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Dr. Marlene Shaw | General, Sleep & Snoring Dentist

@drmarleneshaw

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🦷 / General & Cosmetic Dentist
💤 / Dental Sleep Medicine
😴 / Snoring & TMJ Relief
🎓 Sleep mini-residency grad | ⚡ AADSM Qualified
📍 Washington, DC

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Wednesday insight from your sleep dentist: if I ask about your sleep in the dental chair, it's not small talk. 🦷😴 Your mouth is a window into your airway — worn teeth, a scalloped tongue, morning jaw soreness, a narrow palate. Those are clues I can read before a sleep study ever happens. So yes, I'm nosy about your sleep — that's the job. When did your dentist last ask YOU about your sleep?

#DCDentist #SleepDentistry #TMJDentist #WashingtonDC #SleepHealth #OralHealth by @drmarleneshaw

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6 days ago

Five-year plan? Simple.

Help Washington DC sleep better and smile more. Hold doors open for the ones coming up behind me.

Ambition doesn't have to look like exhaustion. Mine looks like well-rested people with healthy jaws and sexy smiles.

This question is for everyone in DC and beyond — what's on your five-year plan?

#FiveYearPlan #DCDentist #SleepDentist #Snoring #Mentor by @drmarleneshaw

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6 days ago

Go support your people! 👇

A simple like or comment might be the exact push someone needs to keep going today.

Psst: a friend and mentor inspired this post. by @drmarleneshaw

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a day ago

October 17. Dessalines Day. 🇭🇹⁣
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Jean-Jacques Dessalines was born enslaved. He died an emperor. ⁣
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In between, he rewrote history.⁣
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When Toussaint Louverture was captured in 1802, Dessalines took the lead. ⁣
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He defeated Napoleon's army at Vertières, proclaimed Haiti's independence on January 1, 1804, and established the first nation in the Americas to permanently abolish slavery.⁣
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He took the French flag, tore out the white stripe, and stitched the blue and red together.⁣
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A banner born from pure refusal.⁣
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His motto was absolute:⁣
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Liberté ou la Mort.⁣
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Liberty or death.⁣
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He paid the ultimate price for it on this day in 1806.⁣
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He wasn't perfect.⁣
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No founder is.⁣
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But he finished what he started—and what he started was freedom.⁣
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Fast forward to today: Howard University Homecoming 2026.⁣
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The theme this year is "Ancestors' Wildest Dreams."⁣
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As a proud Haitian, a Howard University College of Dentistry graduate (Class of 2003 💙❤️), and a third-generation dentist practicing in Washington, DC… I know this truth in my bones:⁣
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Every legacy I build, every crown I craft, and every door I open is because they cleared the path.⁣
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From Vertières to the Hilltop, freedom was never just a word—it's an action.⁣
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We don't just remember history; we live it.⁣
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Happy Dessalines Day, and Happy Homecoming to the Mecca! 🇭🇹🦬✨⁣
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#DessalinesDay #AncestorsWildestDreams #HUHC2026 #HUCD #HU2003 #HaitianHistory #LibertéOuLaMort #FirstBlackRepublic #HaitianPride #DCDentist⁣ by @drmarleneshaw

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2 days ago

I gave you coffee-break-me in 2021: masked, tired, still smiling 😷☕

POV: mid-shift with my favorite coworker — who also happens to be my husband, Kyle.

Some things never change: the teamwork, the laughter between patients, and this dentist being unable to stop talking about sleep. Just fewer masks now. 🧚‍♀️

What was YOUR best mask-era memory — work, life, or otherwise?

It's Howard Homecoming!

And it's countdown to our 21st marriage anniversary!!

21 on 22

Happy Homecoming to Ya'!! and Happy 21 to US!

Better question: What are you sending me for my 21?

#DCDentist #SleepDentistry #TMJDentist #WashingtonDC #SleepHealth DentalLife HowardHomecoming InterracialCouple I by @drmarleneshaw

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3 days ago

Friday confession: as a sleep & TMJ dentist, I spend a lot of my time telling people to stop clenching their jaws… and then I catch myself doing it at a red light. On my own commute. 😅

Nobody's immune — not even the dentist. And clenching matters more than most people think: morning jaw soreness, tension headaches, teeth wearing down years before their time.

The fix is tiny and you can do it anywhere: lips together, teeth apart, tongue resting gently on the roof of your mouth. Outside of eating, your upper and lower teeth should barely touch. Five seconds to reset.

My drive home is basically TMJ mindfulness now. Where do you catch yourself clenching? 👇

#DCDentist #SleepDentistry #TMJDentist #WashingtonDC #SleepHealth #OralHealth by @drmarleneshaw

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10 days ago

Your jaw’s weekend mantra. 🤍

#DCDentist #TMJDentist #WashingtonDC #OralHealth by @drmarleneshaw

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10 days ago

Today I've been thinking about the women who keep showing up.

International Women's Day

The ones who are tired and don't say it—because they're expected to keep going. The ones expected to smile no matter what, even when smiling is the hardest part of their day.

The ones the world only seems to notice when they're winning on the world's terms. As if value is measured by the world alone. As if you're invisible until you arrive somewhere worth seeing.

I thank God today that it isn't so!

Here's to the women who keep going behind the scenes, expecting nothing in return. The quiet voices. The unseen faces. The invisible work that holds so much together.

Your strength doesn't go unnoticed.

And if today feels heavy and you want an uplifting word—send me a message. I see you. I know you. And I'm here.

#internationalwomensday
#iseeyou
#iamwoman
#reachone #reachonedc taken in Montgomery County, Maryland by @drmarleneshaw

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7 months ago

The day I’ve dreamed of is finally here—AI is being embraced by the world, and dentistry is no exception! ⁣
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Well, AI's been here, the world's trying to catching up to AI ⁣
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Reflecting on my countless hours studying computer science, coding, and programming, digesting algorithms, I often wondered, *Why am I doing this?⁣
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* Now, I see the purpose clearer than ever. The potential for AI to revolutionize dentistry, streamline processes, and improve patient care fills me with excitement and hope. ⁣
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This is the future I envisioned, and it’s incredible to witness it unfolding. ⁣
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I can't wait to share this journey with the world and see how AI transforms lives. ⁣
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The possibilities are endless, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!⁣

⁣#AIinDentistry #FutureOfTech #AIRevolution #DentalInnovation #TechDreamsRealized taken in Washington D. C. by @drmarleneshaw

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2 years ago

Languages, culture, and travel are powerful tools for connecting with others on a deeper level. Whether you're a dentist, teacher, or working in any field, embracing these elements can help you break down barriers and build meaningful relationships.

A smile is a universal language, and through travel, you can learn to appreciate the beauty in every culture you encounter. By stepping outside your comfort zone and exploring the world, you open yourself up to learning, growth, and connection with people from all walks of life.

For example, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with these two ladies from Colombia and Paraguay, right here in DC. They have shown me the richness of their cultures and have become my friends . These experiences remind me that the world is incredibly diverse, and we can all benefit from embracing it.

As someone with a multicultural background and as a dentist, I understand the value of connecting with others in a more authentic and compassionate way. These experiences not only enrich your personal life but also enhance your professional approach, whether it's in dental care, customer service, or any other field.

Here’s to global smiles and deeper connections – let’s open ourselves to the world and see how much we can grow together.

TELL ME FRIEND
What's been your experience as a speaker of many languages?

Or

Just want to connect. Drop me a comment.

Español en comentarios

#breakingbarriers
#GlobalConnections
#CulturalExchange
#TravelAndLearn
#CompassionateCare
#theworldisyours taken in Montgomery County, Maryland by @drmarleneshaw

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2 years ago

As I look forward to the future, I’m thankful and hopeful. I reflect on the past and see how far we’ve come. I’m proud of MLK Jr.'s legacy and the progress it has inspired. I’m also proud of Haiti’s contributions to this great nation, the USA.

As a Haitian American immigrant, married to my wonderful husband—an opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible before MLK Jr.’s fight for racial justice—I am deeply grateful for the doors his legacy has opened for me.

My voice matters in this American democracy, and I’m committed to honoring that legacy by helping build a better and better future.

I don't keep my head down; I hold it high and will keep in thriving! I owe this much to Martin Luther King Jr!

#MartinLutherKingJrDay #HonoringMLKJr #MLKJrquote #mlkjrday #GodBlesstheUSA #MLKJrMemorial taken in Washington D. C. by @drmarleneshaw

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2 years ago

Helping dreams come true can sound delusional until realty, ie until they work.

A client's wish can sound delusional unless one truly listens and makes it happen.

This dream sounded delusional until it worked.

2025 is here already. It's time to work on yours.

What's your dream smile?

#cosmeticdentist #lentesdecontatodental #porcelainveneers #teethwhitening #dentalimplants taken in Washington D. C. by @drmarleneshaw

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2 years ago