Banff/Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): What began as a routine dental appointment for a painful tooth turned into a life-saving medical intervention after an Alberta dentist recognized that his patient’s symptoms pointed to a heart attack rather than a dental problem.
In the summer of 2021, Banff resident Melvin Mott visited Dr. Anand Choubal at Rocky Mountain Dental in Banff, believing he simply needed treatment for a painful molar. During the examination, however, Dr. Choubal identified symptoms that raised concerns about a possible cardiac emergency.
While reviewing Mott’s medical history, Dr. Choubal learned that he had recently suffered a stroke. As the consultation continued, Mott explained that the pain in his jaw was also radiating down both of his arms a classic warning sign that can be associated with a heart attack.
Although the damaged tooth required treatment, Dr. Choubal chose not to proceed with the dental procedure. Instead, he contacted the emergency department at Banff Hospital and urged that Mott receive immediate medical evaluation.
Hospital tests confirmed elevated troponin levels, indicating heart muscle damage. Physicians diagnosed Mott with a heart attack and arranged for his urgent transfer to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, where specialists discovered severe blockages in his coronary arteries. He underwent emergency cardiac treatment, including the placement of a coronary stent. According to Mott, members of his cardiology team later told him that Dr. Choubal’s timely clinical judgment and decision to refer him immediately to hospital likely saved his life.
Several months later, Mott returned to Dr. Choubal for the dental treatment that had originally brought him to the clinic. During the visit, he mentioned experiencing severe fatigue and shortness of breath while climbing stairs. Once again, Dr. Choubal advised him to postpone dental treatment and seek immediate cardiac assessment.
Further testing revealed that Mott’s coronary stents had become blocked, requiring coronary artery bypass surgery. Following the operation and rehabilitation, he made a successful recovery. Dr. Choubal, who has maintained Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification for more than 20 years and serves as a Heart and Stroke Foundation-certified ACLS instructor, said emergency medical training has strengthened his ability to recognize serious medical conditions that may first present in a dental office.
Now practising at Royal Oak Smiles in Calgary, Dr. Choubal believes dentists play an important role in overall healthcare by recognizing signs of systemic diseases that extend beyond oral health. Mott continues to travel from Banff to Calgary for his dental care with Dr. Choubal, saying the trust established during those critical moments remains unwavering.
The remarkable case highlights the important role dentists can play in identifying potentially life-threatening medical conditions and underscores the close connection between oral health and overall health. Health professionals advise anyone experiencing jaw pain accompanied by arm pain, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or other symptoms suggestive of a heart attack to seek immediate medical attention, as early diagnosis and treatment can save lives
