Dr. Michele Kaider – Alstodt, D.D.S.
Owner and Creator of Kiddsmiles Pediatric Dentistry
As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and mother of three, I know how very important it is that a child feels good about visiting the dentist and avoids becoming the victim of dental phobia. I myself had very poor dental experience as a child and teenager and have vowed to make it so all my patients receive quality care by a fun and warm dentist who cares about their fears and their emotions.
Over the past 13 years I have proudly built an organization known as Kiddsmiles Pediatric Dentistry with 7 Pediatric Dental Offices located in the NY area. Our newest office just opened in Floral Park, Summer of 2019.
Our offices are equipped with the latest state of the art technology, including laser dentistry (no needle fillings, digital x-rays, and computer imaging as well as the latest and best dental restorative materials. Our staff has extra training and experience in dealing with children, as well as those with special needs. Everyone is aware that the visit is supposed to be as fun and comfortable as possible. Most of our staff are parents as well and can relate to the children’s needs. We offer sedation dentistry as well.
I have great pride in the Kiddsmiles Team and our true goal is to deliver the utmost best care to the children of this community.
Pediatric Dental Certificate/Training
New York University, New York, NY—Chief Resident DDS degree at New York University: Awarded American Childrens Dentistry Award for an undergraduate student.
Research
National Institute of Health, Biochemistry of dental microflora. Advanced Training Includes: Sippy Cup/Nursing Bottle Syndrome (Early Childhood Caries), Thumb-Sucking Syndrome, Laser Pediatric Dentistry, Interceptive Orthodontics, Dentistry for Children with Special Needs, Hospital Dentistry, PALS
Member
Diplomate of The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Nassau County Dental Association, American Dental Association
Volunteer Instructor
Makes dental presentations to day-care and preschool students throughout the year.
Dr. Kellie A. Alberry, D.D.S.
Dr. “Kellie” believes that every child should have a positive experience at the dentist and strives to provide that for each patient. She obtained an undergraduate degree in biology at Marist College. After receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Buffalo, she completed two years of specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the Women and Children’s Hospital Of Buffalo. During her residency, Dr. Kellie served as the chief resident with added responsibilities and also gained valuable knowledge in treating children with special needs. After her many years in Buffalo, she was eager to finally come back to where she was born and raised on Long Island. In 2006, she had a life-changing opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic and volunteer her services to the less fortunate providing free dental care to children and adults. Dr. Kellie loves to spend time with friends and family, especially with her son Brayden and daughter Emerson. She also loves to sing, so you may hear her hum a tune or two during treatment. Dr. Kellie is a board certified pediatric dentist who is specially trained to treat children and looks forward to eliminating fears in the most apprehensive patient.
Dr. Yassmin Aljaberi, D.M.D.
Dr. Yassmin believes that every child is unique and she strives to create an atmosphere that is both fun and nurturing for her patients. She studied biology and anthropology at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, where she graduated summa cum laude. She was accepted into an advanced program at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine. After spending much of her life in Ohio she decided it was time for a change and moved to New York. She completed her two-year specialty training for Pediatric Dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center. She is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Dental Association. She has certificates for NERB, BLS and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. In her spare time, she and her husband enjoy traveling, music, Cleveland sports, and exploring the city.
Dr. Hajira Husain Bidgoli, D.M.D
Dr. Haj believes in treating each child as a unique individual. Going to the dentist can cause anxiety and fear and she prides herself on making children feel comfortable in this environment. She is a strong believer in preventive dentistry including sealants and parent education. She has spent numerous hours volunteering her time to help children in need including trips overseas to orphanages in Honduras and Costa Rica. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, sports, movies, exploring NYC and spending time with her husband, family and friends.
Dr. Jasmine Sedaghatpour, D.D.S.
Dr. Jasmine received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA ) where she graduated Cum Laude. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the prestigious Loma Linda School of Dentistry where she graduated with honors in outstanding clinical performance. Upon graduation, Dr. Jasmine relocated to New York where she completed her General Practice Residency at Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ). She finally completed her Pediatric Dentistry Residency at Maimonides Medical Center, where she was elected as chief resident for her exemplary work and caring attitude towards all patients.
Dr. Jasmine places the dental care of her patients as her top priority. She believes in providing the highest quality care with a gentle approach and ensures to make every child comfortable while providing excellent care. She is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is PALS and ACLS certified. She lives in Long Island with her family and is excited for the opportunity to give back to her Long Island community. In her spare time, Dr. Jasmine loves traveling, hiking, and trying new cuisines.
Dr. Kafi Charles, D.M.D.
Dr. Kafi is a native of the beautiful twin island of Trinidad and Tobago, but a New Yorker at heart as she spent most of her adolescence growing up in Queens, NY. She eventually made her way down the island to Stony Brook University where she studied Health Science as a Women in Science and Engineering Scholar (WISE). She earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine where she not only participated but lead many outreach and mentoring programs for disadvantaged communities and students.
After dental school, Dr. Kafi’s journey to practicing dentistry, came full circle when she made her way back to her alma mater, Stony Brook University. There, she completed her General Practice Residency and subsequently, her specialty training in her true passion of Pediatric Dentistry. At Stony Brook, she refined her skills in all aspects of adult and pediatric dentistry in both a clinical and surgical dental setting.
Dr. Kafi has experience working with every child from the most nervous to the most energetic. Her calm and cool nature helps her patients walk away with a positive dental experience. Dr. Kafi’s sound training coupled with her unique global perspective that is fueled by her love of international culture and travel has colored the way she interacts with her patients. She believes that everyone deserves an amazing dental experience, and sometimes that means finding a connection with a patient that goes far beyond her own cultural understandings.
Dr. Kafi’s goal outside of being an awesome pediatric dentist is traveling the world, interacting with its people and trying (almost) every food in it! She is always up for checking out unique restaurants near and far or booking a ticket for a new adventure. But of course, her favorite adventures are always with her patients!
Dr. Stacy Cho, D.M.D.
Dr. Stacy grew up in Long Island, NY. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. She then attended dental school at University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a passion for working with children in the dental field. She completed her training in pediatric dentistry at University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
Outside of the office, Dr. Stacy likes to cook, try new restaurants and explore the city. She also recently adopted a kitten named Greg, who livens up her apartment with his spunky attitude. Dr. Stacy is excited to be returning home to work and serve her community.
Dr. Stephanie Asusta
Dr. Stephanie is a native New Yorker who was raised in Staten Island. She attended Wagner College where she graduated magna cum laude with a major in Chemistry. Her scholastic accolades in the sciences would then lead to an acceptance at the Stony Brook School of Medicine. It was here where she was able to find her passion for pediatrics, especially after participating in their Madagascar outreach program overseas. The lasting effects of her time spent there providing free dental care to the underserved children within the community strongly influenced her career trajectory to focus on the oral health care needs of today’s youth. Dr. Stephanie would go on to receive her DDS degree from the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. She then completed her two-year pediatric residency program at Montefiore Medical Center, which equipped her to address the specialized needs surrounding children’s dental care at Kiddssmiles.
In Dr. Stephanie’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to new places and going to the gym. She is currently a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is proficient in Spanish.
Dr. Jenna Yu, DDS
Dr. Jenna grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill for her undergraduate education and Dental school. She devoted herself to volunteering in underserved communities as a dental student, and one of her most formative experiences came from her trip to Uganda where she provided dental care to children and families in need. After graduating, Dr. Jenna honed her skills and practiced general dentistry for a year. During this time, she realized she was happiest and most fulfilled when treating children, which led her to ultimately complete specialty training in pediatric dentistry at NYU Langone Hospital.
Dr. Jenna is fluent in Mandarin, is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and is both PALS and ACLS certified. She prioritizes creating a positive dental experience for her patients and instilling proper oral care habits in children at a young age. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to as many different countries as she can, experiencing new restaurants, and exploring NYC.
Dr. Avani Patel, DDS
Dr. Avani Patel is a board-certified pediatric dentist. She was born in Great Britain and grew up in Toronto, Canada. After completing her undergraduate education at the University of Toronto, she attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she received her degree in dentistry. After dental school, she went to the University of Rochester where she earned an advanced degree in general dentistry. Dr. Avani also completed a two-year dual academic-hospital based residency in Pediatric Dentistry in Rochester.
It is Dr. Avani’s goal to provide high-quality dental care to children in a caring and compassionate way.
Dr. Avani resides in Jericho, NY with her husband, Bharat, and their children, son Arjun and daughter Isha. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends and family, read a good book, and travel.
Dr. Yoojin Rachel Rhee, DDS
Dr. Rachel grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Brown University. She earned her doctorate in dental medicine at University of Pennsylvania, graduating with honors in care of the medically complex, honors in community oral health, and accolades in research.
After dental school, she was elected chief resident in the general practice residency program at NYP- Weill Cornell Medicine. During her two-year general residency, she received specialized training in dental treatment of oncology patients while on her rotation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Following her general residency, she was elected chief resident in the pediatric dentistry residency program at Montefiore Medical Center- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she received her specialty certificate in pediatric dentistry. During her two-year pediatric residency, she rotated at Rose F. Kennedy Center, a special care dentistry clinic, took call in the emergency department at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and trained in completing dental treatment under sedation and general anesthesia.
Dr. Rachel decided at the age of 7 that she wanted to be a dentist! She was inspired by her own childhood dentist’s ability to create fun and educational dental visits, and she strives to create the same positive, enjoyable, and informative experience for every child that walks into her office. She tailors each dental visit to a specific child and family’s unique needs, and her gentle demeanor and transparency will instantly make you and your child feel at home. Preventative and minimally-invasive dentistry are her preferred treatment modalities.
Dr. Rachel resides in Manhattan with her husband, Jay. Outside of the office, you can find her trying every pizza place in New York City, zipping down a ski slope, or spinning in a Soulcycle class. She is also an accomplished violinist and speaks conversational French and Korean.
Dr. Siddhi Shah D.M.D
Dr. Siddhi Shah also known as Dr. Sidd, was raised in Clifton, NJ. She graduated with a biology degree from University of Rochester and earned her Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). After dental school, Dr. Sidd made her way to Philadelphia, where she completed her pediatric specialty training at Temple University Hospital. After residency, she was honored to receive the Richard Pugh Award from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the James Roche Award from the Foundation of College Diplomates for her educational achievements.
Dr. Sidd is a board-certified pediatric dentist who strives to provide the highest quality of care along with positive experiences for her little patients! Outside of work, she loves cooking new vegetarian recipes, exploring NYC, and getting lost in true-crime series.
Dr. Dan Bamshad, D.M.D
Dr. Dan was born and raised in NY with a passion for dentistry from early on. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, where he also received many honors and awards in Pediatric Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He then continued his education with an additional two year residency training in Pediatric Dentistry at the prestigious Northwell Health – Cohen Children’s Medical Center
(formerly known as North Shore-LIJ). During this time, he had extensive training in all aspects of clinical and didactic pediatric dentistry which also included behavior management techniques, oral conscious sedation, and full mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia. He has also received training in all aspects of full comprehensive orthodontic therapy and treatment planning.
In addition to providing quality and competent care, Dr. Dan’s main goal is to ensure that each patient is comfortable and hopes to provide a positive outlook towards dentistry. His calm demeanor and gentle approach helps to ensure the trust with each patient he treats. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is certified in BLS, ACLS and PALS. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with
his family, gardening and traveling.
Dr. Michelle Bowers, DDS
Dr. Bowers grew up in Massapequa, Long Island. She went on to attend New York University where
she received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery at
New York University College of Dentistry where she held many leadership roles, participated in
research as well as many outreach events in underserved communities within the greater New
York City area.
After dental school, she pursued her passion in Pediatric Dentistry at One Brooklyn Health
Brookdale Hospital pediatric residency program. As a board- certified pediatric dentist, Dr. B
has a strong dedication and commitment to patient care and comfort and strives to ensure
every patient has a positive dental experience. Her gentle nature, patience, and calm demeanor
allows patients to feel relaxed in the dental setting.
Outside of work Dr. Bowers enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves being
outdoors and on the water.
