Wisdom Teeth
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.
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A Tradition of Excellence
Specialist Dental Group™ has been established at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre in Singapore since 1979 and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The Group is one of the largest multi-specialty dental clinics in Singapore and has nine treatment rooms in two clinics served by a team of seven leading dental specialists.
“Not many dental practices in Singapore have the distinction of being around for such a long time,” says Dr Neo Tee Khin, Managing Partner of Specialist Dental Group™. The late Dr. Henry Lee, founder of the clinic, was a well established oral surgeon who placed the first titanium dental implants in Singapore more than 20 years ago. This strong foundation in dental implants has continued today with Specialist Dental Group™ being one of the leading dental implant providers in Singapore.
According to Dr Ansgar C Cheng, Co-Managing Partner of the Group, the clinic was renamed Specialist Dental Group™ in 2008 to reflect the breadth and depth of the comprehensive dental solutions under one roof provided by its internationally trained/ qualified multi-specialty team.
The clinical team at Specialist Dental Group™ includes dentists with specialty training in prosthodontics (teeth replacement), periodontics (gum treatment), orthodontics (braces) and oral & maxillofacial surgery. Signature dental solutions include Teeth-in-an-Hour implants, Instant Implants™, conventional dental implants, Invisalign®, braces, oral surgery, gum treatment and crowns.
“The idea of a multi-specialty practice arose due to the higher demand and expectation of our patients. Having all our specialists in one place improves communication among them resulting in an excellent standard of care and convenience for our patients,” adds Dr. Neo. Patients benefit with reduced waiting times and can access dentists from different specialty areas with one appointment.
Another convenience is that due to the location of the clinic in a premier medical centre, patients can also schedule their medical and dental visits on the same day in the same building, minimizing the need to take extra time off their busy schedules.
The dental team at Specialist Dental Group™ is also experienced in treating patients with medical conditions such as cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart problems. One of the services offered to patients prior to undergoing cancer treatment (e.g., radiation or chemotherapy) or a major medical procedure (e.g. organ transplantation or heart surgery) is a Dental Assessment. Dental Assessments minimize the risk of oral complications developing in the middle of cancer treatment or post-surgery as a result of a pre-existing dental condition such as an infected tooth or gum disease. The significant cost savings and avoidance of physical and emotional trauma are some of the benefits of having a dental assessment.
Contribution to the Professional Community and to Public Awareness
Most of the dentists at Specialist Dental Group™ have taught or are currently teaching at the National University of Singapore and other international universities. They are also active contributors to international scientific journals and sit on the editorial boards of such publications. As opinion leaders in their respective specialty areas, they are regularly invited to speak at local and international dental conferences.
On the public awareness front, the dental team at Specialist Dental Group™ is passionate about educating the public about oral health, innovations in dentistry and the connection between good oral health and a healthy body. In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Specialist Dental Group™’ this year, the clinic organized a public seminar with Channel NewsAsia – Putting the Sparkle Back Into Your Smile – A Dental Seminar that Bridges Function & Aesthetics, which was very well received with an audience of almost 600 people attending to learn more about oral health.
Getting Connected
In addition to the comprehensive information on dental procedures on the Specialist Dental Group™ website, patients are also able to make appointment bookings and enquiries as well as view videos. Specialist Dental Group™ also has a Blog, Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter account in order to be more accessible to patients.
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Specialist Dental Group’s seminar, Putting the Sparkle Back into your Smile, organized together with Channel NewsAsia, was held on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at the Suntec Convention Centre auditorium from 2pm to 5:30 pm.
Drs. Elvin Leong, Ansgar Cheng, Ho Kok Sen, Eugene Chan, Patricia Yeong, Neo Tee Khin and Helena Lee
Close to 600 people spent several hours listening to six dental specialists from our clinic share about the latest developments in their respective specialty areas of dentistry.
“This is the first time that Specialist Dental Group™ has embarked on such a major public education program,” said Dr. Neo Tee Khin, Director and Prosthodontist with Specialist Dental Group™.
“We thought that this was a great way to commemorate the 30th anniversary of our clinic,” added Dr. Ansgar C Cheng, Director and Prosthodontist with the clinic.
Specialist Dental Group™, formerly known as Henry Lee Dental Surgery, was founded by Dr. Henry Lee, a well-respected oral surgeon. Dr. Lee also placed the first titanium dental implants in Singapore more than 20 years ago and this strength in dental implants has continued to be reflected in the multi-specialty team at Specialist Dental Group™.
Staff of Specialist Dental Group
Comprehensive Selection of Topics Covered
Almost every major aspect of dentistry was covered from the relationship between oral health and overall health, to pain and anxiety management, and the latest developments in replacing missing teeth, straightening teeth, and creating a smile makeover.
The question and answer session
A Question and Answer Session was also held after the six presentations and the dental specialists answered questions on various topics including implants, braces, cracked teeth, whitening toothpaste, and many more.
Invisalign display
Nobel Biocare display
Sponsors of the event and the goody bags included Ezyhealth & Beauty, Nobel Biocare, Invisalign, Cosmetic Surgery & Beauty, Sensodyne, Parkway Health, Listerine, Lion Corporation, Clorets, Vicks, Salonpas, SA Dental and Philips Sonicare .
Goody bags
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Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, emerge during early adulthood. A panoramic dental radiograph (x-ray) will confirm the number of wisdom teeth in a person’s mouth and indicate whether any of these teeth are buried or unerupted. It also allows full radiographic examination of the upper and lower jaw architecture and all the teeth present.
Due to our smaller jawbones, wisdom teeth often do not properly erupt and can grow sideways, emerge part-way out of the gum, or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. As maintaining their cleanliness is difficult, gum and bone infection is very common. Wisdom teeth and their adjacent teeth can also become decayed. Chronic pain, migraines, headaches and facial pain can result. The adjacent teeth can also become so grossly carious that root canal therapy may be the only way to salvage the tooth. In some circumstance, the adjacent tooth may be replaced by a dental implant.
Even when the wisdom teeth erupt properly, there may be a tight fit in the back of the mouth, making it very hard to clean them properly – leading to decay.
The younger one is, the easier the removal of the wisdom teeth, as the bone is more elastic and the roots are shorter. With proper management, the procedure is smooth and seldom causes any significant swelling or discomfort afterwards.
The procedure can be performed under local anaesthesia alone, or together with intravenous sedation, which puts patients in a relaxed state of mind and significantly reduces any anxiety factors. Sedation can be done in the clinic with the assistance of an anaesthetist who will administer the sedation and monitor the patient’s vital conditions. General anaesthesia usually takes place in a hospital or day surgery centre and increases the total cost of treatment. Whichever method selected to remove wisdom teeth, with proper expertise, wisdom teeth removal can be accomplished under an hour for all four teeth or under 30 minutes for two teeth.
Delaying treatment may increase the likelihood of pain, infection and problems associated with the wisdom teeth. Researchers have found that patients aged 30 years and above may be at greater risk for gum disease in the tissues surrounding the wisdom teeth and adjacent teeth, which can, in turn, affect general health. It is also unwise to delay removal of wisdom teeth until pain and infection set in as healing may be complicated and more prolonged. It is better to remove the wisdom teeth preventively before they become infected as infected wisdom teeth are more complicated and more expensive to treat.
Research has shown that the overall dental condition improves after the removal of wisdom teeth. Prevention is cure and early removal avoids all the associated problems stated.
For Singaporeans and those with Singapore Permanent Residency, wisdom teeth surgery may also be covered by Medisave. Click for more information on wisdom teeth surgery
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