Mott expected a straightforward solution to his bad tooth. But Dr. Choubal saw something more concerning. Melvin Mott (above) credits his dentist, Dr. Anand Choubal, with helping to identify symptoms of serious coronary issues. My Dentist Saved My Life When Melvin Mott walked into a Banff, Alberta, dental office in the summer of 2021, he thought he just needed a tooth pulled. Instead, he got a second chance at life. Mott is a longtime Banff resident who has worked in the hospitality industry for decades. Originally from Brandon, Manitoba, he moved west and built a career in hotels across Western Canada. Dr. Choubal is a second-generation dentist originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He worked as a clinical instructor and in private practice before relocating to Banff in 2006. He is known for his patient-centred approach to care, particularly for patients with dental anxiety, and has a special interest in sedation dentistry. Mott expected a straightforward solution to his bad tooth. But Dr. Choubal saw something more concerning. As part of his examination, Dr. Choubal reviewed Mott’s medical history and learned that he had suffered a stroke earlier that year. Then he began asking more questions. “He said that from the left side, the molar had pain that was going down his jaw,” says Dr. Choubal. “I’ve seen that. That’s not totally uncommon.” But the conversation continued. “I thought it was a tooth in the back of my mouth,” says Mott. “It was really bothering me. It was painful.” The pain had started on the left side of his jaw and radiated downward. Like many people with dental pain, he searched online for a local dentist and booked an appointment with Dr. Anand Choubal. 24 | 2026 | Issue 4 Issues and People
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