Between them, Dr. Sesan Banjo and Dr. Omojomi Banjo have four degrees in dentistry.
In 2009, Dr. Sesan Banjo graduated followed quickly by his brother, Dr. Omojomi Banjo, in 2012 in Nigeria, where they were born and where they practiced a few years before moving to Canada. Having completed graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan, they then enrolled in the dentistry program at the University of Manitoba, where they graduated a second time in 2020.
“I was certified twice,” muses Dr. Sesan. “Doing it all over again, you just get better at what you do.”
Incidentally, a third Banjo brother is a dentist back in Nigeria. He mentored both Dr. Sesan and Dr. Omojomi – who also has a Master of Public Health – into the field, and they’ve never looked back.
“If I had to start all over, I would still choose to be a dentist,” Dr. Sesan says. “I can put a smile on people’s faces and help to relieve their pain.”
Creating a more comfortable, accessible kind of dentistry is what the brothers envisioned when they opened Civic Centre Dental Clinic in Moose Jaw this April. Located at 1251 Main St N, #6-9, it’s a state-of-the-art facility and features the latest in dental technology.
“Aside from the fact that it’s a brand-new practice, we also offer nitrous oxide sedation for patients who are anxious,” explains Dr. Omojomi. “We are also open on Saturdays. We realized a huge need for that, as there are a lot of people experiencing dental pain on Saturdays and long weekends.”
Among the modern equipment at Civic Centre Dental Clinic is a Cone-Beam Computed Technology system (CBCT) that allows Drs. Sesan and Omojomi to make 3D images, helping them make the best possible diagnoses.
“We’ve tried to invest in these technologies so we can show and tell patients what they’re facing,” explains Dr. Sesan. “They hold the care. We are just partnering with them through involvement and education, and it helps improve outcomes.”
He adds: “Our care is patient-centred. We show empathy, and we show respect to all our patients.”
The patient-centred care extends into the waiting room where the Civic Centre Dental Clinic has set up a kiddie corner with a large learning tablet to help make children feel more at ease.
Civic Centre Dental Clinic is happy to accept new patients, and Dr. Omojomi likes to point out that the clinic’s online booking tool allows people the flexibility to make their own appointments without calling reception.
“You can just go to our website, look at your schedule and then book an appointment,” he says. “And if you have Facebook Messenger, you can message us. We’ve been able to help a lot of people through these avenues, because we’ve made ourselves extremely accessible.
Both brothers enjoy living in Moose Jaw. Dr. Omojomi calls himself a “prairie guy.” He says the experience in the community has so far been amazing, and he’s delighted to be able to make his home in the city.
“A lot of people have come in to wish us, you know, goodwill,” says Dr. Sesan. “We’ve had a great reception from the community.”
Civic Centre Dental Clinic can be reached by calling (306) 693-7070, and more information about the clinic – as well as the online booking tool – can be found on their website.