Charanpreet Dhami, MSc Craniofacial Science 2016, is a Lecturer and Fourth–Year Dental Hygiene Coordinator at UBC Dentistry. We connected with Charn to learn more about his passion for the dental hygiene profession and how he became interested in a career in teaching.
What first got you interested in a career in dental hygiene?
I completed my Bachelor of Science at UBC and thought about dentistry, but I was volunteering at Reach Community Health Centre when one of their dental hygienists asked me if I’d ever considered a career in hygiene. I hadn’t, but decided to shadow her for a day. I had the perception that it was a female-dominated profession, but after shadowing her, I couldn’t understand why more men didn’t go into it! It’s a great career where you get to work independently and have a direct impact on people’s lives as a primary care provider.
Tell us why you pursued a Master’s degree at UBC Dentistry and what your thesis was focused on.
After working as a hygienist in private practice for several years, I saw a Master’s as an opportunity to further my knowledge. I worked with Leeann Donnelly, BDSc 2002; MSc 2005; PhD Dental Science 2012, and my research was focused on long-term care homes and the challenges this population faces with oral health. I found that odor from the oral cavity was associated with the lack of oral care residents received from residential care aids (RCAs) who were used to other smells, but were reluctant to provide oral care because of the smell coming from the mouth. My research concluded that RCAs working in long-term care need to receive more education on what causes oral malodor, and that required referrals should go to a dental professional, rather than a medical doctor, which is what had traditionally been done.
Do you have a favourite memory of your time spent at UBC Dentistry as a student?
I got to spend a lot of time with students in the specialty programs, which I loved. There were so many people from different backgrounds specializing in everything from endodontics to orthodontics, so getting to meet new people and learn from them was really special.
What got you interested in teaching?
I started teaching second-year dental hygiene students in the clinic while pursuing my Master’s, and I found it very fulfilling to work with students.
I love it when students have that “ah-ha” moment, and they’re grateful you taught them something new.
One of my favourite classes to teach is the Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership course because it’s so unique. This course equips fourth-year dental hygiene students with knowledge and skills in team management, business economics and financial literacy, and they develop a business plan with a particular focus on improving access to oral healthcare in underserved communities. I hope it results in more of our hygiene graduates running their own oral health related businesses that can service remote or marginalized populations.
Do you have any advice for current students?
Really challenge yourself while you’re in school. You can be the type of student who just does what’s required, or you can have personal goals outside of the curriculum that you want to accomplish, and it’s those students who grow leaps and bounds throughout the program. Make it a personal journey and think about how you want to grow as both a clinician and a person. Lastly, enjoy the journey! Four years will fly by, but the friendships and relationships with your peers last a lifetime, so work hard, but also remember to play hard.