Christa Y. Spates, DDS
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work another day in your life” is a quote that Dr. Spates strongly believes. This mantra allowed her to develop Just Kidz Dentistry over 18 years ago in Peoria, Illinois. She believes in gentle, compassionate dental care. She also believes that going to the dentist can be an enjoyable experience for children.
Dr. Spates completed dental school at the Medical College of Virginia, where she discovered her passion for treating kids. She later completed her pediatric dental residency at the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where she served as Chief Resident. She also spent an additional year as a fellow training future pediatric dentists and completing her research in the Hematology division. Dr. Spates is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists,the American Dental Association®, Illinois State Dental Society, and the Peoria District Dental Society .
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children. She also enjoys traveling and doing various types of exercise.
Sabeen Hafeez, DMD
Dr. Sabeen Hafeez is a general dentist with a deep passion for working with children. Her primary goal is to establish a foundation of trust while ensuring that every visit is a positive and comfortable experience. By approaching dental care with a gentle touch, Dr. Sabeen strives to create an environment where children feel at ease, enabling them to develop a lifelong commitment to oral health.
Dr. Sabeeen graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Science from Benedictine University. Driven by her unwavering commitment to excellence, she then embarked on a transformative educational path at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Sabeen remains deeply committed to staying up to date with the latest developments in her field. She actively pursues continuing education opportunities, eagerly embracing new knowledge, techniques and innovations. By continuously expanding her expertise, she ensures that her patients receive the highest standard of care, benefiting from the most advanced technologies available in modern dentistry. Dr. Sabeen is a member of the American Dental Association®, Illinois State Dental Society, and the Peoria District Dental Society.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants and traveling.
Komail Abbas, DMD
Dr. Abbas is originally from the Chicago suburbs. He graduated from dental school at Boston University in 2010 and has been working in children’s dentistry since 2011. He has worked in multiple states, including
California, Wisconsin, Indiana, Texas and Illinois. Dr. Abbas takes numerous continuing education courses locally, nationally and internationally.
Dr. Abbas has been placing esthetic crowns (or “white crowns”) since 2017 and has been completing dental rehabilitation cases under general anesthesia since 2013. He has mentored multiple dentists and volunteers every year to provide pediatric dental care abroad and work with college students who are interested in becoming dentists.
In his free time, he travels internationally, taking guided international trips with tours, and is a lifelong fan of Chicago sports teams.
What does it mean to be a Diplomate or Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist?
A pediatric dentist is a dentist who has completed a graduate program accredited by CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation) in the specialty of pediatric dentistry. A dentist who graduates from a specialty program becomes a pediatric dentist and is eligible to become board certified through the voluntary examination process of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD). Involvement in the certification process is a demonstration of the pediatric dentist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence.
A pediatric dentist certified by ABPD is also known as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.