Investing in family can look like many things: lingering over dinner, holding space for tough conversations or sitting beside a loved one in a vulnerable moment. For husband-and-wife team Dr. Nina Rastegar and Dr. Daniel Kohanchi, it also looks like building a dental practice that feels like an extension of home, where anxious patients, children and entire families can receive care in an environment rooted in warmth, safety and trust.
SoCal Sleep Dentistry in Westlake Village feels less like a clinic and more like a refuge for people who have long feared the dentist's chair. In their practice, the couple is redefining what it means to “go to the dentist” by combining advanced technology, full anesthesia services and a deeply personal, family-centered approach.
“To us, investing in family means creating a home filled with warmth, laughter and emotional safety while being intentional with presence,” says Dr. Rastegar. “Success outside the home means very little if the people inside the home don’t feel supported and seen.”
A different kind of dental visit
From the beginning, the couple’s mission was simple: change how people feel when they sit in a dental chair.
“At our core, we want dentistry to feel safe, calm and human,” says Dr. Rastegar. “There’s no rush, no judgment, just honest conversations and personalized care.” The practice is designed for patients of all ages, including those with dental anxiety, special needs, strong gag reflexes, complex medical histories or a history of traumatic dental experiences.
Becoming parents only deepened the way they approach those vulnerable moments.
“Our family is the foundation of how we care for people,” says Dr. Kohanchi. “Becoming parents reminded us that people aren’t just coming in for a service; they’re placing trust in you during a moment of discomfort.” That perspective shaped an environment built on patience, gentleness and genuine human connection, so people leave feeling cared for and at ease.
Their model blends comprehensive dentistry with in-house anesthesia, allowing patients to complete everything from routine cleanings to complex full-arch smile restorations in one place. The result is an atmosphere where fear and anxiety are replaced by trust, comfort and a sense of genuine care.
Technology in service of families
SoCal Sleep Dentistry is one of the rare practices that offers the full spectrum of anesthesia—from light sedation to hospital-grade general anesthesia—within a private dental office. As a board-certified dentist anesthesiologist, Dr. Kohanchi safely administers IV sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia while Dr. Rastegar focuses on conservative, cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
“Our technology allows us to give patients faster, safer and more comfortable treatment,” says Dr. Kohanchi. “Everything we’ve invested in is for their benefit.”
That investment shows up in their state-of-the-art equipment. Digital scanners replace messy, gag-inducing molds, capturing precise 3D images of teeth, while 3D imaging (CBCT) supports detailed diagnostics and guided implant surgery. An in-office milling unit makes same-day crowns possible, and a 3D printer allows the team to fabricate nightguards, retainers and surgical guides—often the same day.
For families, this means fewer visits, less time off work or school and the ability to complete significant treatment in a single, carefully managed appointment.
“Balancing parenthood and a career isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment,” says Dr. Rastegar. “When work reflects the same values practiced at home, everything feels more meaningful.”
Services families actually look forward to
Patients who have avoided the dentist for years often find their way to SoCal Sleep Dentistry seeking a fresh start. Popular services include sedation dentistry, preventive cleanings, in-office professional whitening, implants, full-arch restorations, same-day crowns and cosmetic smile makeovers, including veneers. Pediatric sedation dentistry is also a cornerstone of the practice, giving children who struggle in traditional settings a gentle, manageable way to receive care.
Their philosophy is simple: meet patients where they are.
“Whether someone needs a simple cleaning, cosmetic work or a full smile transformation under anesthesia, we meet every patient where they are,” says Dr. Kohanchi. “We guide them through their journey with compassion, honesty and expertise.”
As Dr. Rastegar adds, “Our mission is to help patients regain trust in dentistry and feel proud of their smiles again. We want to create a space where people feel genuinely cared for—where fear dissolves and confidence grows.”
A family caring for families
For Drs. Rastegar and Kohanchi, SoCal Sleep Dentistry is more than a business—it is an extension of their home life.
“We’re raising our children here. We care about this community, and our patients feel that,” says Dr. Rastegar. “We treat every person the way we would treat our own family.” Many patients become like extended family, returning year after year not just for the dentistry, but for the warmth and familiarity they find there.
When they talk about investing in family, they emphasize presence more than anything.
“Life gets busy, but having regular moments where everyone slows down—sharing a Shabbat meal, talking about the day or going on a family walk—gives a sense of connection and belonging,” says Dr. Kohanchi. “It’s less about any single tradition and more about creating space to consistently come back to each other.”
Those values shape the legacy they hope to pass on to their children.
“We hope our children grow up believing kindness and integrity are strengths, not weaknesses,” says Dr. Rastegar. “We want them to see that you can be ambitious and compassionate at the same time—that success isn’t measured by what you earn, but by how people feel around you.” She adds, “If they become adults who make others feel comfortable, respected and cared for, then we know we’ve done something right.”
“In many ways, the office is an extension of home: welcoming, calm and built on trust,” says Dr. Kohanchi. For those who thought they would never feel comfortable at the dentist, SoCal Sleep Dentistry offers something rare: a place where fear fades, confidence grows and every smile is given the time and attention it deserves.
SoCal Sleep Dentistry is located at 30873 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Westlake Village. For more information, call 818.864.0011, email info@socalsleepdentistry.com or visit SoCalSleepDentistry.com.
“At our core, we want dentistry to feel safe, calm and human,” says Dr. Rastegar. “There’s no rush, no judgment, just honest conversations and personalized care.”