About Apple Dental Specialists

I grew up watching my father in his practice of medicine and he became my first inspiration to pursue a career in healthcare. I graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS/DDS) degree in Pakistan in 2008 and continued with specialty training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery which finished in 2014. I grew more passionate about helping people during my training which focused on facial trauma, cleft lip, and palate surgeries and oral cancers. Currently, I am registered as a General Dentist in Canada with interest in implant dentistry and dental surgical procedures. I cherish the opportunity of making a positive impact in my patient’s lives that this career allows me.

I am the most passionate about providing children in need with a supportive environment to flourish in. I actively support the SOS Children’s Village, which is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides humanitarian and developmental assistance, to orphaned children, across the globe. (https://www.soschildrensvillages.ca/) In addition, I love finding out and supporting initiatives in this area by organisations like BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and Hope and Healing.

In my free time, I love to spend time with my family, try out new recipes, read, write, and engage in outdoor activities. See my adventures here: Ali M (@aj_mehd1) • Instagram photos and videos

I maintain membership status with multiple professional associations including BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP), British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA), Doctors without Borders, Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Pakistan.

Born in Parma, Italy, Dr. Ahmed Ballo has spent the past two decades studying, working, and travelling across continents, establishing himself as a distinguished figure in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry. A surgically trained prosthodontist, Dr. Ballo has maintained a thriving clinical presence across multiple practices in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. He has also contributed significantly to academia as a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Dentistry.

Dr. Ballo currently serves as the Chairman of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) Canada Section. He is a Board-Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics in Canada and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology.

Dr. Ballo began his dental career by earning his BDS degree from Garyounis University. After several successful years in private practice, he pursued postgraduate studies in Finland, where he completed his PhD and clinical training in implantology as an ITI Scholar at the University of Turku, Finland, in 2008. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden (2008–2012), where he was also awarded the European Doctoral Award in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. He also completed his specialty program in Advanced Prosthodontics with a master’s degree at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

A respected ITI Fellow and Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Dr. Ballo is a widely published clinician and educator. He has authored over 50 scientific articles and book chapters, as well as a textbook on implant dentistry and related research. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous prestigious awards and honors, cementing his reputation as a global leader in prosthodontics and implantology.

Dr. Hamidreza Shirbani completed his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the School of Dental Medicine at Tehran Azad University in 1996 and practiced dentistry for ten years. He then obtained a Masters of Science Degree in Periodontics whilst he held an Assistant Professor position at the Shiraz University for six years prior to immigrating to Canada. He completed the Dental Board Examination in Canada in 2016. After becoming a certified general dentist he began his practice as an associate general dentist in two offices in Burnaby and Coquitlam.

Dr. Shirbani is dedicated to maintaining high quality standards and also values patient satisfaction when it comes to providing any dental treatment. In the course of his career he has maintained interest in periodontal treatment, implant and family dentistry.

I began my journey in dentistry in 2005, earning my Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and later completing a board-certified specialty in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Iran. With over 13 years of experience in oral surgery and 7 years in general dentistry, I have performed a wide range of procedures including wisdom tooth extractions, implant placement, bone grafting, and trauma management.

Currently, I am a licensed General Dentist in Canada and a faculty member at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Dentistry. I supervise dental students in the Oral Surgery Clinic, supporting their hands-on training and surgical development.

My clinical practice in Canada focuses on general and surgical dentistry, particularly implant dentistry and minor oral surgery.

Outside of clinical work, I enjoy teaching, mentoring, and staying active in academic and professional communities. I am a member of the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP), the British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA), and the Iranian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.