Dr. Shaheen R. Upton is the founder and CEO of Family Care Dental, an innovative dental practice dedicated to providing compassionate, accessible, and high-quality care to patients throughout the greater Birmingham area. A native of Birmingham, Dr. Upton earned her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and went on to receive her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the UAB School of Dentistry.

Dr. Upton is widely known for her gentle demeanor, patient-focused philosophy, and friendly chairside manner, helping patients of all ages—especially those with dental anxiety—feel comfortable and confident during their visits. Her approach to dentistry is rooted in compassion, trust, and treating every patient with respect and understanding.

Motivated by a desire to expand access to dental care, Dr. Upton created Family Care Dental using a unique urgent-care dental model designed to treat patients when they need care most. Today, Family Care Dental operates five comprehensive dental care centers around the greater Birmingham area and employs more than 85 team members, including 12 doctors, and offers extended hours to better serve individuals and families who might otherwise face barriers to receiving dental treatment. Dr. Upton is recognized as a pioneer of the urgent-care dental model in the Birmingham community, helping to mitigate gaps in access to care.

Dr. Upton is deeply committed to lifelong learning and regularly attends continuing education courses in Endodontics (root canals), Orthodontics (including Invisalign® clear aligners), Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry, and General Restorative Dentistry. She is an active member of the American Dental Association and Alabama Dental Association.

Her leadership and dedication to both patient care and professional development have earned her numerous honors, including:

• UAB School of Dentistry Young Distinguished Alumni Award
• Birmingham Business Journal Diversity & Inclusion Award 
• Birmingham Business Journal Best Place to Work for Family Care Dental
• Birmingham Business Journal Women to Watch Award 
• America’s Best Dentist Award (2023–Present)

In addition to leading Family Care Dental, Dr. Upton serves as clinical faculty at the UAB School of Dentistry and is a member of the UAB School of Dentistry Leadership Council, where she mentors students and supports the next generation of dental professionals. Her practice is also recognized for its commitment to employee growth, offering 100% tuition coverage for dental education, continuing education opportunities, internships, and a supportive, inclusive workplace culture.

Dr. Upton is actively involved in her community and church and enjoys giving back through volunteer work and support of organizations such as Cahaba Valley Health Care.