Celebrating 50 years of the dental general practice residency program

Since its inception, the dental general practice residency (GPR) program has built on recent dentistry graduates' education. GPR is a one-year postgraduate residency that demands commitment exceeding undergraduate training. Residents provide essential care for patients whose care may be beyond the offerings of a standard oral health office. The program’s history dates back to 1976, originating at the University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) Dental Clinic, with its first resident being Dr. Sandy Krause, DDS '74, Residency '76. From there, the program has grown over the years.

Expanding the care offered to the public

GPR functions as the hub for complex cases referred from the various University of Alberta’s undergraduate teaching clinics. Under the mentorship of specialist teaching faculty, residents perform advanced procedures, filling the gap between general services and specialized care.

To further meet the evolving needs of our community, GPR has expanded beyond its original single-hospital site to include residents in the university’s Oral Health Clinic and at the Foothills Medical Clinic in Calgary, and additional rotations at other hospitals. GPR provides services to patients with complex systemic health issues, who frequently are not seen in community oral health practices for reasons such as systemic disease or disability. Residents are also critical support for supporting services including solid organ transplants, cardiothoracic surgery, hemophilia programs, and cleft lip and palate care. They also care for people living with special needs.

Building the program

GPR’s journey to a formal program took time. In its first two decades, GPR operated under hospital governance. Dr. Ken Gordon was the original Hospital Clinic and Residency Program Director, and early leaders such as Dr. Raj Arora, Dr. Wayne Raborn, and Dr. Tim McGaw were the initial stewards.

However, during Dr. Bill Preshing’s almost 30 years, the program became what it is known for today. When he took over in 1991, there was a team of one dentist, three residents and three registered dental assistants. From there, the program grew. Preshing states: “I am really proud of how the hospital dental service has evolved over the years. We’ve created a very special place here. For the majority of our patients, there is nowhere else for them to go because of their medical conditions.”

In 1998, Dr. G. Wayne Raborn, professor emeritus, successfully further formalized the program with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. This solidified GPR’s longevity. Today, this legacy continues under the leadership of Dr. John Hart (Edmonton) and Dr. Brad Fisher (Calgary), who oversee four residents in Edmonton and two in Calgary.

The residency experience

Residents do not merely work office hours; they provide weekend care at the University of Alberta Hospital. They also attend to urgent referrals from the emergency department and inpatient units as part of their on-call responsibilities. Patients are often seen after hours for management of dentoalveolar trauma, bleeding, infections, and clearance before cardiac surgery. Residents also complete intensive training to certify in IV sedation techniques.

A recent graduate noted that the hospital and oral surgery rotations were "extremely helpful in being prepared for an operating room environment," adding that the specific decision-making required for hospital dentistry "can really only be learned through experience." This immersive training allows residents to master diverse disciplines while operating within multidisciplinary medical teams. Preshing adds, “Dentists who complete the residency will never be intimidated by anything that presents to their clinic in the future.”

A lasting legacy

As GPR prepares to enter its second half-century, its mission remains the same: to treat those with complex systemic health issues. This program will continue to produce residents who are both technically proficient and medically informed. This ensures the University of Alberta remains at the forefront of oral health professional training.