viva dental toronto History
"Previous Owner"
Dr. Ante Bilic
Dr. Bilic has over 35 years of experience and a passion for dentistry that never fades, he is one of the most dedicated and skilled professionals in the field. His commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of his practice, from his state-of-the-art treatment modalities to his personalized treatment plans and compassionate approach to patient care.
Not only does Dr. Bilic hold a degree in dentistry, but he also has a PhD in microbiology, making him uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive dental care that takes into account the role of oral health in overall wellness. He is a member of many renowned dental and scientific organizations, including the American Society of Microbiology and The New York Academy of Sciences, and has been an active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry since 1996. Dr. Bilic continues to expand his clinical knowledge through continuing education courses, ensuring that he stays at the forefront of the latest advances in dentistry.
Dr. Bilic was an integral part of our clinic and the person who built and maintained the clinic for the last 30 years. He passes the torch to Dr. Ibrahim who he has known for 28 years.
The transition of ownership between Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Bilic has been fully completed. Dr. Ibrahim is now the only full-time dentist providing dental services
DR. JULIUS DICK (1928-1991)
My father, Dr. Julius Dick, was born in Toronto in 1928. He graduated the University of Toronto’s dental program as a Licentiate of Dental Surgery in 1956 (after previously getting his Bachelor of Arts, also at U of T), and shortly thereafter started his dental practice on Wilson Avenue West, in Downsview, Toronto. The neighbourhood at that time was predominantly Italian, so in order that he could better communicate with his patients who did not speak English, he wrote down and memorized the Italian translation of some of the most common comments/instructions he would need to communicate with patients. He was a true people-person, knew his patients well, and always wanted to hear what was happening in their lives. He never rushed with his patients, and went out of his way to make their experience as stress free as possible. For example, when freezing a patient’s mouth, he would always start by giving just the shortest, tiniest little pin-prick from the needle, not enough to freeze the tooth, but enough to freeze the injection site, to then wait a few minutes for that to take effect, so when he gave the rest of the injection, the needle no longer hurt. He also, perhaps unique among dentists , chose to put artwork on the ceilings of all his patient rooms, so patients could have something interesting to look at when tilted back in the dental chair.
The original location of his office was just a few blocks west of the current location, on the 2nd floor of a small strip mall on the south side of Wilson, at Wilson and Garrett (pictured below).
It was in the mid-1970s that he moved the Practice to its current location at 620 Wilson Ave. West. My father and mother (Bernyce Dick) were married in 1950, and were married for 41 years until Julius passed in 1991. My mother sold the Practice to Dr. Bilic that year, and he and my father had in common a passionate love of the arts and music, and a love of knowing their patients well as people. My father would have liked the man who took over his practice, they were ‘cut from similar wood’, and I’m only sorry they never met.
Julius was also a talented artist who created pencil drawings and watercolours, as well as sculptures in wood, bronze, alabaster, etc. Here is one of his bronze sculptures, that now sits in my back garden.
Julius never stopped learning and upgrading his dental skills and equipment, rarely going a year without attending a dental clinic where new techniques were being taught. He enjoyed these clinics for both upgrading his skills, and connecting with his dental colleagues.
The fact there are still some patients of this Practice who were treated by, and remember with great fondness my father, warms my heart. I’ve no doubt Dr. Ibrahim will carry this practice on into the future in a way that would have made my father proud, and I’m grateful for the chance to share this bio of my father, Dr. Julius Dick, who founded the Practice.
– Peter Dick