Over 500 people attended the recent dental seminar, Take a Bite with a Perfect Smile, organized by Channel NewsAsia and Specialist Dental Group at the Suntec Convention Centre Theatre on Saturday, July 30, 2011.
Based on feedback obtained from seminar attendees, the afternoon was well spent as many appreciated the information on the latest updates in dentistry that was shared by five leading dental specialists from our clinical team.
Steven Chia, the charming and affable host of Channel NewsAsia’s PrimeTime Morning (now AM Live), was the emcee for the afternoon. Steven had a wide repertoire of dental jokes and kept things moving along on schedule.
The Body and Mouth Connection
Dr Helena Lee, our Periodontist (gum specialist), started off the seminar with her presentation on “The Mouth: An Open Window to Your Health.” Dr Lee showed how dental health and general health should not be seen as two separate issues – they are closely linked. Simple and cost effective preventive measures such as brushing your teeth properly at least twice a day and flossing regularly as well as dental visits every six months would go a long way to ensuring that gum and tooth problems were kept at bay. If your mouth is in tip top condition, chances are that medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, lung infections, pregnancy complications and a host of other problems will be minimized. For more information on the link between your gums and medical conditions, do read our previous blog updates.
Replacing Missing Teeth
The next speaker was Dr Neo Tee Khin, our Prosthodontist, whose topic was “Dental Implants: As Real as It Gets.” He touched on the various methods to replace missing teeth and why dental implants were the treatment of choice. The different methods of implant placement were discussed and the latest developments in this area were covered. In addition to the time-proven conventional dental implants, we now have the expertise and technology to provide Instant Implants and the NobelGuide Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure which significantly reduces the treatment time. Patients do not have to worry about leaving our clinic toothless – we always ensure that they are able to go about their everyday life with teeth, even while waiting for dental treatment to be completed.
The Straight Truth
After a short beverage break, Dr Eugene Chan, our Orthodontist, spoke on “Secrets behind that Perfect Smile.” Dr Chan went through the different types of braces used to straighten crooked or protruding teeth, and also to close the gaps between teeth. He also provided more details on Invisalign, a series of clear, removable aligners that are used to straighten teeth. Invisalign has also been referred to as “contact lens for the teeth” as they are virtually invisible – combining the best of both worlds – aesthetic yet effective in creating a beautiful smile.
Myths and Misconceptions
Next was Dr Ho Kok Sen, our Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon who presented “The Truth about your Teeth.” He covered the common myths and misconceptions that most people have about dentists and dental procedures. Dr Ho also provided information on how to make your dental visit an anxiety-free one and showed the different methods of pain relief to ensure that your oral surgery procedure is as comfortable as possible.
Achieving Excellent Results with Technology
The final speaker was Dr Ansgar Cheng, our Prosthodontist, who spoke on “Maximize your smile with Technology.” Dr Cheng showed how technology in combination with multi-specialty teamwork can yield excellent results in complex dental cases. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that function is restored to patients in addition to aesthetics. Unlike other aesthetic procedures where the result could be
beautiful yet non-functional, a fundamental result of dental treatment is to ensure that a person is able to chew, speak or have a better quality of life in addition to looking better.
The five speakers also participated in a Question and Answer session with the attendees. Three lucky attendees walked away with Oral-B Vitality Electric Toothbrushes, courtesy of Procter & Gamble, one of the sponsors of the seminar.
In addition to gaining more knowledge about their dental health, each attendee also went home with a lovely goody bag with items contributed by our sponsors: Invisalign, Procter & Gamble, NobelBiocare, Silver Lining, OCBC Cards, OralSeven, Polident, Fondaco, QST Technologies and SA Dental.
Many thanks to everyone involved for making this a successful event !!
