” Dr. Hassan said.
Expanding Convenient Comprehensive Care
Dr. Amir Hassan seeing a patient at Colony Dental.
Dr. Hassan assures patients that the atmosphere that was present under Dr. Cress will remain. “I will continue to provide quality comprehensive care.”
But he also plans on adding services to the practice including: dental implants, oral surgery, root canals, pediatric dentistry and Invisalign, so patients are not constantly referred out. He also plans on expanding the service hours to make visits more convenient for patients. “I hope to make Colony Dental the premier dental practice in the Sugar Land area,” Dr. Hassan said.
He notes that Colony Dental offers services and technology that offer both comfort and ideal solutions. Solutions such as bringing a MD anesthesiologist to administer IV sedation during treatment, “allowing you to sleep while we complete your procedure,” and the Cerec machine, “which allows crowns to be done in the office on the same day, forgoing the need for a temporary crown,” he explained.
The practice also offers intraoral cameras, which helps communicate dentistry with the patient; a soft tissue laser for various surgical procedures, which makes procedures less painful and allows for uneventful healing; and a digital bite checker, “which shows you how much force is being put on each tooth, helping us to adjust your bite properly,” Dr. Hassan said. Additionally, the practice’s 3D cone beam x-ray technology provides the ability to scan airways, TMJ, implant sites and more.
“I hope to provide a great and painless experience for all,” he said.
A Life-Long Learner
The Colony Dental team: Diane Pozon, Cathy Nguyen, Lori Batchelder, Judy Lee, Pam Mata and Dr. Amir Hassan.
Going extra mile for his patients is instinctive for Dr. Hassan, so to further his effort to enhance Colony Dental’s services, he will continue to stay updated on developments in his field. “I am a lifelong learner and continue to educate myself in the latest advances in dentistry, so I can provide the best quality and long-lasting dentistry I can,” he said, adding that he is in currently enrolled in the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Hassan has already earned the Fellowship Academy of General Dentistry title by completing 500 hours of continuing education and passing a rigorous exam, and he is currently pursuing Mastership in the academy.
Although Dr. Hassan provides care in majority of the disciplines of dentistry, his passion is implant dentistry. To date he has experience in this specialty through his residency and by completing a 300-hour mini residency through the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. “I noticed what a difference this made for my patients and loved the predictability of the procedure.”
He is also currently pursuing his Associate Fellowship and credentials in implant dentistry through the same academy and the American Board of Oral Implantology. “I also really enjoy cosmetic dentistry,” he added. “This past year I completed most of the clinical mastery curriculum, which taught me functional and cosmetic dentistry. I learned how to create long-lasting, beautiful and functional smiles, and I hope to deliver this type of comprehensive care for all of my patients.”
A Dynamic Duo
Komal and Amir Hassan.
Dr. Hassan’s wife of four years, Komal, will join Colony Dental in 2020 once she completes dental school. Komal grew up in Pakistan and treated patients who were extremely impoverished and participated in various service projects in local villages. “She can speak Urdu and Gujrati, which is a strong plus for those with language barriers,” Dr. Hassan noted.
“I feel like my wife and I each bring a different dynamic to the team. In terms of dentistry, she has particular interests in endodontics and orthodontics, which will be very beneficial for the practice,” Dr. Hassan said. “With both of our skill sets, we seek to provide top level care for our patients. We work together great as a team and our devotion to the practice will be unmatched.”
Devoted to the Community
That devotion, however, is not limited to Colony Dental, Dr. Hassan noted. Living by his philosophy of “always do as much good as you can,” Dr. Hassan said being involved in the community is extremely important to him.
“From my upbringing, I was always involved in service events from volunteering at my church to even teaching religious education to young children. I also used to tutor my classmates in high school as well, which I very much enjoyed because it helped them succeed,” he said. “I enjoy seeing others do well and being a contributing member of my community.”
Already Dr. Hassan and his wife have participated in the Texas Mission of Mercy events and the health boards in their religious community. “We will continue to participate in events such as these to provide care for people who don’t have the means to afford such care. We also plan on being involved in events where we can educate others on the importance of oral health. I want to promote this to the community so people can have the knowledge to be healthy and prevent oral disease.
“Since I grew up here, I really look forward to serving and being a part of this community. After completing my education, I always knew I wanted to come back and call Sugar Land my home forever.”
For more information about Colony Dental, call 281.565.4100 or visit colonydental.com.
