
It is my mission to make your dental appointment as easy as possible!
Meet
Dr. Elisabeth Specht
Dr. Specht: the Dentist
I was honoured with a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Alberta in 2007. Knowing I wanted to learn even more, I completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Alberta Hospital. That residency was amazing. In fact, afterward it was completed, I joined the UAH Hospital Dental Clinic team as a staff dentist. I loved the work, providing dental care to people with complex medical issues, special needs and head and neck cancer. Three years later, I took on the role of Chief of Dentistry for the University of Alberta Hospital. In 2013, I decided to take on a new challenge. I pulled up stakes and moved to the Northwest Territories for several years, where I served the people of Hay River and Fort Providence.
It was through these experiences that I decided to focus my dental career on my two biggest passions: dental surgery and sedation. I also recognized the challenge of accessing this kind of dental care for those who live in smaller communities. Putting it all together, I have partnered with several clinics throughout Alberta to make dental surgery and sedation more convenient and accessible. And I promise: I’ll do it with experience, kindness and a smile.
How to say my last name?
Specht: like re-spect, like spect-acles, like spect-acular 😉😉
Elisabeth: the Person
I am proud to have grown up on a farm near Lacombe, Alberta. I am the daughter of super parents, Leo & Annette, I have four siblings, eight nieces & nephews and one husband (lol). I love getting dirty in the garden, planting both vegetables and flowers. I’ve been playing the piano since I was 6 y.o. and still play at church on weekends. I like to pretend to be able to cook well and prefer to cook while singing my heart out. I love dogs and take every opportunity to cuddle with them!
Travelling on Dental Missions!
I have had the honour to travel Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Cambodia and Ecuador with the dental charity, Kindness in Action, to provide dental care to people in remote, under-served and under-privileged areas.
Volunteer work is awesome! Please take every opportunity to make the world just a little bit better!
Helping in the jungle of Ecuador 2020
Our “clinic” was made of school tables, set up outside in the schools outdoor gym.
Singing to a Frightened Girl
This girl was “next in line” for treatment. As I approached her I could see that she was crying. She was scared & I don’t blame her. She had never had dental care before and didn’t know what to expect. I sat down and pulled her onto my lap and started singing “You are my Sunshine” to her. She stopped crying! It worked! When she was calm, I carried her over to complete the dental work.
A Check-Up in Ecuador
When you don’t speak the language, you can’t use words to help calm a patient, sometimes its best to just take off all the gear – the loupes, the lights, the mask – and show them the person who wants to help.
Cambodia 2013 with the Boy I Should have Adopted
This boy won my heart. While waiting for his turn, he went around reassuring all of the younger students.
Cambodia with friends!
Every trip is an honour to be on – you meet new people and sometimes you get to travel with some of your favourite people too! A beautiful trip surrounded by others that are there solely for the purpose of helping less fortunate people! ❤️
Taking a Moment to Enjoy
Every country and its people teach you something. How to live differently, how to value life more, how to better appreciate friends. It’s one of my favourite parts of these trips.
A Filling in Nicaragua 2014
Those were the days before proper lights could be attached to our dental loupes! It was the brightest “hiking light” I could find!
Filling in Peru 2012
We brought portable dental units with us to allow us to do fillings deep in the Amazon. Thank you to the team members that keep the compressor going!
Trying to Do a Little More
On these trips, we always bring along toys and children’s clothing to distribute – several duffle bags worth! We have so much as Canadians, it’s important to pay it forward.
I, Dr. Elisabeth Specht, am a general dentist and member of good standing with the Alberta Dental Association, the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta, the Canadian Dental Association and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.