Alvin Lo, DMD 2010, owns aLo Dental in Mississauga, Ontario. We connected with Dr. Lo to learn about his time spent at UBC Dentistry and his passion for the profession.
What inspired you to move from Ontario to study at UBC Dentistry?
I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, and dentistry always struck me as the option that would give me the most control over my time and lifestyle. I’m from Markham, Ontario, and had never been to Vancouver but heard amazing things. When I got accepted to UBC Dentistry, I thought, “Why not? Let’s try something new!”
Do you have a favourite memory of your time spent with the Faculty?
I enjoyed the social aspect of the program; my class was really tight, and we spent a lot of time together outside of school.
Battle of the Bands was a highlight for me. I always played music, but this was the first time I was part of a band. And it stuck with me! I currently play keyboard and sing in what I like to call a hobby band—we play at barbeques and street parties.
You were the first class to complete all your training in the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre (OHC) which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary! Do you have any distinct memories of the OHC?
I remember walking from the old clinic into the new clinic and thinking what an impressive difference it was! I was very impressed by the clinic, which felt shiny and new. I would love to come back and visit!
What did you do after graduation?
I moved back to Ontario and spent three years practicing dentistry in Pembroke, which is outside of Ottawa. It was great because I got extensive clinical experience and increased my scope of practice. After that, I moved to Toronto and spent a few years associating at different practices before purchasing my own practice in 2016.
Do you have any advice around owning a practice?
First, I would say get a mentor who understands how to run a business. When you own a practice, half your job is clinical, and the other half is about being business educated. I don’t think ownership is for everyone, but if you’re curious, then definitely try it. But if you aren’t, that’s okay too—you should be proud to be a dentist without feeling like you must own a practice. One thing I’ve learned is that while practicing dentistry becomes easier over time, the business element is always changing and there’s always something to figure out.
What is your favourite part of being a dentist?
Knowing your work directly impacts people’s lives. We had one patient who previously struggled with addiction and homelessness and was trying to turn his life around. He had no front teeth, which made it difficult to find a job. We did some pro bono work, including giving him a flipper, and he returned months later to let us know he found a job, an apartment and got his driver’s licence. He brought chips and chocolates to the office as a thank you and said none of this would have been possible without us. These kinds of experiences show just how important and rewarding this profession is.