Aekta Fifadara, DMD and Kiran Makhnejia, DDS

Dr. Aekta Fifadara, founder of Fulshear Dental, is known for combining expert care with a genuinely patient-centered approach. At the heart of her practice is a simple philosophy: treat every patient with compassion, honesty, and respect — just like family.

Dr. Fifadara hails from a family of dental professionals, including her father who recently retired after a long career as a dentist. “Growing up, I worked in his office from the age of 16, taking patients back, pulling charts, and watching how he cared for people,” she says. “He always told me, ‘If you focus on the patient, everything else will fall into place.’ That stuck with me.”

She earned her dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and completed a general dentistry residency at Queens Hospital in New York. With advanced training in implant dentistry and certification in Invisalign and Lumineers, Dr. Fifadara uses modern tools like 3D CBCT imaging and iTero scanning to provide precise, comfortable care.

One of her proudest accomplishments was building her practice from the ground up. “I knew the dentistry part,” she says, “but learning how to run a business was a whole new challenge. I was incredibly lucky to be surrounded by amazing people. My staff has been with me since the beginning. They’re truly the heart of the office and help create the kind of culture where patients feel welcomed and supported.”

That culture was essential during one patient’s transformative journey. “I had a patient in his 30s with severe dental issues from years of soda consumption and poor habits,” Dr. Fifadara says. “His teeth were breaking down, and we had to make the difficult decision to remove them and move forward with dentures.”

With time, trust, and personalized care, she and her team helped him through the process. “A month later, he came back with his wife and a bouquet of flowers,” she says. “He told me, ‘I can’t tell you the feeling of being able to smile again.’ His wife said he used to shy away from the camera, but now he couldn’t stop smiling.”

Moments like that remind Dr. Fifadara why she chose this path. “Even though it wasn’t the ideal scenario, it changed his life. That’s the power of what we do,” she says.

Dr. Fifadara works alongside Dr. Kiran Makhnejia, a Katy native and UT Austin alum. Dr. Makhnejia’s passion for dentistry was sparked during a mission trip to Nicaragua, where she observed a female dentist provide care to patients in a remote village. “Her confidence and compassion in such a tough environment really moved me,” she says. “That moment solidified my path.”

Blending science with artistry, Dr. Makhnejia has a special interest in cosmetic and digital dentistry and is passionate about helping patients regain confidence in their smiles. “What’s most fulfilling to me,” she says, “is helping patients overcome their fear of the dentist, change their perspective on care, and build a heathy routine.”

Learn more about this exceptional all-women dental team at IHeartFulshearDental.com.