Today we’d like to introduce you to Graham Shadwick.
Hi Graham, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Midwest in the Kansas City area. Dentistry was in my family- my grandpa was an orthodontist, my uncle was a general dentist and my cousin became a dentist after he graduated from college. I attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas for my undergraduate degree. I entered college with my sights set on becoming a dentist. In fact, it was the only thing I ever even considered! After college I was lucky enough to be admitted to the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry where I earned my doctorate. After I graduated dental school in 2020, I stayed at Oklahoma and completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program where I received advanced training in implant dentistry, endodontics, and other specialty areas of dentistry. I finished my residency in July of 2021 and moved to Denver, Colorado to practice dentistry with my cousin at his practice. During my time in Denver, I met my beautiful wife Kelly, a San Diego native. We got married in the summer of 2023, and shortly after we added an additional member to the family- our crazy golden retriever named Cowboy. We are like the three musketeers, we go everywhere together! In the winter of 2025 we decided to leave Denver for a quieter, slower pace and moved the small mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We had an amazing year of snow packed adventures and lots of skiing! However, California was always calling us. In January of 2026 we began the process of searching for a dental practice to purchase in the Central Coast area of California. The central coast had always excited us and we knew that was where we wanted to permanently land! Shortly into our search, I found a practice for sale in Paso Robles called Oaks Dental Group. Long story short, I inquired about the practice, was on the phone with the broker that night, and we flew out to visit the practice that weekend. We were immediately sold! We were so smitten with not only the practice, but Paso Robles and the area as a whole. We returned to Colorado and immediately started packing our bags! We moved out to the central coast in early March and I took over the practice on April 1st. My wife and I couldn’t be happier to be here. We love the weather, the people, the practice and everything the Central Coast has to offer. It has been a long journey to get here, but it has certainly been worth the wait! I am so proud to be the owner of Oaks Dental Group and am so humbled to be a part of this amazing community here in Paso Robles.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely not been smooth, but it has been totally worth it! I was an associate dentist for over five years, but had always wanted to be a dental practice owner. I had to work really hard to get where I am today, but looking back I can absolutely see that the road was pointing me here all along. I think I needed the experiences along the way to realize that this is where I am meant to be. I got to learn from great mentors and I got to see what I liked and didn’t like about other dental practices, which allowed be fabricate this dream in my head of my ideal dental practice. Oaks Dental Group feels like the prize at the end of a very long, but worthwhile journey. I am so thankful to everyone along the way who has helped shape me into the person and dentist that I am today. I would be nothing without my support cast!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Oaks Dental Group?
I am the owner of Oaks Dental Group in Paso Robles. We are a general practice which means we cover all areas of dentistry in our practice! Our services range from basic restorative procedures, to root canals, extractions, implants, etc. In addition to me, we have two very talented hygienists, two assistants and one assistant/front office.
When you walk in to our office, it is easy to tell that we are not like any other dental office. We have really worked hard to create a culture of kindness, empathy, and most importantly joy. It is no secret that the dentist’s office is not at the top of everyone’s list of favorite places, but we really strive to change people’s perception of dental offices as a whole. From the second you walk in the door you will be greeted with a smile, and treated with kindness and respect. We are a judgment-free office. We are here to help! When people are in my chair, I don’t want to just help them, I want to get to know them on a personal level and be a part of their life.
I am so proud of the culture that we have created at our office. Our staff has so much fun together day in and day out. We love coming to work and we love what we do. We go about our work day with a heart-first mission, providing top- notch care, and we enjoy doing it! My sincere hope is to change people’s overall perception of dentists and dental offices in general by how we treat them. I am so passionate about densitry, but I am even more passionate about people. I think we are doing something really special at Oaks Dental Group!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think there are a lot of barriers that keep people from willingly coming to the dentist — whether that’s cost, insurance, fear, pain, embarrassment, judgment, or simply poor experiences in the past. I understand that walking into a dental office is not easy for everyone, and I never want patients to feel ashamed or uncomfortable about where they are in their dental health journey.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that I am genuinely here to help. My goal is to create an environment where people feel welcome, respected, and cared for no matter their circumstances. I want patients to come as they are and trust that they will be treated like family — with compassion, honesty, and without judgment.
I believe dentistry is about more than just teeth. It’s about building trust, meeting people where they are, and helping them move forward in a way that feels comfortable and achievable for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oaksfamilydentalpaso.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oaks.dentalgroup
