LOCAL LEGENDS: Dr. Ken Hamin: The Winnipeg dentist who turns smiles into life-changing stories

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A Dental Office That Feels Like the Future

When you walk into one of the three Westbrook Dental Group offices at 249 St. Mary’s Road, you feel like you are stepping into the future of dentistry. One of the key dentists is Dr. Ken Hamin, a dentist whose story began long before he ever picked up a dental tool. Today, he is known across Manitoba for his advanced technology, his caring approach, and his belief that dentistry is not just about fixing teeth — it’s about changing lives.

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A Childhood Built on Hard Work and Health Care

Dr. Hamin grew up in a medical family. His father was a pharmacist, and his mother was a nurse. As a young boy, he spent a lot of time helping out at his dad’s pharmacy. His father came up with clever ways to instill discipline and hard work in him. He told young Ken that he would earn one penny for every fly he caught in the pharmacy and another penny for every piece of gum he scraped off the floor. Most kids would hate that job, but Ken saw it as his first lesson in entrepreneurship — work hard, do it right, and take pride in it.

Childhood Dental Challenges Spark a Lifelong Calling

While other kids played, Ken spent many hours in dental chairs. He had no enamel on his baby teeth, which meant he needed a lot of dental care. Even though it was painful, it gave him a deep respect for dentists and showed him how crucial oral health really is.

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Choosing Dentistry With Purpose

During university, Dr. Ken studied science at the University of Manitoba. At first, he considered becoming a doctor. Still, after considering the long, unpredictable hours of a medical life, he decided dentistry offered a better family balance while still allowing him to help people. He completed one year of medical training and then a one-year residency in Saskatoon before fully committing to dentistry.

A Visionary’s First Clinic

In 2003, he opened his first dental office, called Reflections Dental. Right from the start, Dr. Hamin wanted to do things differently. At a time when many clinics still used older methods, he created a modern, safe, and forward-thinking practice. His office was latex-free, used no mercury fillings, and even treats all its water through reverse osmosis and distillation, making it incredibly clean. He also adopted digital X-rays, which use 90% less radiation than traditional X-rays.

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To ensure his office had the best of the best, he spent three full years interviewing dentists from across the country. He wanted to learn what worked, what didn’t, and what would make the most significant difference for patients. That mindset has led him to become one of the most advanced dentists in Manitoba.

In 2015, when he left Reflections Dental, his journey was far from over. Today, you will find him at Westbrook Dental Group, where his passion for cutting-edge dentistry continues.

Technology That Transforms Smiles

Walking into Westbrook Dental feels like entering a high-tech lab. The clinic uses a scanner that takes 10,000 photos per second, along with a 3D scanner that creates detailed models of teeth. These tools allow Dr. Hamin to design crowns, veneers, and treatment plans with fantastic accuracy. His digital X-rays are fast, clean, and incredibly safe.

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Training With the Best in the World

Dr. Hamin has travelled across North America for training. He completed cosmetic dentistry programs in Buffalo and Seattle, where he spent five years training at the KOIS Center — one of the top dental training facilities in the world. He also earned a Fellowship in Dentistry, showing his commitment to constant learning and excellence.

Smiles That Change Lives

But the heart of Dr. Hamin’s career isn’t just technology — it’s the stories of his patients.

One of his most memorable stories is about an international student who came to him hoping for veneers. Her teeth had always made her feel insecure, and she dreamed of smiling without fear. After Dr. Hamin straightened and restored her teeth, her confidence soared. She later moved to Toronto and became a professional model. Her life changed because someone cared enough to give her a smile she believed in.

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First Dentist in Winnipeg to Open on Sundays

Another story shows Dr. Hamin’s dedication to serving people when they need it most. He was the first dentist in Winnipeg to open on Sundays, and on the first Sunday morning, a truck driver walked in with terrible tooth pain. The driver was supposed to leave for Florida, but he couldn’t drive if he needed strong pain medication like Tylenol 3. Dr. Hamin fixed his tooth, and the man left pain-free, ready for the long journey ahead. Small actions like that show why Dr. Hamin believes in treating every patient like family.

His father taught him, “Do it right the first time, and treat people like family.” These words have guided him for his entire career. “We are not just in the dentistry business,” he says. “We are in the transformation business.”

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Today, Dr. Hamin offers services that go far beyond regular dental care. He treats sleep apnea, provides therapeutic Botox, and even uses a special dental laser called a Periolase — one of only two in the entire province. This laser sterilizes the area around the tooth and stimulates bone growth, making it a powerful tool for treating gum disease.

Teaching the Next Generation of Dentists

For more than 31 years, he has also been a clinical instructor, helping train over 950 dentists. Each year, he teaches around 30 new dentists, passing on his knowledge and encouraging excellence in dentistry. He also spends two days a month at the University of Manitoba Dental Clinic and two days a month in Oakbank, serving communities and helping students learn.

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One of the things Dr. Hamin is most passionate about is teaching kids and adults how crucial oral health is for overall health. Many people don’t know that poor oral health is linked to Alzheimer’s, dementia, and some cancers. To help prevent these problems, Dr. Hamin uses a Velscope, a special light that can detect signs of oral cancer early — a service offered by only a few clinics.

Simple Tips for Better Health

He often shares simple but powerful tips for better teeth and oral hygiene, including:

Brush before bed, every night

Do not smoke or vape

Limit soft drinks and energy drinks

Keep regular maintenance appointments

Dentistry With a Bigger Purpose

He explains that the mouth is the gateway to the entire body and that bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream. To help patients better understand their health, his clinic even offers saliva DNA testing, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease and other conditions.

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When patients ask which toothpaste to use, he often recommends Oxyfresh or other low-abrasion plain toothpastes, because many popular brands are too abrasive and can damage enamel.

When people ask Dr. Ken what he does, he says: “I help people keep their teeth and stay healthy.”

His forward-thinking attitude reflects one of his favourite leadership ideas. As John Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Dr. Hamin lives this out every day, learning the newest techniques, practicing them, and teaching others.

Your Best Smile Begins With a Single Call

If you want a dentist who looks beyond teeth and sees the whole person, who cares about your future health, and who believes that every smile has a story, Dr. Ken Hamin is the one to call.

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A life-changing smile is closer than you think. Reach out to Dr. Ken Hamin at Westbrook Dental Group, 249 St. Mary’s Road, where every visit is centred on compassion, technology, and transformation. To book your appointment, call (204) 694-1400 or visit westbrookdental.ca. For added convenience, Dr. Hamin and his team also serve patients at two other Winnipeg clinics: D-819 Sargent Avenue and 100 Keewatin Street.

— Art Alexander is a leadership expert and the founder of Art Alexander and Associates, and a guest writer for the Winnipeg Sun. With a deep understanding of people and business, Art helps organizations thrive through leadership training and DISC personality assessments. You can reach Art at [email protected].

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