DUNBAR FAMILY DENTAL

From an early age, Dr. David Hou wanted to be a dentist. His experience with orthodontic work began in grade 6 when he made monthly visits over three years to have his braces adjusted. His dentist always made the experience comfortable and fun.

My career choice had a lot to do with how I was treated at the dentist’s office.

Dr. David went to elementary school and high school in the Dunbar area, and during his teenage years, he did job shadowing and mentoring to get a feel for the dental profession. After graduating, Dr. David attended the University of California and completed his dental training at Loma Linda University Medical Centre. In 2006, he returned to Vancouver to continue practicing dentistry.

Dr. David has been a dentist in the Lower Mainland for the past 17 years. In 2014, he began practicing at Dunbar Family Dental.

In 2022, Dr. Titus Hou (Dr. David’s cousin) joined Dunbar Family Dental as an associate dentist. He grew up in Vancouver and obtained his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Surgery degrees at the University of the Pacific. He has been practicing in the Lower Mainland for 11 years.

“It is great working with my cousin as we challenge each other to become the best we can be in our profession. We are both passionate about dentistry; we are continually advancing our training and education. We share our experiences and regularly discuss cases to provide the best treatment plans for our patients. Working with a family member is a special and positive experience,” says Dr. David.

Dr. Titus is a part-time faculty member at UBC’s School of Dentistry and is active in many different study clubs mentored by experts in the field. He regularly attends continuing education courses in dentistry to stay on the cutting edge of the profession.

In addition to busy days at his practice, Dr. David holds a part-time academic position at UBC. He teaches clinical dentistry to third and fourth-year students one day a week and enjoys the experience. In 2014 and 2017, he won the UBC part-time teaching award for excellent dental instructors in the field.

“I’m a lifelong learner in dentistry, and I like to stay on top of all the new advances in the field. Technology has improved a lot of dentistry, and It’s important to be on top of these advances,” he says.

Over the past few years, Dr. David’s practice has grown significantly.

He comments, “I’ve always wanted to provide the best dentistry to my patients, and that comes with acquiring the best technologies available. Many of these machines and equipment require space. In 2019, we underwent a large expansion and renovation and took over the vacant office space next door.”

Dunbar Family Dental has doubled in size and grown from three operatory rooms to six larger and more spacious operatories. They added a dedicated X-ray room with a state-of-the-art 3-D cone beam CT X-ray, which helps with dental implant planning, oral surgery, and orthodontic treatment planning. A consultation room, a larger sterilization area, and a laboratory area were also added. The lobby also increased, allowing for proper social distancing between patients.

Sirona X-ray cones in each operatory ensure minimal radiation exposure for dental X-rays. A Velscope machine is used to screen for oral cancer and is offered as a complimentary service to the clinic’s regular patients.

“We’ve added a Wireless Intra-Oral Scanner device, a comfortable gadget that allows us to scan the teeth for impressions and take models. It replaces using gooey impression material in a tray to get a mould of a patient’s teeth. We also have intra-oral cameras that take very clear images of teeth that our patients can view, and understand more about their oral conditions,” says Dr. David.

Educating our patients and having them understand their mouth and teeth is important to us.

Dr. David says, “One of the biggest rewards of the profession is the meaningful relationships that I’ve built over time with my patients.”

The family dental practice offers everything from conventional braces for children to Invisalign for adults, checkups, fillings, crowns, root canals, implants, and wisdom teeth removal. Oral sedation is available for those needing it or for procedures such as implants and wisdom teeth. Oral health care has improved so much that far fewer people require dentures. Many patients opt for more permanent and practical solutions such as dental implants.

Dr. David appreciates the many things that make Dunbar such a great community.

“In the summer, my children play at Chaldecott Park, they enjoy the waterpark, and we picnic there regularly. We visit Dunbar Community Centre and the grassy areas, take walks through Pacific Spirit Park, and make trips to Dunbar Library to borrow books. We also enjoy drinks at Perchance and take the kids to Dairy Queen for a treat on hot summer days. Dunbar is a closeknit community. I feel very fortunate to practice here.”

Dunbar Family Dental

4210 Dunbar Street

Vancouver, BC V6S 2E9

Phone 604-733-1616

www.dunbarfamilydental.com

Story by Sarah Gordon. Photos by Sandra Steier Photography. April 2023.