Search Website
DDS grad brings research lens to patient care
By Clarence Wang
Inspired by early experiences as a patient, Ahmed Abbas combined award-winning research with his clinical training
By Clarence Wang
At 7:30 a.m., while much of campus was still waking up, Ahmed Abbas could often be found in the dental clinic, reviewing charts and preparing for patients.
Abbas grew up in Scarborough, where dentistry was not part of his routine. He remembers going only when something hurt, like the time he chipped a tooth. Within minutes, the pain was gone and the damage repaired.
“It really opened my eyes,” he said.
He always knew he wanted a career in health care, but that moment made dentistry feel tangible.
My time here has helped shape the type of community member I hope to become.
DDS Class of 2026
Years later, as he graduates with a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Abbas says those early experiences continue to shape how he approaches patient care.
“Proper communication and education keep patients informed,” he said. “That is so important in maintaining the patient-dentist relationship.”
Before dental school, Abbas completed a Master of Science at York University. His thesis explored how older adults perceive their oral health and how that compares to their actual oral health status.
“Older adults often think their oral health is not good because they don’t have a perfect Hollywood smile,” he said.
At Schulich Dentistry, Abbas continued his research on the oral health of older adults. His project looked at how gum disease interacts with other conditions to shape someone’s overall aging experience.
In August 2025, he presented his work as part of the CDA/Dentsply Sirona Student Clinician Research Program, earning second place.
“It was an honour to represent Schulich Dentistry,” he said. “I felt great pride standing before Canadian leaders in the field and sharing the research being conducted here.”
Research also opened doors beyond the lab. As the president of the Canadian Association for Dental Research’s student research group, Abbas has been working to connect other dental researchers across the country.
He says collaboration across Canada’s dental schools can help unify research efforts and support the growth of Canadian dentistry.
Looking ahead, Abbas is pursuing hospital-based training at Sunnybrook Hospital to better care for medically complex patients – work that fits his research focus on older adults. Longer term, he hopes to teach other aspiring dentists.
“Coming back to teach at Schulich Dentistry would be the greatest honour,” he said.
For Abbas, that ambition has been shaped by the mentors he found at the School. “My time here has helped shape the type of community member I hope to become,” he said.
He hopes to make people feel listened to and cared for, whether a patient in the chair, a student he is mentoring, or a colleague on a project.
“The common thread connecting my roles is generosity,” he said. “The more you give to the people and communities around you, the more meaningful your work becomes.”