Dr. Benjamin Pliska, DDS,MS,FRCD
Certified Specialist in Orthodontics

Dr. Ben Pliska was born in Mission, B.C., but grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, where he enjoyed playing both soccer and football as a teenager. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ottawa, and attended the University of Western Ontario for Dental School. At Western Dr. Pliska was honored to serve as Class President and to graduate at the top of his class as the Gold Medalist in Dentistry.

Immediately following dental school, Dr. Pliska pursued specialty training in Orthodontics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he was granted a Certificate in Orthodontics and Master’s Degree in Dentistry. Following graduation, Dr. Pliska was recruited to join the faculty in the Graduate Orthodontic Program at the University of Minnesota. After a few years in Minneapolis Dr. Pliska happily returned home to Canada and beautiful Vancouver to join the faculty of the Graduate Orthodontic Program at the University of British Columbia.

As a certified specialist in Orthodontics and fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, Dr. Pliska is proud to contribute to the education, health and wellbeing of his community. He is an active member of the Canadian Association of Orthodontists (CAO), American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).

Dr. Pliska lives in Vancouver with his wife Dr. Roxana Saldarriaga, a local Prosthodontist, and their children Isabella and Sebastian. In his spare time, Dr. Pliska enjoys exploring the outdoors of the lower mainland with his family – on bikes, boat or skis.

Dr. Sahar Abtahi, Certified Specialist in Orthodontic

Dr. Sahar Abtahi obtained her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from Boston University and completed a year of residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the same institution. She practiced as a general dentist for a few years before returning to school at the University of Alberta to obtain her specialization in Orthodontics.

She is currently a board-certified orthodontist, a fellow of the royal college of dentists of Canada, a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics, and a member of Canadian and American Associations of Orthodontists.

Dr. Abtahi cares deeply for her patients and works with them to achieve their desired treatment outcome. She believes in giving back to the profession and has published on the topic of pediatric sleep disordered breathing in peer reviewed journals, while also being involved in teaching orthodontics at the university of Alberta.

Dr. Abtahi and her husband moved from Alberta two years ago and have now made British Columbia home along with their 1 year old daughter, Hanna.

Dr. Efat Farrokhshad, General Dentist

Dr. Efat Farrokhshad graduated from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences with a doctor of dental surgery. She is a Certified Member of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada. She had been working in her own dental clinic in Tehran and she has over 15 years of successful clinical experience in all aspects of general dentistry.  She worked in a high circumstances clinic in Vancouver in a wide spectrum of dental care including veneers(cosmetic), root canal therapy, crown and bridge, denture, surgical extractions, and pediatric dentistry.

She also always provides a stress-free environment for all patients.

She loves hiking, swimming, and music and she enjoys spending time with her family.