Dr. Louis Bourget

Early life

Dr. Louis Bourget attended McGill University in Montreal, where he earned a B.Sc. in Physiology in 1983 and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Physiology and Anatomy in 1986. He entered a Dental program at McGill, followed by a maxillofacial program at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He received an FRCD(c) fellowship in 1995. Prior to his dental career, he worked as a lifeguard and paramedic. 

Career

Dr. Louis Bourget began practicing dentistry/OMS surgery in the Maritimes in the mid-1990s. He has shown a dedication to continued education, completing over 1,200 courses in his field and implementing the most up-to-date technology and innovations into his practices. This began with a fellowship in Cleft Lip and Palate Reconstruction in Nantes, France, followed by a Facial Cosmetic Fellowship in North Carolina. He has taken advanced courses in Facial Reconstruction at the Mayo Clinic and has completed coursework in Sweden, Michigan, St. Louis, San Francisco, Florida and Vienna, Austria. More recently, he has received training in zygoma surgery with Noris Medical and rhinoplasty in Belgium. 

Dr. Bourget is a regular contributor to the development of knowledge in his field, particularly in the areas of cleft lip, palate and facial reconstruction. He has authored numerous scientific papers and presented at conferences and meetings both within Canada and internationally. He has helped to push forward the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery within the Atlantic provinces, participating in training for implant rehabilitation, facial cosmetic and facial trauma/reconstruction surgery. He offers expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to his patients in Atlantic Canada. 

Dr. Bourget’s practices in Truro and Gander are the first in Canada to implement a medical scent service dog in order to help patients who are suffering from elevated levels of anxiety during dental treatments. The service dog underwent two years of training to detect heightened levels of the hormone cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands when someone is experiencing anxiety and stress. This allows Dr. Bourget and his team to provide emotional support to these patients, as well as decrease high cortisol levels before surgical procedures, greatly improving outcomes. This innovative solution for the common problem of anxiety during dental visits has received extensive media coverage and has the potential to transform best practices for dental surgeons across the country. 

Dr. Bourget pursues humanitarian projects through the Bourget Foundation, traveling with his family each year to Benin and Brazil to deliver medical supplies and offer dental care to those in need. He assists with cleft lip, palate, facial and neck surgeries, and his Foundation sends health professionals such as pediatric surgeons, gynecologists, nurses, plastic surgeons, and pharmacists to offer their services. He has worked closely with the Benin government to establish surgical protocols and implement new techniques for caring for the sick and injured. 

Dr. Bourget teaches first aid to members of the Canadian Ski Patrol and volunteers his dental services to prison inmates. An experienced and enthusiastic chef, Dr. Bourget delivers meals to four shelters in Nova Scotia on special occasions like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Canada Day.