Dr. Sandra Nairooz’s journey to becoming a board-certified orthodontist in Texas started in Cairo, Egypt, where she was born and raised. Her commitment and dedication to her profession led her to open Solana Orthodontics in San Antonio, where she sees patients of all ages and from all walks of life. 

From Egypt to Texas

Dr. Nairooz grew up in a family of doctors and dentists, so it was only natural for her to be interested in a medical career from a young age. “I always wanted to be an orthodontist,” Dr. Nairooz told us. “I loved how it combines art and science and you get to create the most beautiful smiles.” She studied dentistry at Ain Shams University in Cairo, and worked as a general dentist for several years before pursuing her dream to come to the United States.  

Dr. Nairooz overcame the cultural and logistical obstacles of moving to a new country and was admitted to dental school at The State University of New York in Buffalo, NY. 

She successfully got her dental license, then went on to do her orthodontic residency in Jacksonville, Florida and completed her Masters of Science in Dentistry. Dr. Nairooz is self-described “lifelong learner” and always takes advantage of the opportunities she has to further her education and mastery of orthodontics. 

Dreams Fulfilled 

When we talked to Dr. Nairooz and her patients, one of the overarching themes that we noticed was about dreams coming true. For the patients, orthodontic treatment was making it possible for them to finally have the smile of their dreams. And not just for aesthetic reasons, but also to be able to get a good night’s sleep, to chew properly, and to live without jaw pain and tension. 

For Dr. Nairooz, owning Solana Orthodontics is a dream come true. After ten years of working in another practice, she finally was able to open her own office where she can have the flexibility to treat her patients how she would like to be treated. She wanted treatment to be affordable, to fit in her patients’ budgets, and to be as convenient and easy as possible. 

Solana Orthodontics is also helping Dr. Nairooz make another lifelong dream a reality: giving back to her community. She is passionate about being there for people who don’t have anyone else to turn to, and hopes to someday open an orphanage to support children in need. In the meantime, she and her staff are always looking for ways to be present in their communities, whether it’s volunteering or making donations to local schools and non-profit organizations such as TEAMability in San Antonio, TX. 

An Orthodontic Practice for Busy Moms

Solana Orthodontics is unique in that Dr. Nairooz has tailored the office and their systems and protocols to be busy-mom friendly. The idea is to fit in everyone’s schedule with appointment options in the early morning, evening or after school, and even on Saturdays. “We want to be available when our patients need us,” Dr. Nairooz emphasized. “Our office is a boutique kind of practice, not because it’s more expensive, but because we care and we offer a personalized spa-like experience. We know all our patients by name and we cherish them as if they were family.”

Dr. Nairooz wanted the aesthetics of the office to reflect that warm, welcoming vibe. When she designed it, she did a lot of research about patient comfort. She found out, for example, what colors, smells, and lights are the most soothing. “Everything in my office has been created with patient comfort in mind. That has been the feedback we get from every patient. They feel relaxed, calm, like it’s a spa experience. Patients even say they don’t want to leave.”  

Changing Lives One Smile at a Time

Dr. Nairooz is inspired daily by her patients. She remembers a lot of special, moving cases with patients who are very shy at the beginning of treatment but slowly come out of their shell as treatment progresses. “Those cases make me feel really happy and proud to be an orthodontist, to feel like I’ve made a difference in that person’s quality of life is meaningful,” Dr. Nairooz said. 

Self-confidence isn’t the only thing that changes in her practice. One memorable patient had severe sleep apnea, was sleeping with a CPAP machine every night, and had a collapsed jaw. Dr. Nairooz worked with a multidisciplinary team of doctors to treat the patient, and after undergoing surgery and orthodontic treatment, the patient was thrilled to be free of the CPAP machine, breathing better, and getting good-quality sleep. Dr. Nairooz shared that “those cases are very moving for me, they motivate me to keep working and to learn more every day so I can provide the best care for my patients.”

A Forever Home in Texas

When Dr. Nairooz isn’t with her patients, she’s spending time with her husband and two kids, traveling, and finding ways to give back to the community. They all love San Antonio, from the diverse cuisine and friendly people to the great weather. She and her husband agree it’s a great place to raise a family. “We love it here, we’ll never leave San Antonio.” 

If you’re in San Antonio, Texas and you need an orthodontist, you can contact Dr. Sandra Nairooz at Solana Orthodontics or check out our online TAO member directory and find a highly-qualified, experienced orthodontist near you. 

“My patients’ moms ask me all the time, ‘Really can I get orthodontics? I thought I was too old!’ I always tell them there’s no age limit to fix your bite and align your jaws.” – Dr. Sandra Nairooz