Let's Meet Douglas Lobb

Dr. Douglas Lobb, a general dentist and clinical professor, has developed a keen sense of service to his profession and the community, including experience with both urban and isolated communities. Dr. Lobb’s passion for lifelong learning has allowed him to pursue excellence in dentistry through extensive training. His interest in education has enabled him to impart this knowledge and skills to future generations of dentists while teaching at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Mike Petryk School of Dentistry.

Professor Lobb's expertise in clinical research on intravenous dental sedation is significant and transformative. His collaboration with Dr. Hollis Lai has resulted in four groundbreaking clinical research studies, three of which have been published in the prestigious Korean Journal of Dental Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, creating a substantial and lasting impact in this field of dental healthcare.

Dr. Lobb is recognized as an expert in Target Controlled Infusion pump administration, thanks to extensive training in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

Why did you decide to teach at the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry?

In 2011, Dr. Bernie Linke, a prosthodontist and chair of the restorative department, invited me to join the School of Dentistry's Comprehensive Care Dentistry Clinic. Dr. Linke and I have known each other since dental school when it was the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Alberta. We also served together on the Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics Board. 

I have had the opportunity to teach in both the SIM Lab and the Kaye Clinic with third- and fourth-year dental students.

One of my key responsibilities is to teach and oversee students' restorative care and fixed prosthodontics. I am particularly proud of my collaborative role in establishing the CAD/CAM program with Drs. Stefanie Rau and Ysidora Torrealba. Although it is still a work in progress, this initiative is crucial and indispensable for exposing students to an advanced level of care, especially given the school's emphasis on digital dentistry.

What do you like best about the school?

I have enjoyed the interaction with the dental students and clinical instructors.

I have had the opportunity in my career to learn from some of the master-level dental restorative educators worldwide, and this provides a unique chance to demonstrate and discuss different ideas and treatments that can supplement the students’ core curriculum.

It is important to have the opportunity to conduct clinical research as a part-time instructor. The research on using advanced AI-driven infusion pumps with short-onset and short-offset drugs will lead to foundational changes in dental sedation as this technology gains acceptance among dental colleges in Canada. Part of our clinical research was conducted in New Zealand, where this form of sedation was pioneered. The relationship between Alberta and New Zealand has been significant and profound, enhancing the University of Alberta Dental School’s reputation worldwide in this unique area of dental treatment.