Several years before he had any plans of attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Pouya Sabanik, D.D.S., was already familiar with the UAB School of Dentistry as a follower of the Instagram account of Nate Lawson, DMD, PhD, the SOD Director of Biomaterials.
“There are a lot of materials and devices, and a lot of techniques, and Dr. Lawson was good about explaining the background and purpose of them,” says Sabanik, who at the time was working as a research assistant at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in his home country of Iran. “Learning that information was very helpful for me.”
Now Sabanik is receiving that same type of knowledge directly from Lawson (and others) firsthand as a resident in the SOD’s Dental Biomaterials Master’s Program. Sabanik arrived at UAB in July to begin the two-year residency after receiving a postgraduate degree in Advanced Restorative Dentistry from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see how something as simple as sharing educational content on Instagram can spark a connection that leads someone across the globe to our program,” says Nate Lawson, DMD, PhD, Director of Biomaterials at UAB School of Dentistry. “Pouya’s curiosity and drive were evident even before he arrived, and now that he’s here, it’s exciting to help him deepen his understanding of dental materials and see him grow into the kind of clinician and scholar who will make a real impact.”
As a child, Sabanik says he always enjoyed brushing his teeth and maintaining good oral hygiene. As a result, he has never even had a cavity, which is rare in a country where a majority of people aged 65 and older are missing a significant portion of their teeth (according to a 2024 report from the Iran University of Medical Sciences).
Over the years, Sabanik came to appreciate just how much his local dentist helped people with severe oral issues. Combine that desire to care for others with his natural interest in the field in general, and Sabanik suddenly had a career plan: Dentistry with an emphasis on prosthodontics.
“I want to be a person who can help people solve some of their problems in life, and I think prosthodontics can do this very well,” Sabanik says. “There are a lot of people who suffer because of their teeth. We are here to help people have less problems and be in less pain. That’s my real goal in being a dentist.”
Sabanik says the Biomaterials residency already has increased his dental knowledge by giving him exposure to new devices and techniques, such as the use of 3D printers.
“The technology advancement in dentistry is very fast,” Sabanik says. “Just 5 years ago, we didn’t have the type of 3D printers that we do now in the dental world. This is a good opportunity to come to this program and understand how to use 3D printers, know the advantages and disadvantages, and learn how you can use this device to help people’s health.
“Dentistry is very related to the materials and devices. When you learn about the materials, you’re learning about the industry. This program is a connection between the dentistry world and the material world.”
Sabanik still has plenty to learn over the course of his residency. Once he does, Sabanik says he might pursue opportunities to move into the academic side of dentistry.
“I would love to be a faculty member, and educate young people on how to be a good dentist,” Sabanik says. “That way there will be more dentists to help the patients, and that will help society more.”