About Us
Welcome to the practice of Dr Amenah Shaikh
Located in Rondebosch East and Strand, (Western Cape), our practice’s top priority is to provide you with the highest quality orthodontic care in a friendly, comfortable environment. We recognize that every patient has different needs, and we pride ourselves in the courteous service we deliver to each person who walks through our doors. Whether you’re an adult, adolescent or child, we are knowledgeable and committed to helping you achieve the smile you deserve – a healthy, beautiful one!
Orthodontic problems require specialized care. Patients who have dental and facial irregularities should see an orthodontist. Our specific qualifications in the design, application and control of corrective appliances will bring teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment for optimal facial balance.
Our site provides important information about our practice that will help you become familiar with orthodontics. Our office is committed to providing you with the highest quality of care. We will make every effort to ensure that your first visit with us is a comfortable and informative experience.
Beautiful Smiles are a Team Effort
Your family dentist and your orthodontist work together on your behalf. When you choose an orthodontist who displays this qualification (MChD , Orthodontics), you are being treated by a professional who has completed advanced education required by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa to permit announcement as “specialist in orthodontics.”
Creating healthy smiles at any age is what we do
Our goal is to provide high quality orthodontic service in a warm and personable environment. We strive to provide our service professionally and efficiently to ensure that the orthodontic experience is gratifying to the patient, the parents and the staff.
Dr. Shaikh
Growing up in a small country town in the North West with a father who was a medical doctor and a very nurturing mom who came from a family of educators, I was raised with an appreciation of contributing to the welfare of community through education and health. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to go into the medical field.
My journey through education was a rather challenging one, as I was forced to leave home at a very young age to be able to complete my schooling in a designated high school which was in Gauteng (Lenasia). After completing my high school I moved to yet another province KZN and subsequently to the Western Cape (the only university offering Dentistry for people of colour at the time) where my journey in the dental field began.
I completed my undergraduate dental degree in 1985 with great enthusiasm and dedication, resulting in attaining my degree with distinction and being acknowledged for outstanding achievement.
Immediately after graduating I was offered to join the dental faculty in various departments including Oral medicine and Periodontics where I took a lecturers position immediately.
I subsequently completed my Masters degree in 1989 with a thesis entitled “Gingival overgrowth associated with Cyclosporin therapy in Renal Transplant patients”
After completing my Masters degree in Oral Medicine and Periodontics, I found there was no room for mobility and pursued another career, namely orthodontics. Eleven years after graduating from my undergraduate degree, I entered the specialist orthodontic training program which I successfully completed in 2000.
However my sights were never set on a full-time private practice , but rather of remaining in the academic world. The idea of contributing through research was very appealing and added to this I wanted to make a significant contribution as a woman of colour in an area where there was a need. Making that contribution was a challenge which I overcame with persistence hard work and dedication. Now, having both the qualifications and the clinical experience in the field is the perfect combination for me; embracing two fulfilling roles.
At the University of the Western Cape as an Associate Professor and Senior Consultant in the Department of Orthodontics and a dedicated academic and at her Part-time private practices in Rondebosch East and Strand , Cape Town I am devoted to what I enjoy most.
I have also proudly earned recognition as the first woman of colour to become a specialist orthodontist in South Africa.
The most rewarding part of my job “Giving my patients a beautiful smile and being part of restoring or increasing their confidence , self-esteem and self-image”.
When I am not at work I enjoy spending my time with my Husband and two beautiful grownups travelling and enjoying nature through forest walks and hiking.
My Success Strategies;
- Anything is attainable with hard work and dedication
- as women, we have numerous very demanding roles to play at the same time. Balance your life by giving attention to all aspects of these roles without guilt.
TEACHING AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Dr Shaikh has taught and continues to teach under-graduate dental students, oral hygienists, chairside assistants and community health nurses.
Her teaching duties from 1990- June 1996 had been principally Oral Medicine and Periodontics.
The courses have been taught by means of lectures, seminars and chairside supervision of students where practical.
She has also participated in organising and delivering update courses in Oral Medicine and Periodontics and now she continues to do so in the field of Orthodontics. Since July 1996 her teaching has been limited to Orthodontics.
Dr Shaikh has since been involved in organising and participating in continuing education courses, at the University of the Western Cape, Dental faculty as well as at Continuing education courses offered by other organisations and institutions when invited.
Presently, Dr Shaikh is employed as Associate Professor /Senior Specialist in the orthodontic department and is involved in teaching both the under graduates and postgraduate students as well as treating complex orthodontic patients.
She is also involved with treating and caring for the Cleft Lip and palate patients at the Red Cross Childrens Hospital as well as the orthognathic patients seen at the local tertiary hospitals.
Additionally, she works in her own private practice as a specialist Orthodontist where she diagnoses and treats patients who require comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
She has a special interest in treating patients who require multidisciplinary treatment, i.e., patients with more complex problems, like loss of numerous teeth, problematic tooth supporting structures, thus requiring treatment from more than one specialist (Prosthodontists, Maxillofacial surgeons, Periodontists) as well as patients with cleft lip and/or palate.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (Past and present)
International Association of Dental Research
National Medical And Dental Association (NAMDA) – served on the executive
Health Workers Association
South African Health Workers Congress (SAHWCO) – executive member
SAHSSO
PPHC Network (SAHWCO representative)
PPHC – AIDS Working group (SAHWCO representative)
South African Medical and Dental Council
Islamic Medical Association
South African Dental Association
South African Association of Orthodontists
She is actively involved in the South African Association of Orthodontists
Research Experience
Dr Shaikh continues to participate in scientific meetings and forums where she has presented numerous papers of her research projects.
She has also supervised two MRC funded research projects of recent dental graduates who were the recipients of the MRC fellowship programme.
Dr Shaikh has also been actively involved at the university research committee where she had chaired the committee for three successive years.
She continues to assist undergraduate students with their research projects as supervisor for preparation and presentation at various student competitions.
Dr Shaikh has supervised Masters theses whilst she was in the department of Oral Medicine. Since her involvement in orthodontics, she continues to guide and supervise postgraduate masters’ students with their research projects both in the department of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry.
