(905) 275-3443Meet the Team at Erindale Dental Centre
Our team of dental professionals
Dentists
Dr. Amarpreet Kaur Hothi
General Dentist
Dr. Aarati Balakrishnan
General Dentist
Dr. Pooja R. Vazhakkat
Family Dentist
Dr. Mustafa Abouzgia
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Osama
Eissa
Orthodontist
Reception Staff
Aseel
Dental Receptionist
Nisha
Hygiene Coordinator
Nelly
Treatment Coordinator
Erika
Hygiene Coordinator
Assistants
Teresa
Dental Assistant
Odette
Dental Assistant
Hygienists
Sherri
Dental Hygienist
Barb
Hygienist
Uzma
Hygienist
Sania
Hygienist
Dr. Amarpreet Kaur Hothi
Dentist
Dr. Hothi has been providing quality dental care to her patients for over 24 years and enjoys working at her Rexdale and North York practice which is her home away from home. Dr. Hothi keeps herself abreast of the latest advances in dentistry thus ensuring that her patients receive the best care. She constantly upgrades her education by attending several courses and conventions. Not only does she use her knowledge while planning her treatment but she also shares that with her colleagues and friends looking for mentorship. Her continuing education is mainly focused on implants, surgeries, and orthodontics.
Dr. Hothi believes in the philosophy of “informed decision-making” when it comes to her patients. She and her staff explain treatment options at great lengths, discussing the pros and cons of available options, thus making it easy for her patients to make a well-educated decision when it comes to their dental health.
Dr. Hothi is an active member of:
- South Asian Dental Association
- Ontario Dental Association
- Royal College Of Dental Surgeons Of Ontario
- North Indian Medical and Dental Association of Canada
- IDIA- International Dental Implant Association.
- International Straight Wire of Orthodontics.
Dr. Hothi’s passions include her profession and her family. When she is not busy restoring smiles, she spends time with her husband and three children. She is an avid reader and loves music.
Dr. Aarati Balakrishnan
Dentist
Dr. Aarati Balakrishnan after completing her Dentistry from prestigious institutions both in India (Government Dental College, Mumbai) and Canada (Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto), has been providing meticulous and dedicated dental care to her patients in the GTA over the last two decades.She believes in taking her time with each patient to ensure that they receive the necessary treatment, care and comfort. Her secret to success is that she makes her patients feel completely at ease in the dental setting while achieving great functional and aesthetic results.
She is a member in good standing of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and the Ontario Dental Association. She keeps abreast of the latest dental treatment methodologies and patient care procedures by constantly pursuing continuing education programmes, including courses at the prestigious Toronto Crown and Bridge Study Club & West Toronto Dental Society.
Dr. Aarati shows a particular affinity for children or is it the other way around? Kids of all ages seem to take to her naturally and then dentistry is no longer an ordeal! Outside of work, she is a Yoga enthusiast, enjoys music and loves chilling with friends and family.
Dr. Pooja R. Vazhakkat
Family Dentist
Dr. Pooja Vazhakkat earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry in 2012 and completed her Postgraduate training in Periodontology in 2017. She has been practicing dentistry in Canada since 2019 and has also served as a part-time instructor of clinical skills for internationally trained dentists at a reputed institute in Vancouver.
Her special interest lies in the prevention and treatment of gum disease. Dr. Vazhakkat strongly believes in preventive care and encourages her patients to maintain lifelong oral health through education and regular dental visits. She remains committed to staying current with the latest advancements in dentistry through continuing education programs.
Dr. Mustafa Abouzgia
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
His work has been published in a number of professional periodicals including The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants. He also has delivered presentations at a variety of scientific conferences.
Dr. Abouzgia received his training at the University of Toronto and completed his residency at The Toronto Hospital. He continued his training in Toronto and was awarded a fellowship certificate by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. While working on a research project in the University of Toronto’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Abouzgia also earned a master’s degree in science.
Outside of the office, he enjoys traveling and gardening.
Dr. Osama Eissa
Orthodontist
Dr. Eissa graduated with Honours in 2006 from the Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Egypt, ranking first in his class. He then joined the Department of Orthodontics, where he completed his residency and earned both a Master’s and PhD in Orthodontics, later serving as an Associate Professor. After moving to Canada, Dr. Eissa successfully completed the dental equivalency program and the Dental Specialty Advanced Training Program in Orthodontics at the University of Toronto.
He is now a certified orthodontic specialist, a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC), and an active member of the RCDSO, OAO, CAO, and AAO. Passionate about excellence, Dr. Eissa is dedicated to delivering the highest standard of orthodontic care to his patients.
Sherri
Dental Hygienist
Sherri has been working in the dental field since 1993. She is a Fanshawe graduate with almost 30 years as a registered dental hygienist. Sherri prides herself on her gentle and thorough approach to oral care. She brings a breath of fresh air and happy energy to our office and our patients love her brisk and bubbly manner just as much as we do.When she is not at work you'll find her reading, doing yoga or hanging out with her 3 daughters. Sherri looks forward to helping your smile shine!
Teresa
Dental Assistant
Optimism, happiness, compassion and skill rolled in one best describes Teresa. Teresa has been a dental assistant for the last 25 years. She qualified originally to be an engineer and proceeded to study dental assisting at a Toronto College later in life. Her analytical thinking and being two steps ahead of the dentist - make her an ideal assistant. Patients warm up to Teresa since she is easy to talk to and is usually successful at alleviating their fears and concerns. Every dentist Teresa has worked with, has grown to depend on her quick reflexes and helpful manner. Teresa is a proud grandma and enjoys cooking for and spending time with her family. Teresa finds reading therapeutic. Chatting with friends and volunteering are what she does in her spare time.
Nisha
Hygiene Coordinator
Nisha has been a dental assistant and office administrator for well over 25 years of which she has worked at Erindale Dental for the last 17 years. Nisha is a people’s person and the opportunity to interact with people, explain their dental work, plan coverage and what to expect at upcoming appointments in simple terms is what has drawn her to this profession. Nisha’s calm demeanour, patience, attention to detail, knowing what works for different people and thoughtfully remembering to fulfil their requests makes her popular among patients and staff alike. While not at work, Nisha enjoys meditating, cooking, karaoke singing with friends and travelling or exploring the outdoors with her husband and beautiful daughters. Reading about the latest updates in the dental world keeps her in touch with advances.
Aseel
Dental Receptionist
The happy smile that welcomes you when you walk into Erindale Dental is Aseel’s. Even though
she is the newest member of our team, she has quickly blended in with the Erindale Dental
family over the last year. Aseel brings laughter and positivity to our office. Aseel is a great
receptionist and is amazing at accommodating patients and their needs. There is rarely a task
assigned to her that remains incomplete.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking. Her passion is experimenting in the kitchen.
Aseel loves doing make-up and hair and you can see her craft at looking beautiful when you
walk in and see her pretty face. She is also amazing at massages and is our personal massage
therapist at the office.
Nelly
Treatment Coordinator
Meet Nelly- our treatment coordinator. She has been part of our team since 2012. Being well
versed with how insurances work, Nelly helps our patients understand their insurance plans better. She is a dental assistant by qualification, which gives her the unique advantage
of being able to explain different treatment options to patients in a simple manner. She is
versatile and happy to step into many other roles in the office.
Her bubbly personality and sense of humor bring much joy and laughter to our patients and the
whole office.
Nelly loves spending time with her husband and her two fur babies Chloe and Bella. In her spare
time, she loves to read while sipping her favorite teas. Watching true crime documentaries,
playing video games, diamond painting and trying different cuisines are her go to leisure
activities.
Erika
Hygiene Coordinator
This is Erika and she always has an answer for you whether you need an urgent appointment,
have dental questions, need to clear a bill or simply need to chat. She has enjoyed coming to
work every day of the last six years that she has worked at Erindale Dental. She comes to work
with a positive mindset and a smile on her face and our patients feel that positivity when they
interact with her. Erika earnestly cares about our patients and their dental needs.
When not at work, Erika loves to spend time with her three adorable kids and husband. She
enjoys binge watching Netflix shows, dancing and scrolling through her social media accounts.
She is outgoing and friendly and enjoys cooking for her immediate and extended family.
Odette
Dental Assistant
Odette has been a dental assistant since 2010. Her efficiency and sincerity make her a great assistant. Her past experience at working in the jewellery and tailoring industries gives her a sharp eye with attention to detail. She is a hard worker and always eager to learn new things. This has made her delve into learning dental admin tasks to help the admin staff with their duties. When she is not assisting, Odette loves sewing, spending time with her children and going on walks with her little puppy Niko.
Barb
Hygienist
Meet Barbara, one of our meticulous and thorough dental hygiene superheroes. Barb is passionate about educating patients about the importance of oral hygiene and simple but sustainable ways of home care. Barb has been with the Erindale team since her graduation as a Dental Hygienist in 2010. Her goal has been to help patients achieve optimal dental and oral health. Her gentle and mild manner appeals to patients and they want to be back to have their smile fixed by her over again. When not at her dental chair, Barb loves hanging with her family and friends and travelling extensively.
Uzma
Hygienist
Uzma is a friendly and caring dental hygienist with 10 years of hygiene experience under her belt. A graduate of CADH, Uzma prides herself on providing meticulous and thorough dental care in a gentle and effective manner. Customizing oral hygiene plans based on each patient’s individual needs is Uzma’s specialty. Through continuing education programmes Uzma stays up to date with the latest trends in dentistry to provide high quality care to patients, giving them a whole new meaning to “squeaky clean”. Outside of work, Uzma likes to spend time with loved ones, travel and try cooking new recipes.
Sania
Hygienist
Sania is a Dental Hygienist who is dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care by creating a comfortable, stress-free environment which puts patients at ease. Sania’s goal over her last 13 years as a hygienist has been to create individualized and achievable home care goals for patients so that they can attain optimal oral health. She is always energetic and buzzing about the office ever-ready to help out a colleague or the doctors with anything they may need help with. Her happy energy is contagious. When she’s not working, Sania spends quality time at home with her 2 little kiddos. She enjoys reading and baking with her daughter. She loves biking and going on long drives.