Dr. Abraham “Abe” Culbengan completed his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Centro Escolar University, Manila in 1993. He is one of the core and founding members of the Philippine Academy of Esthetic Dentistry where he has served as a board member, lecturer, and facilitator of PAED 101 courses from 1998 to 2006. He is a Key Opinion Leader and Lecturer of 3M Company from 2001 up to the present. Also a KOL of President Zenit Nanoceramic Composite from 2022-present. In September 5 to 9, 2017, he was chosen to represent the Philippines for the APAC (Asia Pacific) Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Meeting in the studies and clinical trial of dental materials and equipment at the 3M Oral Care Division Headquarters, St. Paul Minnesota. Simultaneously, he attended a lecture/workshop on “Evaluative Techniques in Dental Materials at the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, under Dr. Gary Anderson (Interim Dean, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry).

While being active in private dental practice, his drive for new knowledge encouraged him to become a registered nurse in 2006. He then finished his Master of Arts in Nursing in 2009 at St. Jude College where his thesis got published in the college journal. He was then encouraged by the Graduate School Dean to continue the PhD program. Despite the stringency in the program design with high dropout rates, he successfully finished his PhD, Major in Educational Management in 2013. His Dissertation entitled “Survey of Cosmetic Dentistry Instructional Resources and Practices: Basis for a Proposed Clinical Reference Source in Using Aesthetic Techniques” was aligned with his dedication to the practice of Non-Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry.

In the same year of 2013, he worked in Saudi Arabia as a Dental Consultant at Thanaya-Alyaqoot Medical Specialists Clinic. While busy practicing dentistry overseas, he grabbed the opportunity to take a series of trainings and conferences at King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He also finished “The Fundamental Concepts for Mastering Esthetic Challenges Workshop” by the famous book author Dr. Terry Donovan, certified by The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties at King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, in October 2015. He pursued his International Residency Program on Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry at Thammasat and Shrinakarintawirot University in Bangkok, Thailand in 2016. He was then nominated as Panel of Mentors of the MiCD (Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry) and became one of the MICD Global Advocators and served as KOL/Lecturer for Shofu Dental from 2016 to 2019. This year, he was assigned by Dr. Sushil Koirala (founder of MICD) to lead the MiCD - Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry in the Philippines as Country Representative. In May to June 2016, he joined the PAED group for the UCLA Program in Aesthetic Continuum, UCLA College of Dentistry, USA. He frequently attends both local and international dental conventions to keep himself and his practice updated. He has given numerous lectures and workshops locally and abroad in the USA, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia on Non-Invasive Esthetic Dentistry.

He also joined several clinical contests and became the Grand International Winner of “The Clinical Application of Ketac Molar 3M-ESPEE Glass Ionomer Restorative Dental Material” Clinical Photos, which was published in the 3M journal and flyers, their website, and was printed in the USA in 2004. He also won The PDA Convention 2001 of 3M Clinical Case Photography Contest in Esthetic Dentistry. Lastly, he received the Style Italiano 3M SmileStories Clinical Case: Asia-Pacific Award, given on July 30, 2017, at Aston Denpasar Hotel, Bali, Indonesia. He was also featured on TV regarding cosmetic dental veneers in KMJS (“Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho), Eat Bulaga, GMA Network, Klinika on Air 8Trimedia, DZNL RMN Radio Manila, and Channel 31 Online.

He currently holds the position of PAED Continuing Dental Education (CDE) Chair and Vice President, serving as a board of director from 2021 to 2024. Dr. Abe also chaired the PDA-Pre Conference Style Italiano Anterior Espresso lecture/workshop on May 13, 2024.

Dr. Culbengan believes that training is an absolute must in developing the proper clinical and aesthetic skills leading to competency in performing any aesthetic treatment successfully. He operates his private dental practice at A Beautiful Expression (ABE) Dental and Facial Aesthetic Center in Cubao, Quezon City.