Friendly Alhambra, CA Dentist

“Growing up, my friends and family dubbed me with the nickname "Smiles" for my smiley disposition. I have always believed that a smile goes beyond a set of teeth and is one of the most powerful things we can do as humans. I love having the ability to influence someone's smile, either physically through my work or a personal connection. For me, that's what dentistry is all about.” -- Dr. Anoush Akopyan

Why Did You Decide to Become a Dentist?

A few weeks after she was born, Dr. Akopyan’s father left their home country of Armenia and ventured to the United States to start a new life for the family. Her mother remained and continued to take care of her and her brother for a year before finally having the opportunity to come to America. Her parents had their fair share of struggles. They could not speak English and were financially unstable, but they were motivated to achieve the American Dream. Her father eventually turned to dentistry as a solution.

After working for and befriending a number of dental technicians, he gathered tools and supplies, both borrowed and donated, and looked to start his own laboratory. From its humble beginnings in a small, dilapidated room in an underground parking lot, her father’s business grew quickly and gave the family nothing but success and the motivation to dream big. Because of this, both Dr. Akopyan and her brother followed in his footsteps and became dentists decades later.

Where Did You Study Dentistry?

Dr. Akopyan attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and she went on to earn her dental degree from the University of California, San Francisco. She was an active member of the Community Dental Clinic at UCSF, which allowed her to improve her skills by providing free dental care to the homeless community. She also went on a trip to Jamaica where she had the opportunity to offer care to the underserved populations there.

After graduating from dental school, she completed a one-year general practice residency (GPR) at the VA Palo Alto Medical Center. There, she treated our veterans and received one-on-one mentoring directly from prosthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, and oral surgeons. Today, she still continues her education through memberships in the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and SPEAR Education.

Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?

Dr. Akopyan loves outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, and camping, and she recently went bungee jumping, which was probably one of the craziest experiences of her life! Another one of her favorite things to do is cook. She enjoys learning traditional Armenian recipes from the amazing women in her family in addition to discovering dishes from other cultures. She has trained in traditional Armenian dance for over 10 years. Dr. Akopyan has taken up photography in recent years, especially macrophotography, and Huntington Garden in Pasadena is her favorite place to take detailed pictures of nature and wildlife.