Background

Personal Profile

Dentistry, for me, has always been more than a profession. It’s a craft that blends science, precision, and deep human connection. My journey began at McMaster University and continued at the University of British Columbia, where I earned my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 2017 and received the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry award for excellence in patient care. I later completed a General Practice Residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where I deepened my skills across surgical and hospital-based dentistry.

Over the years, I’ve practiced in a wide range of settings—from boutique private practices to nonprofit community clinics like COOL aid in Victoria, BC or CODE in Nanaimo, BC, and specialized environments such as the BC Cancer Agency. This diversity has shaped my core values as a clinician: to provide ethical, gentle, and deeply personalized care, no matter where I practice or who’s in my chair.

Teaching is another part of my calling. I’ve served on faculty at UBC Dentistry, where I was proud to receive a 2023 DMD Teaching Award, and I’ve also contributed to the Dental Hygiene Program at Vancouver Island University. Teaching continues to be a meaningful part of my professional life, and I remain open to future opportunities to mentor and share knowledge.

I’m also actively pursuing advanced education in general, restorative and biomimetic dentistry to ensure I continue to offer care grounded in both evidence and empathy.

Above all, I believe in listening. In treating people—not just teeth. In creating a calm, honest, and thoughtful space where you feel truly seen.

Whether you’re seeking a second opinion, complex treatment, or simply a new kind of dental experience—I’m honored to be part of your journey toward health and confidence.

Let’s Connect

Selfie portrait of Dr. Noor N. Ay Toghlo, smiling kind warm gentle dentist, wearing a scrubs figs in a professional setting.

27n is my favorite rubber dam clamp for upper molars.. never fails me 💕 i believe it is actually a premolar clamp but u love who u love.. 27n is perfect for me 2nd molars... try it next time
جرب ودعيلي 😆✨️

i am having lots of fun playing with @exocadofficial at 2 am in the morning... thank u @themodinstitute for making something as daunting as exocad so accessible and easy to digest 😎🧠👾🦷✨️ if u can make a denture on exocad.. u can do anything 🤓👍🏼

I really thought I could cut down my file-fracture rate by being extra disciplined with my glide path + always flaring the coronal third with an @dentsplysirona.canada SX.

It does help:
- better irrigation
- easier Ca(OH)₂ placement
- smoother shaping

fewer surprises…

Well… until this case. 😅

Because in this recent case an SX BROKE in a 36 distal canal.

So yes… we had a little complication.

Took two PAs (straight + mesial angle).
Applied the classic SLOB rule:
Same = lingual
Opposite = buccal

→ Fragment was distal, so likely DB.

I couldn’t even see the fragment clinically, so I:
tried to bypass (and honestly, I think I actually did)
irrigated like my life depended on it
ultrasonics + activator
literally every trick in the book

At one point I grabbed the intraoral camera and my assistant pointed at a speck and said “there!”.. I was like: “That’s MESIAL. Why would it go THERE now :(((("

At that moment I accepted defeat, planned to place Ultracal + temporize, took a final PA and…

the fragment was GONE.

Just. Not. There.

No shadow, no metal, no nada.

I will never know when it flushed out but honestly?
I’ll take the win. 😂

Endodontics keeps you humble.

Welcome to my new series that I’m trying to work on called “What the f* do I do when I get stuck in dentistry?” 😰😫😱

Did you know you can scan everything you can think of with your Medit i700??? @meditcompany @medit.na

Did you????

I didn’t think so. 🤭

Let me tell you — OMG — hear me out.

In this fully de-identified digital workflow example, the goal was to upgrade an acrylic partial to a cast partial. The aesthetics of the existing denture teeth were working well, so I wanted to scan that information for the lab. I also needed to capture the bite. AND I wanted to scan the older cast partial because its design actually worked better than a newer version that didn’t extend all the way to the back of the palate..

When the palatal strap sits too far anteriorly, food gets trapped in the roof of the mouth. When it extends more posteriorly, food doesn’t collect. So I wanted to capture the exact palatal strap placement from the really old cast partial.

BUT my Medit was NOT doing that cute song on the acrylic partial. 🫠

It wouldn’t recognize it.
It wouldn’t mount it.
It said: “No <3.”

LIGHT. BULB. 💡✨️

If you ever get stuck here… take a breath… grab some light-body PVS and do almost like a pickup impression (if that’s even the right term). Do a light body wash inside the denture — that’s the yellow in the photos.

NOW the scanner can pin the scans together — as long as each part is scanned in the correct stage within Medit’s Stage Management workflow, AND there’s enough overlapping geometry for the software to recognize what goes where.

It worked right away. 😎

The minute I did that, the software got a WAY better bite and I was able to get all the information I needed.

Also: don’t forget CAD/CAM spray when scanning shiny metal like the old cast partial.

Digital dentistry is half science, half chaos, half problem-solving.

Yes, that’s three halves.

Welcome to my brain.

This #27 actually kept me up the night before the appointment. Limited access, an anxious patient, and an upper second molar with anatomy that I knew was going to test every bit of finesse I had.

Tight canals, tricky orientation — honestly, God bless the ProTaper SX for helping open offices I could barely visualize. I spent a long time searching for an MB2, and I’m confident it wasn’t present here. And while CBCT is always helpful, thoughtful molar endo can still be performed safely and predictably with careful tactile sense and sound judgment.

Despite the mental load (and my brain running every possible “what if” scenario at 3 a.m.), the appointment itself was calm, deliberate, and very satisfying. There is always room to refine technique, but I’m genuinely proud of the process, the execution, and the growth.

And I’m grateful to my patient, who pushed through a very challenging appointment with patience and trust.

Molar endo is a different beast — and I really do love it. 🦷✨

And honestly? Every time I see associate ads that say “must be comfortable with molar endo,” I feel a tiny spark of pride now. Still lots to learn — as always — but at least I can finally say: okay… maybe I can apply to those now 😂.

Sometimes the most rewarding work isn’t complex—it’s careful.

A simple 36MO composite, done slowly, with intention. This time the shade match was great 👌🏽💕

Mastering the basics is what everything else is built on 😊

lots of love,

Noor

25 RCT today — single canal, smooth shaping, and honestly everything went great… except the sealer puff that decided to show off on the PA.

I used Ribbon Root Canal Sealer @dentsplysirona.canada — the epoxy-amine resin one that mixes like butter and seals like a dream ✨️ Low shrinkage, self-adhesive, radiopaque — all the good stuff.

The fill looks dense, the patient’s comfortable… but that puff has me second-guessing how “perfect” perfect really needs to be.

Perhaps I slightly overinstrumented?

Some call it a badge of completeness — others call it a mild apical irritation waiting to happen. The literature’s split:

▪️ Martins 2023 found that controlled extrusion of epoxy resin sealer didn’t really affect healing outcomes (PMID 37516239).

▪️ Álvarez-Vásquez 2024 cautioned that freshly mixed epoxy-amines can be cytotoxic if they cross the apex (Dent Med Probl 61(2): 279–289).

▪️ And while Ferreira 2022 showed strong dentin adhesion with these sealers (PMCID PMC9689282), it’s that same flow and bond that sometimes lets them sneak past the finish line.

So yeah — clinically I’m happy, radiographically I’m… humbled.

What’s your take? A clean sealer puff with a resin sealer like Ribbon — harmless flex or something to rein in next time? Ideally a bioceramic sealer I imagine.

#Endodontics #ResinSealer #RibbonSealer #RCT #RootCanalTherapy #DentalCommunity

🤓✨️��➰️ my occlusal access was too small for my comp packer 😮‍💨😅 but otherwise not bad not bad 👌🏽😊

i need to work on my shade matching... honestly i just use whatever the CDA hands me, which isn’t always a bad thing—it’s almost always A2 anyway 😂 but every now and then i’m like okay, let’s actually shade match for real this time.

i do fine when i try, but i’ll admit i’ve gotten a little too comfortable. i tell myself it’s better for the next dentist anyway—easier to scan margins, easier to remove resin later. and let’s be honest... no one’s really going to notice if your 16DOLB is a shade brighter than the rest of the mouth 😅 (and if they are, hi 👋 welcome to my gallery of minor regrets.)

but i do wanna get better. we touched on staining and layering briefly at @bcdentalstudyclub’s biomimetic course, and it honestly made me want to dive deeper. i just need to figure out how to make it part of my regular flow without slowing everything down.

i love clinical dentistry—it’s stressful and chaotic and still somehow the best part of my day.

thank u God 💕✨️👍🏼🙏🏼

🦷 37 Root Canal Case

During the cone fit radiograph, we noticed a small radiopaque speck near the MB canal orifice — looks suspiciously like a tiny file tip 🤔 (less than 1 mm). Everything was measured properly, so I’m not sure what it is, but always interesting to see!..

Irrigation went beautifully and obturation filled some nice lateral canals ✨

Overall, I’d rate this one a 7.85/10 — solid case, but always room to improve.

If you have thoughts about that radiopaque spot, please drop a comment — this is how we all get better together 🤗🙏🏼

#endodontics #rootcanaltreatment #dentistry #dentaleducation #rct #learningdentistrytogether

boom 💥 2 lateral canals 👌🏽😙
obturation used to be THE worst for me.. u gotta pump that GP 🤓 thank u @drsoniachopra and @drbrettgilbert for making me a better clinician 🔥✨️

🦷 Case: 36 with irreversible pulpitis. After caries excavation, I placed Ultracal + PTFE in the chamber, restored the distal wall, and sealed the occlusal with Cavit. Looks like a 4-canal RCT ahead. Stay tuned..

💡 Matrix tip for those deep D boxes:

Use a thick, sturdy matrix (not dead soft) so it doesn’t collapse under pressure.

Wedge firmly — sometimes I’ll wrap the wedge in Teflon or add tiny PTFE plugs in the DB/DL corners to help seal the line angles. Pre-wedging can be helpful but I always forget..

Once the ring is on, burnish the heck out of it for a tight seal.

Don’t be afraid to try multiple bands — today it took me 6–7 before one sat right.

If the teeth are tight, a quick pass with a flame bur at the gingival margin can create just enough clearance for the band.

These cases take patience and persistence. It’s not about being a hero — just step by step, stubborn attention to seal, and a sturdy matrix. Hard mode, but doable 😅

pretty happy with this RCT.. could we have instrumented that second canal? not sure 😕 but I got sealer in there 😅🤓 pretty cool case this morning ✨️🔥👍🏼
comments? 🤗😙

RCT A-
fill could have been better this is a solid B+
overall: one happy visit ☺️
comments? 🤓

tuff cases today 😵‍💫😝 this was my 9 am case ✨️✌🏼 PIECE OF CAKE 🎂✨️👍🏼 will come back for RCT.. mesial and distal roots are however, not a piece of cake 😳😩 stay tuned 📻

used @gcamericainc fuji 2 LC 🔥

thank u, @drsoniachopra for teaching me about apical gauging, I had a feeling the apex was wide open... I tried different files to get a feel of the apex, then I briefly instrumented the coronal third mostly and took GP down until I got tugback, trimmed it and boom first PA right to working length, while obturating the existing fill came out (glad it did) and we did a new resto and now waiting on crown predetermination 🩵🥰 i even got a lil of that lateral canal 🔥 thank u dr sonia 😍✨️

i struggled with the burs during this appointment
mid-prep my diamond bur shed its coat — so dramatic

Fun case this morning 🩵
Caries Removal 🔥
DME with Shofu 🤔
37M restored with Filtek Z250 😌
Pulpectomy 👀
Cavit ✌🏼
Patient said that was the best dental experience he had... will come back in few weeks for f/u and final RCT 🙏🏼
It was a very fun appointment 😍👌🏽🌶✨️
Thanks for tuning in 😊

Sometimes you picture a treatment plan that would be so elegant ✨—like in this case, where I envisioned a 35(36)37 bridge after retreatment of 37. In my mind, it would have been such a lovely solution..

After talking through the pros and cons, they ultimately chose to go ahead with a single 35 PFZ crown instead of a bridge.

As much as I might lean toward one option clinically, dentistry is also about partnership and respecting patient choice 🦷💬. My role is to inform, guide, and support—never to dictate.

Have a great day 🐚🩵🌊✨️

Some teeth don’t like to play fair. 🦷 This #45 was rotated and the access threw me off—I thought I had it, but I ended up with a perforation. Not ideal. Instead of letting that defeat me, I stayed with the case.

The pulp was necrotic, the patient had symptomatic periapical periodontitis, and they needed help. I found the canal, worked to length (24 mm), instrumented, and obturated without further issue. For the perf, I first sealed with Teflon, obturated, removed Teflon, then repaired with DIA Root Repair (MTA), restored with Shofu flowable + Filtek Z250.

Could I have done it differently? Sure. But in dentistry, perfection isn’t always possible—professionalism is. What matters is meeting complications with problem-solving, not shame. This case reminded me that being a dentist isn’t about never slipping; it’s about how you steady your hand after.

life happens 🙃 have a blessed day 👍🏼

✨️🩵🐚🌊🦷🥰

#endodontics #resilienceindentistry #dentistryunfiltered #perforation #perforationrepair

some appointments are just… heavy 😫 this was one of them. it amazes me how much a patient’s mood can ripple into my own hands. stress does more than make you tense—it can disrupt fine motor skills, narrow your focus, and make even simple steps feel harder.

studies show stress and anxiety can directly impair fine motor control in dental procedures [1], and that patient anxiety itself heightens perceived pain and complicates care [2].

today, we all did our best (the patient included) and the result was satisfactory. but it’s a quiet reminder: mental health isn’t just background noise. the hands, the atmosphere in the room, and the minds in it all matter... it really does 🩵

hope you had a better day ✨️✌🏼🦷🌊🐚✨️

[1] PMC, 2025 – “Dental Anxiety and Manual Performance in Students”
[2] Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 2025 – “Impact of Emotions on Dental Anxiety”

patient presents with a 36 ML cusp fracture, tooth is vital, we struggled with xrays a bit as you can tell, super nice patient, we elected to do a complex restoration for now, he declined an indirect restoration at our office and wants to get a CEREC same day crown as he travels a lot... patient was referred for 36 CEREC 🩵🐚🌊✨️ I PURPOSELY CHOSE THE WRONG SHADE 😆 its so whomever is doing the crown prep can tell whats tooth and what's resin 👀 had to do the filling in stages to get the best contour... it was fun ✨️👍🏼🦷💯🔥
thank u @dr.karangulati for ur help 🙏🏼😍

31 done in 20 nice puff, nice vibes. if only every RCT was this dreamy 🦷✨️

very calcified canal, i see someone else struggled with 36, 35 wasn't any easier, but we did it 🤓 i think i could do even better but i like documenting my endo progress... WL was 20.5mm, pt had a very hard time taking xrays 😩 but we did it 💪🏼

i am starting to like endo more and more.. 😅🦷🏝🐚🦪✨️

I am learning to enjoy endodontics a little more now, I followed @i_love_the_pulp's protocol, I even cut the GP the way he does, I put a lot of love and efficiency into this 14 RCT.

A little history about this case, patient came in into the clinic and saw previous dentist for facial swelling and pain, they did a 15 RCT and that did not resolve the symptoms.

I inherited the case and did my own testing (cold test, percussion and some intuition..) decided that 14 is the culprit and I need to access the tooth and perform an O&D at least to get her out of pain.

I had a diagnosis in my mind, necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis 🤓 .. lets see 😅

I opened the tooth and the necrotic smell came out right away and the tissue looked necrotic and there was no heme which indicates that this tissue is def necrotic or in that zombie stage..

I removed the infected tissue, instrumented with wave one primary, WL was 18mm B and 19mm P in hindsight I would have instrumnted 0.5mm away from apex to minimize sealer puff, I mean I like a good sealer puff but is it good? the literature is mixed on that..

anyways I followed the incredible @i_love_the_pulp's protocol and I feel like I did a good job this Saturday...

Have a blessed long weekend ✨️🩵🏝🐚🦪🦀

this is where my savings go... to heat things up a lil ✨🤓🦷

SO excited to try out my new @bryantdental C-Flo Pro clinical HEATER 🔥 and honestly? It’s giving nerd joy.

💉 You can warm your local anaesthetic to 39°C — which studies show reduces injection discomfort by desensitizing nerve fibers and lowering the viscosity of the solution, making it smoother and less painful for patients 👏🏼

🧼 You can also heat up your NaOCl (sodium hypochlorite) to 45°C to boost its tissue-dissolving ability and increase its penetration in lateral canals — basically making endo a whole lot more effective 🧪🧠

🌡️ And yes — you can warm your composite up to 68°C for better flow, adaptation, and stronger marginal seal. Warmer composite = fewer voids + better wetting. Yes please.

No, they didn’t pay me — I’m just sharing because I’m hyped and wanted to brag a little. I’ll report back after a few clinical cases 😏🦷

#bryantdental #cflopro #compositeheater

#45 biomimetic e-max onlay prep 🩵 my first attempt following the @bcdentalstudyclub biomimetic course with @dr_mattnejad 🤓✨️🦷 IDS, biobase and sand blasted, temporized with @henryscheincan's MAXITEMP #biomimeticdentistry #onaly #emax #getbondedstaybonded

not every case is perfect — but i always give it my all.

deep caries on #15 with reversible pulpitis and interproximal involvement on #14D.

performed gross caries removal and disinfected the pulpal floor with chlorhexidine.

used Calcimol LC (VOCO) as an indirect pulp cap, then restored with Filtek Supreme Ultra (packable + flowable) via incremental layering.

post-op BW shows a less-than-ideal margin on #15 — and contact was a bit high. definitely a bummer. but I’m learning, growing, and keeping it real.. my principal dentist is buying me electric handpieces soon so that’s a win.

any feedback is appreciated! ✨️💜🦷

new office.. new challenges 💪🏼✨️ #restorativedentist

Sometimes you have to put on your big girl pants and tackle the tough ones! 💪 A patient in his late 40s came into the community clinic with swelling and pus draining from a decaying molar (47). We discussed his situation and agreed extraction was necessary. After 47 was out, I spotted its neighbor – a horizontally impacted wisdom tooth (48) – also draining pus. Given the active infection, I figured the bone might be more cooperative, and sure enough, 48 came out too! I usually steer clear of complex wisdom teeth, but this one definitely had to go to resolve the infection. Glad we could help!

#communityfirst #volunteerdentist #wisdomtoothextraction

I tried to tell them to go for gold so their lower crowns match but they requested a zirconia crown :) #restorativedentist

Post-ortho puzzle! Now that the brackets are off, we're left with white spot lesions/decalcification to tackle. Patient presented with these lesions around brackets after orthodontic treatment, and as we plan the restoration, I'd love to hear your thoughts on when to use @DMGdental resin infiltration versus traditional buccal restoration with a bevel. 🤔

Resin infiltration has been shown to be an effective treatment for white spot lesions, with studies demonstrating its ability to halt lesion progression and improve aesthetics (1). However, in cases where the lesions are more extensive or have progressed to cavitation, a traditional restoration may be necessary (2).

When deciding between these two approaches, I consider factors such as lesion severity, patient aesthetics, and long-term prognosis. But I'd love to hear from you - what are your criteria for choosing between resin infiltration and traditional restoration? Share your insights! 💬

Sources:

(1) Meyer-Lueckel, H., & Paris, S. (2008). Improved resin infiltration of natural caries lesions. Journal of Dental Research, 87(12), 1112-1116. (This study investigates the effectiveness of resin infiltration in treating white spot lesions.)

(2) Pretty, I. A., & Ellwood, R. P. (2013). The caries continuum: a review of the evidence. Journal of Dental Research, 92(4), 339-346. (This review article discusses the progression of caries lesions and the various treatment options available, including resin infiltration and traditional restoration.)

#orthodontics #restorative #whitespotlesions #decalcification #resininfiltration #dentalrestoration #dentistry

challenging case 😳 patient opted for a full gold crown (FGC), but personally, I'd have leaned towards Zirconia as a full-coverage indirect restoration. Zirconia has demonstrated promising biocompatibility with gingival tissues (1). Furthermore, studies have shown its favorable wear characteristics against opposing dentition (2). While FGCs are a time-tested option known for their excellent strength and longevity (3), the aesthetic potential and tissue response of zirconia are often compelling.

What are your thoughts on choosing between Zirconia and FGCs in this scenario? Share your insights! 💬

Sources:

(1) Scarano, A., Piattelli, M., Iezzi, G., Mangano, C., Szmukler-Monclard, M., & Piattelli, A. (2004). Bone response to zirconia implants: a histological and histomorphometrical study in rabbits. Journal of Oral Implantology, 30(1), 8-12. (While this study focuses on implants, zirconia's general biocompatibility is a well-established property relevant to crown margins and soft tissue interaction.)

(2) Preis, V., Schneider-Feyrer, S., Gilde, H., & Strub, J. R. (2015). Wear performance of monolithic zirconia crowns in vitro. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 113(6), 534-540. (This study investigates the wear properties of monolithic zirconia, a common type used for crowns.)

(3) McLean, J. W. (1998). Limitations of posterior composites and extended amalgams. Dental Clinics of North America, 42(3), 433-449. (While older, this article discusses the historical advantages of cast gold restorations, including their durability and marginal integrity, which are still relevant considerations.)

#dentistry #zirconia #FGC #biocompatibility #wearresistance #dentalmaterials

1) pre op 2) #frenectomy performed with diode laser 💥⚡️3) 4 week f/u 4) 8 week f/u 💕👌🏽

15 CEREC Emax with distal RPD rest seat, a gingivectomy was performed with a diode laser. Very difficult appointment with lots of hiccups but the outcome was great.

would you have done crown lengthening? 🦷 i would have smoothed 25M 🥲 #dentistlife

15D restored with Fuji II LC after a gingivectomy with a diode laser⚡️16 restored with an Emax CEREC crown ✨️🩵 excuse my poor split dam 🙈

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

@drnoordmd

Education

2018-Present

Ongoing Continuing Education in General, Restorative and Biomimetic Dentistry

I am currently engaged in advanced continuing education programs in biomimetic and restorative dentistry, with a focus on aesthetic outcomes, long-term function, and tooth-conserving techniques. These courses combine immersive hands-on training, international mentorship, and evidence-based education. I remain committed to completing comprehensive clinical documentation and assessments, and to staying at the forefront of restorative innovation through ongoing professional development.

2009-2013

McMaster University,
Faculty of Science

My academic journey began at McMaster University – always a Marauder at heart – where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology. My time there was significantly enriched by engaging in research, an experience recognized with a research grant and multiple academic awards. This early immersion in scientific inquiry deepened my passion for both science and education, setting the foundation for my path forward.

2013-2017

University of British Columbia,
Faculty of Dentistry

My experience at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Dentistry was incredibly rewarding and transformative. Throughout my studies, I was fortunate to receive several awards, including recognition for my work in pediatric care and community involvement, highlighting a commitment to making a positive impact. I also discovered a strong passion for teaching, which inspired me to give back to UBC after graduating. Most recently, I was honored to receive a teaching award, showcasing dedication to nurturing the next generation of dental professionals.

2017-2018

Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
Montefiore Medical Center

My General Practice Residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, offered intensive, practical training. I gained extensive hands-on surgical experience, which greatly developed my proficiency in complex dental procedures and refined my strategies for patient care. The experience of collaborating within a large hospital's multidisciplinary team was also incredibly valuable. Ultimately, this residency equipped me with the advanced clinical skills and judgment essential for providing thorough general dental care.