From Dubai to Peterborough: Dr. Vipin Grover Has Built a Dental Practice Rooted in Community
/By Scott Arnold
For Dr. Vipin Grover, Peterborough became home long before he ever imagined owning a dental practice here. More than 25 years after arriving in the city, that connection continues to shape the work he does and the team he has brought together at Horizon Family Dentistry.
Dr. Vipin Grover (back, centre) and the team at Horizon Family Dentistry, whose combined experience and specialized expertise have helped expand the dental care available to patients in Peterborough. (photo courtesy of horizon family dentistry)
Sometimes, the place you end up calling home is the place you never expected to find yourself.
For Dr. Vipin Grover, that place was Peterborough.
Born in India and raised in Dubai, Dr. Grover was 17 when his parents decided to immigrate to Canada. The family received its immigration approval in 1999, but waited until he completed Grade 12 and his brother finished his engineering degree before making the move.
On May 24th, 2000, the family arrived in Canada. Their first night was spent in Peterborough, where extended family welcomed them.
Dr. Grover had already applied to Trent University while still living in Dubai and had been accepted. What started as a visit to a city where family lived quickly became something much more permanent.
"We had cousins who lived in Peterborough and it was my cousin who's a psychiatrist in town. He basically was at the airport to pick us up and the first night we spent in Canada was in Peterborough."
The welcome they received made a lasting impression on the family, and Peterborough soon became home.
"My mom, my brother, myself, we all started enjoying Peterborough, my dad included. And I instantaneously chose Trent as my option to go for my undergrad degree."
Dr. Grover went on to complete his Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Trent University. It was during those university years that he began considering dentistry as a career.
Through his cousin, he was introduced to local physicians and members of the medical community who helped him understand the opportunities available in Canada.
"We were surrounded by a lot of local doctors who basically encouraged us and were very, very warm, very welcoming, and showed us a side that we've never seen before, the medical profession in Canada."
Those relationships helped point him toward dentistry. After completing his undergraduate degree, Dr. Grover applied to the University of Toronto and was accepted into its dental school.
Although Peterborough had already become home, his professional journey initially took him elsewhere in the region.
Dr. Vipin Grover and hist team can be reach at peterborough.horizonfamilydentistry.com
Building a Practice and Finding His Way Home
Dr. Grover began working in Lindsay, where he developed a strong connection with the patients and community. When the opportunity came to open his first practice, Lindsay felt like the natural choice.
In March 2011, Horizon Family Dentistry was established in Lindsay.
As the practice grew, another opportunity presented itself in Havelock. Dr. Grover eventually took over that office as well, giving him two locations on opposite sides of Peterborough while continuing to live in the city he had called home since 2000.
Then, in 2018, an opportunity arose that brought his professional journey full circle.
Dr. Doug Groves had operated a dental practice in Peterborough for more than 40 years and was preparing for retirement. Rather than simply closing that chapter, he was gracious enough to connect with Dr. Grover and consider him as the next person to carry the practice forward.
The transition was completed in early 2019, with Dr. Grover officially taking ownership of the Peterborough office around January or February.
It was an important opportunity to continue the work of an established local dentist while bringing his own experience and vision to the practice.
Dr. Doug Groves also remained involved for several years, serving as a mentor to Dr. Grover during the transition.
"Dr. Doug Groves was my mentor and he continued working with me for a few years after that."
For Dr. Grover, taking over an office with such a long history in Peterborough meant more than adding another location. It meant becoming part of a legacy built over four decades and continuing to serve the community that had welcomed his family years earlier.
new patients are being accepted at peterborough.horizonfamilydentistry.com/new-patients
A Team That Has Continued to Grow
Today, Horizon Family Dentistry in Peterborough has developed into a multidisciplinary practice, bringing together a team of dentists and specialists with different areas of expertise.
While the foundation remains family dentistry, the practice has expanded considerably beyond the everyday dental services that patients have traditionally relied on.
Dr. Grover has been fortunate to bring together experienced professionals, including Dr. John Grant, who joined the team approximately four years ago after establishing himself in the local dental community for more than 40 years.
Dr. Young Jin Cheon has also been part of the practice for approximately three years, bringing enthusiasm and a commitment to continued learning.
Another important addition was Dr. Natalie Wong, a prosthodontist who joined the team approximately two and a half years ago.
Her specialized training has helped expand what the practice can offer, particularly when it comes to more complex restorative procedures.
The team now has approximately five dentists working together, supported by visiting specialists who bring additional expertise into the office.
"We've actually extended our services quite significantly," Dr. Grover said.
That includes a full range of implant dentistry, alongside more complex procedures such as full-mouth rehabilitation and reconstruction using dental implants and porcelain teeth.
The practice also provides fillings, crowns, bridges, preventative dentistry, cleanings, scaling and root planing, routine X-rays and emergency dental services.
Root canal treatments are another area of focus, with a specialist visiting the office to provide care.
To further support its implant and surgical capabilities, Horizon Family Dentistry acquired a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine approximately two and a half years ago.
The technology provides detailed three-dimensional imaging, allowing the dental team to assess a patient's anatomy and plan implant procedures with a much more comprehensive understanding of the case before treatment begins.
For Dr. Grover, the ability to bring these services together under one roof comes back to the people who have helped build the practice.
"This is all thanks to the lovely team we've gathered over the years."
As part of Horizon Family Dentistry’s commitment to creating healthy habits, they do their best to make children’s dentistry fun and enjoyable, so that they’ll make regular care a priority as they grow into teenagers and then into adults.
Making Dental Care More Accessible for Those Who Need It Most
One of the more significant additions to Horizon Family Dentistry has been its ability to provide deeper sedation options, including general anesthesia for dental procedures.
Approximately a year and a half ago, Dr. Grover and Dr. Wong were introduced to Dr. Fabien Charbonneau, a medical anesthesiologist who previously practised at Halton Hills Hospital and now works with dental practices throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Charbonneau agreed to bring his expertise to Peterborough, travelling to the office to provide anesthesia services.
The addition has created another option for patients who might otherwise struggle to receive the dental treatment they need.
Whether it's children, adults with significant dental anxiety or patients requiring more extensive procedures, the ability to provide general anesthesia can make a considerable difference.
It also means patients who may have avoided dental care because of fear or anxiety have another avenue to explore.
Charbonneau's availability is limited because of his work with multiple clinics, so appointments requiring his services can involve a wait of a few months.
However, the practice continues to welcome new patients for its other dental services.
horizon family dentistry also offers emergency care for patients peterborough.horizonfamilydentistry.com/dental-emergencies
When Dental Pain Can't Wait
While the expanded capabilities are an important part of the practice's growth, Dr. Grover is also mindful of something much more immediate: dental emergencies.
Tooth pain and other dental problems can become incredibly uncomfortable, sometimes leaving people unsure where to turn or how quickly they can receive help.
Horizon Family Dentistry offers same-day emergency dental appointments, with the goal of getting patients assessed and providing initial treatment to help relieve their discomfort.
"We understand that dental emergencies and dentistry can be sort of sudden and it could be quite excruciating in its nature."
For someone dealing with significant pain, getting through the day can be difficult enough without worrying about how long it will take to see a dentist.
Dr. Grover encourages anyone experiencing dental pain or discomfort to call the office, even if they aren't an existing patient.
"If there is a patient or anybody in the community who is very sick because of a dental pain or is in any form of discomfort, please do give the office a call and we can get you in that day at the very least to at least get you seen, get some basic treatment done for you in the form of either medication or basic treatment to get you out of pain."
It's an important distinction: while more extensive procedures and sedation may require advance planning, the practice makes room for people who need help right away.
A team built on experience, collaboration and a shared commitment to patient care. Dr. Vipin Grover and the Horizon Family Dentistry team continue to grow what’s possible for dental care in Peterborough. (photo courtesy of horizon family dentistry)
