Dr. Abanob Saied, a 2016 graduate of North Royalton High School, first stepped into the world of dentistry through CVCC’s Dental Assisting program—but not because it had always been his dream.“My sister had gone through the Dental Assisting program at CVCC before me and encouraged me to check out CVCC,” he shared. “At the time, I just wanted a break from the traditional high school setting and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to experience something different,” he recalled. “A friend and I decided to choose Dental Assisting—honestly, I’m not even sure why we picked it over other programs.”
That spontaneous decision ended up changing the course of both their lives—his friend is now also on the verge of graduating from dental school. Under the guidance of instructor Lisa Theodore, Dr. Saied discovered a true interest in dentistry. “Ms. Theodore was all about hands-on learning. She really drilled the basics of dentistry into our heads and made it fun. That kind of learning environment made me eager to show up and grow.”
After high school, Dr. Saied went on to Cleveland State University, where he completed the Pre-Dentistry Program, and later earned his DDS from the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School in 2024. He started his dental career at another practice, but when business slowed, a new opportunity came along. “Fairlawn Plaza Dental Arts reached out and invited me in for a meeting,” he said. “I met with the owner, and she offered me a position on the team. The office was beautiful, the staff was incredibly welcoming, and I’ve been here ever since—about six months now.”
Dr. Saied continues to look back with gratitude on the impact CVCC had on his journey. “I took part in job placement and work-based learning, which was a game-changer. Those experiences gave me valuable skills and confidence before I even started dental school. That’s a big part of why I’m so passionate about giving back and supporting students.”
This year, he took the initiative to hire and mentor a CVCC Dental Assisting student during her senior year—going so far as to advocate for her to be paid for her work. “It’s been amazing to watch Noor, a Revere High School senior and CVCC Dental Assisting student, grow since joining our office as my dental assistant. Because I went through the same program, I had a strong understanding of what she’d already learned, which has helped me support her more effectively,” he said.
His message to future CVCC students? “Go talk to Ms. Theodore! The program was hard, but it was one of the best decisions I made—without even knowing it at the time. Worst case, you find out early that dental isn’t for you. Best case? You find your calling.”
Dr. Saied welcomes students to reach out to him. “If you have questions or want to talk more about the field, shoot me an email or contact our office. I remember how helpful that kind of support was when I was starting out, and I want to pass that on.”
When asked what he loves most about dentistry, Dr. Saied shared a recent moment that stuck with him: “A woman came in with a chipped tooth right before her wedding. We stayed late to fix it in time for her big day. On her way out, she hugged me and cried. It was just 30 minutes for us, but it meant the world to her. Those are the moments that remind you why you do this.”
He also appreciates the work-life balance and the daily variety of tasks and challenges that dentistry brings. Looking ahead, Dr. Saied hopes to eventually specialize in cosmetic dentistry.
“I want to be one of the top cosmetic dentists in Cleveland,” he said. “I love doing veneers and aesthetic work. If I could do that all day every day, I would. One day!”
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling whenever he can.