Dr Marzella, Dr Neo Tee Khin, Richard Soh, Dr Ansgar Cheng and Dr Ho Kok Sen

A team of dentists from Specialist Dental Group and Universitas Trisakti performed the NobelGuide Teeth-in-an-Hour Live Surgery procedure before a group of approximately 200 dentists in Jakarta on Saturday, February 20, 2010. This revolutionary procedure enables dental implants to be placed in one hour, and was the first time that this procedure was performed in Indonesia.

According to Dr Neo Tee Khin, Prosthodontist with Specialist Dental Group, “With this Nobelguide Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure, people who have missing teeth can get new teeth that look, feel and function just their natural teeth – all in an hour.”

The Live Surgery event was part of a workshop organized by the Indonesian Society of Implant Dentistry with the collaboration of Universitas Trisakti and sponsored by NobelBiocare.  Dr Neo and Dr Ho Kok Sen, Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon with Specialist Dental Group, were instrumental in planning and providing clinical expertise for the procedure together with Dr Marzella Mega Lestari from Universitas Trisakti.

The patient, Richard Soh, 56, is from Singapore and previously lived in Jakarta for a few years. Mr Soh had been wearing dentures for many years on both his upper and lower jaw. He found the dentures uncomfortable and he could not fully enjoy his food. After the NobelGuide Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure, Mr Soh was able to eat almost immediately – and he enjoyed a full lunch that afternoon and was able to eat as normal the rest of the time.

Patient eating watermelon minutes after the surgery

“The NobelGuide Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure is minimally invasive – there is no swelling or pain, and the recovery is very quick,” added Dr Ho Kok Sen.

Professor Ansgar Cheng of Specialist Dental Group also provided a briefing on the NobelGuide Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure. “Our clinical experience shows that the success rate of this procedure is about 99%”, said Dr Cheng.

For more information on the Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure, visit: http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com/services/serv_teeth_in_an_hour.php

Nobel Biocare is the world leader in innovative restorative and aesthetic dental solutions. It has the largest share of the global dental market and has developed numerous advancements in dental implants over the past 40 years. The company is the leading innovator of computer-aided design and manufacturing as well as computer-aided implant treatment planning and guided implant installation. For more information, visit www.nobelbiocare.com

Specialist Dental Group is the leading multi-specialist dental clinic in Singapore. Based at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, the clinic celebrated its 30^th anniversary in 2009. Its founder, Dr Henry Lee, placed the first dental implants in Singapore over 25 years ago. The dental team consists of 7 internationally trained/qualified specialists in different areas of dentistry. Specialist Dental Group offers comprehensive specialist dental solutions under one roof. For more information visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com

Benefits of Whiter Teeth

Teeth whitening or bleaching is a quick method to restore the sparkle back into your smile. Apart from having a whiter smile, another benefit of gleaming pearly whites is the positive impact this has on one’s confidence and self-esteem. A side benefit is a more youthful smile since yellow and stained teeth are often associated with ageing.

Consultation with the Dentist is Important

A dental examination and consultation is important to assess whether teeth whitening is appropriate.

While most people will be suitable candidates for whitening, those with gum problems, tooth infections, ulcers or sensitive teeth may have to address outstanding dental issues before having teeth whitening done.

In addition, the dentist will determine the cause of the stained or discoloured teeth. Tooth discolouration can be due to either external or internal causes, and the treatment is different for each.  Smoking, as well as tea, coffee and soft drink consumption are some of the biggest causes of external staining. At times, irregularities on teeth surfaces may contribute significantly to the uptake of external stains too. For external discolouration, a proper cleaning and teeth whitening should be sufficient to restore the sparkle to the smile.

Internal or intrinsic discolouration could be the result of a dead or infected tooth or a result of medication (e.g. tetracycline stains). Treatment for intrinsic discolouration is more complicated. In such cases, bleaching alone may not be sufficient, and other types of treatment, such as veneers or crowns may have to be considered.

There are also different shades of stains on the teeth that play a part in determining how the final result of whitening would look like. For example, teeth that have yellow stains or brown stains would respond best to bleaching treatment, compared with teeth that have a grayish tinge.

The key to effective treatment is to get a proper examination and diagnosis. Your dentist would be able to identify the causes of your concern and the relevant treatment.

The process

Teeth whitening can usually be completed in an hour’s visit to the dentist.

A whitening gel is carefully applied to the teeth. A safe, whitening light is used to activate the gel and bleach away stains on the teeth. Once the gel is activated, it remains on the teeth for 20 minutes until the process completed. Several rounds of this process are performed in the clinic during the visit.

What to expect?

Teeth whitening is a painless procedure and patients who undergo this treatment will be able to resume their daily activities immediately although on rare occasions, some teeth may experience sensitivity to cold drinks or air. But, nothing to worry about as this will settle with time.

Teeth that are whitened generally stay that way for approximately 24 months; however certain stain-inducing lifestyle habits such as smoking or drinking coffee, tea or red wine, will increase the likelihood of a patient requiring teeth whitening treatments from time to time.

What’s next?

Maintenance is required in order to keep the result achieved after the treatment. Thus, in some cases, dentists will also provide the patients with a take home kit, so that they can do touch up from time to time, as advised by the dentist.

Lastly, basic rule of thumb applies, maintaining a good oral hygiene is essential. Dental cleaning, combined with regular check-ups to your dentist will help in giving you healthy teeth and a good looking smile.

For more information on teeth whitening, click here.

Specialist Dental Group was recently featured in a Kaltim Post article (newspaper based in Kalimantan, Indonesia) about healthcare in Singapore. You can read the full article in Bahasa Indonesia by clicking here.

For the convenience of our blog readers who do not understand Bahasa Indonesia, we have summarized the relevant portion of the article in English below.

ACCURACY: 3D X-rays are used to ensure that the installation of dental implants is accurate at Specialist Dental Group

Apart from visiting the restructured hospitals in Singapore, we also visited several private hospitals in Singapore, such as Raffles Hospital, Thomson Medical Center, Specialist Dental Group in Mount Elizabeth Hospital, and Pacific Healthcare at Paragon Mall. In Singapore, the hospital is not just a place for treatment but also to beautify yourself or as a lifestyle enhancer.

At Specialist Dental Group, there is a method to straighten your teeth by using transparent aligners (Invisalign). According to Dr. Ansgar C Cheng, these aligners are very useful especially for those who may feel shy in wearing braces. Invisalign uses 3-dimensional computer technology to plan a comprehensive treatment, and consisting of a series of specially personalized aligners for the patient. Each aligner is used approximately 2 weeks before being replaced by the next, and gradually straightening your teeth until the final pair of aligners are used.

“You will not know that a person is wearing the aligners, because Invisalign is transparent (clear),” he said. 

Invisalign treatment takes about 1-3 years to complete, and may require an average of 10-50 pairs of aligners. Invisalign treatment is suitable to close gaps between teeth, or teeth that are mild to moderately crowded. “The benefits of using Invisalign, are because the aligners are not as obvious as conventional metal braces, and it is very easy to install and remove, which makes it easy to clean the aligners and the teeth,”  said Dr. Cheng.

In addition, Specialist Dental Group also provides dental implants in a single day. “Most dental implants take weeks, while it just takes a day here,” he said. 

More people are becoming aware that correcting their smile will have a major impact on their overall appearance. Solutions to imperfect smiles can be found by visiting the dentist…and in some cases, achieved in just one hour !

 Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening brightens discoloured or stained teeth caused by food, coffee or smoking. It is a painless procedure which can be completed in less than one hour. A consultation and examination is first done to ensure that the patient is a good candidate, and to rule out existing gum problems or decayed teeth which may affect the treatment outcome. .

It is also important to keep in mind that daily oral hygiene is an essential part of maintaining teeth whitening results. Depending on one’s lifestyle and dietary habits, the whitening can last for as long as two years.

 Veneers

Veneers are thin, custom-made high strength porcelain or composite resin shells designed to fit discreetly over the teeth. It is another option available for discoloured teeth, worn down teeth, broken or chipped teeth, gaps between teeth, and uneven, misaligned or irregularly shaped teeth.

In addition to aesthetic benefits, veneers also have a functional purpose as they protect the surface of a damaged tooth. They may even replace the need for a crown in certain situations, eliminating the need for more invasive tooth preparation.

This is a good alternative treatment to braces, for moderately misaligned teeth that fulfil certain clinical requirements, as it can be completed in shorter period of time – as short as two visits to the dentist.

Composite Bonding

Composite bonding is another option in treating teeth with small chips or gaps or dark stains that do not respond to bleaching. This procedure involves applying a tooth-coloured polymeric resin to the tooth and moulding it into the proper shape. This is a painless procedure and typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete.  

Crowns

Crowns are restorations that cover or cap teeth, restoring them to their natural size, shape, and color. Crowns are indicated when there is a need to strengthen teeth that are mechanically weakened (e.g. teeth with large cavities). Our clinic usually uses zirconium crowns.

Zirconium-based dental crowns are superior in structural strength reinforcement and aesthetic quality. Instead of relying on a dental technician alone, well-fitting crowns could be robotically made using CAD-CAM technology with significantly reduced human intervention. Research has shown that the fit of these CAD-CAM crowns are excellent even at a sub-microscopic level.

Dental Implants

Dental implants replace missing teeth with natural-looking teeth that look, feel and function just like your own teeth. Conventional implants take between three to nine months for treatment to be completed as time is needed for the implant to integrate with the jawbone. With Instant Implants™ and Teeth-in-an-Hour implants, the time to complete treatment is much shorter, due to the skill of the dentist and the technology used.

Braces / Invisalign

Braces function to straighten crooked teeth or close the gap between teeth. Aesthetic braces such as ceramic (tooth coloured) braces and invisible braces (lingual braces) are gaining popularity. Invisalign, a series of removable clear aligners are also a discreet, aesthetic and comfortable way of perfecting your smile….almost without anyone knowing.

Walk Out with that Beautiful Smile

While there are many options available for smile makeovers, your teeth are there to reflect your inner well-being. The most important consideration for a lasting and healthy smile is to have regular check-ups, brush/floss well, and maintain a balanced diet and lifestyle. This is the real secret to looking great, at any age!

Specialist Dental Group’s resident Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr Ho Kok Sen, was profiled in the December 17 issue of Mind Your Body (Straits Times) today. For those of you who are unable to access the paper, read on below to have an idea of what the story was about.

I decided to specialise in oral-maxillofacial surgery because…

I get to disassemble and reassemble stuff which is something I’ve enjoyed since I was a small kid. I remember spending hours on my airfix models and WWII toy soldier models. When i did not have the funds to purchase new models, I would take the existing models apart and put them back together again.

Similarly, in the oral cavity, I get to take out broken or decayed teeth and replace them with dental implants. In the facial region, I get to move the jaws around and put them together to give new form and function. I also get to fix the various jaw segments together when patients fracture them during a road traffic accident or traumatic fall.

The jaws are fascinating because…

It is such an integral part of the body. It gives form (and function!) to the face. People in the fashion industry talk about jaw lines. People in the food industry talk about jaw strength! But remember, jaws without teeth on them neither give you any form nor function. So maintaining a good set of teeth sets the stage for a fabulous smile and nice jaw line.

If I were to give an analogy for what I do, I’d be a…

Handyman. I piece together things and fix people’s teeth so that they can function again.  I also make sure things are working as they should be.

I have come across all types of cases…

…ranging from a little child engaged in child’s play getting a thumbtack stuck in his tongue to big jaw cysts requiring removal and reconstruction. I have also had cases where patients have come in straight from the airport to be admitted into the hospital due to airway obstruction caused by the swelling of an infected tooth. In between, I take care of impacted wisdom teeth, place dental implants and perform jaw surgery.

A typical day for me would be…

I wake up at 7am to play with my 2.5 year old daughter before she heads to playschool. I then spend some time with my 5 month old son before I leave and reach Specialist Dental Group at 830am.

The rest of the day is divided between consultations and surgeries. General anaesthesia procedures are done in the hospital operating theatre while sedation procedures are performed in the clinic.

I hold a teaching appointment as an adjunct senior lecturer at NUS and I spend one morning or afternoon a week teaching dental undergraduates and graduate dentists.

My day usually ends around 6pm and I head home to spend time with my 2 kids and wife who is an obstetrician and gynaecologist at KK Hospital. I may be called upon some nights to attend to emergency cases at the A&E of the Parkway Group Hospitals.

I love patients who are…

Appreciative of what I am trying to do for them. Many of them have become friends. The doctor-patient relationship has no hierarchical levels. It is one forged on mutual respect and understanding.

Patients who get my goat are…

Patients who have genuine dental needs but choose to listen to “overly concerned” relatives and friends who convinced them otherwise. In doing so, they are not giving themselves the opportunity to have treatment that would improve their lifestyle and health.

One little known fact about wisdom tooth surgery is…

It can be a painless procedure. With proper management, the procedure and post-surgery recovery can be smooth and pain-free. And yes, you can eat after surgery, in fact, ice cream and other cold desserts are encouraged …..

Things that put a smile on my face are…

When a patient’s smile is restored successfully and you can see the change in their confidence level and attitude to life at subsequent visits. Another thing that makes me smile is the relief on anxious patients’ faces when their surgical experience was more positive than they had initially expected.

It breaks my heart when…

Patients do not know that there are solutions available now for virtually any debilitating dental conditions that they may have. As a result they experience a less-than-optimal quality of life or suffer pain in silence.

We live now in a highly advanced and high tech society and this has allowed scientists and researchers to come up with new techniques and solutions that our forefathers had no access to.

I wouldn’t trade places for the world because…

This career gives me the satisfaction of taking out what is not salvageable and replacing them with state of the art artificial teeth while seeing the tremendous positive impact it can have on a person’s life.

I also enjoy working together with the multi-specialty team at Specialist Dental Group because we are able to take a comprehensive approach based on our different areas of training and experience. This not only enables cutting edge dental treatment to be done, which is fulfilling on a professional level, but also enables the patient to access comprehensive treatment in one place.

My best tip…

Remove your wisdom teeth before they start to give you problems. Prevention is better than cure. Take care of your teeth well and they will be with you longer.

It’s that time of the year again…  Orchard Road in Singapore is beautifully decked out, the Christmas carols are playing at all the shopping malls and crowds can be seen by everyone.

Even as we try to figure out the perfect gift to give our loved ones and friends, there are many options for giving meaningful gifts that can change lives this Christmas season.

Teddy Bear Drive

As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, Specialist Dental Group was proud to be a Corporate Donor for the Annual Teddy Bear Drive earlier this month, organized by the Canadian Association of Singapore. The beneficiary of this year’s event was the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore.

We were delighted to hear that $20,000 and many boxes of toys and bears were collected. Our staff enthusiastically made cash and bear/toy donations as well. The funds raised will be used to acquire a multi-media early education learning programme, for food vouchers for families of needy students,  wheelchairs and diapers.

Virtual Tree of Life

Our clinic is also pleased to be a sponsor of World Vision’s Tree of Life Project. Those of you who have been to our clinic will know that space is a premium. Although we would love to have a Christmas tree in the clinic, it just is not possible.  Thus, we did the next best thing – we have a Virtual Tree of Life where visitors to the Specialist Dental Group tree can learn more about being a Child Sponsor – this is a wonderful way to make a difference in a child’s life. You can view our Virtual Tree by clicking here.

In addition, if you have run out of ideas on what to get the person who has it all, do consider making a life changing gift by clicking here where you can buy food for several families in a community, fund the digging of a well, or buy mosquito nets or blankets for those who need them.

Thank you for your support throughout the year. We wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year !!

Dentist ≠ Pain

Many people associate a trip to the dentist with pain and they continue to do so without realising that nowadays there is no pain. With the advancement in dental diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, dental procedures now can be performed with precision, much faster and with minimal downtime for the patient.

Dentistry has evolved to a point where pain is no longer a factor in the overall management equation. With trouble free post-treatment recovery possible, patients no longer have lingering “bad” memories or experiences at their dentists’ office.

Why Pain Arises

Dental pain is one of the most intolerable body pains one can withstand. It has been said that dental pain from a broken tooth can bring the bravest of men to his knees.

• Lack of good oral hygiene contributes to development of gum diseases and dental cavities.
• Lack of good oral health education and dental awareness also deters patients from regular visit to their dentists. The dental problems then snowballs to bigger and more severe ones as time goes by.

By visiting the dentist on a regular basis, problems can be spotted early and resolved before any pain or infection occurs.

Dealing with Anxiety

Possible reasons for anxiety:

• Extreme anxiety in dental patients can often be passed on by their family or friends. Not everyone enjoys visiting the dentist; some may even have very bad previous experiences before.
• Sometimes dental anxieties may be a result of stereotypical portrayals from popular culture.
• Clinical atmosphere. The saying goes:  “Appearance matters”. Well in relation to managing our patients’ anxiety, this holds true. “Clinical” looking dental offices that emit the classical smell of disinfectant and the sound of the whining dental drill can also contribute to the anxiety factor in patients.

Allaying Anxiety

• Pleasant ambiance at the clinic. Dental clinics these days are decked out in warm interior décor together with comforting lighting while disinfectants are now odour-free. Television and music are available to entertain patients in the waiting room and in the treatment room.
• Good communication between dentist/dental team and patient is critical. Speak with your dentist regarding your oral health and let him or her know if you are anxious about the dental appointment and the treatment. By understanding and knowing more about the procedure, you will be in a better position to control your anxiety levels because you know what to expect.
• Access to Information. More information about the qualifications, experience, track record of your dentist and the procedure itself prior to treatment will also reduce anxiety as you would have a higher level of confidence in the dentist and would know that you are in good hands.
• Anti-anxiety oral medications can be prescribed prior to a dental visit to reduce anxiety levels; this will lead to a faster and smoother delivery of treatment thus making the entire dental visit more pleasant and acceptable.

Studies have shown that pain is more often experienced when people are anxious, anticipating the “worst”. With the fear of a stereotypical dental office setting removed and better communication and trust between the patient and the dentist, patients are in a better position to experience dental treatment without any pain.

Relief from Pain

Most dental treatment can be delivered with or without local anaesthesia. If the procedure is simple, local anaesthesia may not be needed. No one enjoys the sight of a needle or being pricked by one. Generally, if your dentist makes you feel secure and you feel comfortable in the soothing surroundings, a simple cleaning or filling can be performed without the need for injections.

Local anaesthesia is required for dental procedures such as deep cleaning, deep cavities, root canal treatment and many cosmetic procedures (crowns, veneers, etc.) Anaesthesia is also required for outpatient/ in-office oral surgical procedures such as simple and complex dental extractions, wisdom teeth removal, oral biopsies, gum surgery, dental implant placement, bone grafting etc.  With topical or surface anaesthesia applied first to the area, dental injections when delivered in a controlled and slow pace, can be with minimal or no discomfort at all.

Patients may also opt for in-office intravenous sedation, delivered by a team of well trained and qualified specialist anaesthetists. During the sedation procedure, vital parameters such as blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation levels are constantly monitored throughout the entire dental procedure to ensure the safety of the patient. Sedation is suitable for patients aged 7 years old and upwards.

Patients may also opt for general anaesthesia which is a very deep level of sedation requiring airway maintenance and breathing support with the anaesthetic machine. Hospitalisation may or may not be required; but a proper operating theatre facility and set-up is required, thus raising the total cost of treatment.

Patients may want to opt for in-office sedation as the best alternative.

Relief from Financial Pain

Besides dental pain, patients may also feel financial pain from undergoing dental treatment.

• “Prevention is better than cure”. Regular visits to your dentist are important to spot problems early. A small cavity is easy and more economical to treat than a huge and deep cavity that may require extensive treatment like root canal therapy and a crown.
• Speak with your dentist regarding treatment fees and payment methods to avoid any surprises. Certain dental surgical procedures are also covered by Medisave or certain insurance schemes. In addition, some clinics also have interest-free instalment plans available or are registered for the Baby Bonus Scheme which would aid in providing some relief from financial pain.

Your Dentist – Your Partner in Health

Dental treatment or procedures do not need to affect your lifestyle or work routine/ schedule. Pain is no longer in the equation with proper diagnosis, management and delivery of treatment. Certain implant procedures are now minimally invasive (keyhole) in nature. Oral surgery performed together with intravenous sedation offers minimal downtime for recovery and patients are back to their normal routine within 1 or 2 days.

Advances in dental diagnostics and treatment coupled with highly trained and qualified dental health professionals can bring dentistry to the next higher level: Pain-Free Dentistry.

Remember your dentist is there to take away your pain; start treating your dentist as your partner in oral health preservation and smile transformation and you will begin to feel less anxious about your whole dental visit.