Dr. Anand Choubal The emotional toll surprised him almost as much as the physical recovery. Later, physicians told him he was experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. “I didn’t think something like that could happen from surgery,” he says. “But you go through depression. You go through loneliness. You’re stuck at home and you can’t do the things you used to do.” Yet the experience also transformed how he views life. “Every day is precious,” he says. “I enjoy waking up every morning.” Dr. Choubal no longer practises in Banff, so Mott makes the trip to Calgary for his dental care. Mott says he has found a practitioner he trusts completely. “I told him the other day, I don’t care if you’re hours away,” Mott says. “I’ll take the day off and come and see you. I know I’m in good hands.” More Than Just Teeth For 20 years, Dr. Choubal has taken Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) courses, required for IV sedation certification in Canada. For the past 7 years, he has been a Heart and Stroke Foundation-certified ACLS instructor. “Teaching the course annually has likely been the biggest factor in sharpening my ability to detect medical problems and identify Melvin’s cardiac issues,” he says. Mott’s case is unusual, but it is not unique. Since that time, Dr. Choubal has encountered several serious medical emergencies in the dental office. One patient seeking treatment for an infected third molar began showing signs of septic shock during a consultation. “He started becoming incoherent,” Dr. Choubal says. “His blood pressure, oxygen and heart rate were all highly abnormal.” Recognizing the danger, he immediately called emergency services, who treated him with intravenous antibiotics in the ambulance. On another occasion, a young woman arrived for a third molar consultation and suffered a seizure in the dental chair, dislocating both her shoulder and hip. Emergency crews transported her to hospital for treatment. Experiences like these have reinforced Dr. Choubal’s belief that dentists can often be the first health care professionals to spot signs of broader medical problems. “Sometimes people come in for a tooth problem and what’s really happening is something bigger,” he says. A Different Future The first time Mott saw Dr. Choubal after his heart surgery, emotions got the better of him. “It was tough,” he says. “I thanked him. I told him what the doctors had said.” Years later, the gratitude remains. “I can’t express how grateful I am to Dr. Choubal,” he says. “He saved my life.” Dr. Choubal, for his part, tends to downplay his role. “I did what any dentist would do, I think,” he says. “I had a bad feeling and so I acted as if it was the worstcase scenario.” But Mott sees it differently. “He genuinely cares,” he says. “And that made all the difference.” In the years since his heart attack and bypass surgery, Mott has made it something of a personal mission to share the story. He has contacted local newspapers, radio stations and professional organizations, hoping someone would tell his story. “I really think Dr. Choubal should get recognition,” Mott says. “He’s a very humble man, but people should know what happened.” He hopes the story serves as a reminder that dentists are healthcare professionals whose observations can sometimes have life-saving consequences. “When somebody saves your life, that’s a good story,” Mott says. “People need a story that makes them smile for a change.” We love to hear from our readers. This story was submitted to CDA Essentials. Please send us any articles, editorials, commentaries or opinion pieces and we will review and consider your submission for publication. Email: publications@cda-adc.ca 26 | 2026 | Issue 4 Issues and People
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