Dr. Faisal Shakir

Dr. Shakir earned both his Bachelor of Science in Biology and his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Virginia Commonwealth University. Before dental school, he worked in cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and Massey Cancer Center, an experience that shaped the careful, evidence-minded way he still approaches every case. He completed a General Practice Residency at University of Colorado Health in Aurora and worked as a general dentist in Maryland before pursuing his specialty training in endodontics at Oregon Health & Science University.

His clinical work centers on the cases general dentists most often refer out: endodontic microsurgery, teeth with complex or unusual canal anatomy, and the retreatment of root canals that have failed the first time.

Precision With Purpose

Endodontics appealed to Dr. Shakir for the same qualities that make him good at it: patience, meticulous attention to detail, and a comfort working at the micro-scale most people never see. He spends much of his day looking through a microscope and finds real meaning in what that precision makes possible—relieving pain and saving natural teeth that might otherwise be lost. He treats patients across the Fredericksburg and Gainesville communities and, in addition to English, is fluent in Arabic.

Beyond the Office

Away from the practice, Dr. Shakir is happiest exploring, whether that's a trail through a national or state park, the wildlife of a place he's never been, the history and cuisine of an unfamiliar country, or the world seen through a lens. A dedicated microscopist and amateur astronomer, he is equally fascinated by the very small and the very large, and he enjoys recreating dishes from his travels in his own kitchen.