Beyond Dentistry: More than Teeth, a nationwide seminar on better dental and overall health organised by Specialist Dental Group (SDG) and Channel NewsAsia successfully concluded last Saturday, on 15 August 2015, at the Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel.
- A big thank you to all of you who joined us last Saturday afternoon!
Into its fourth edition, the seminar continues to fulfill SDG’s mission of public engagement by increasing their dental knowledge/awareness, so that the public can make informed decisions. We are heartened to receive many positive feedback from the attendees, including the seminar being useful and informative.
Speaking to a crowd of 500 attendees, our dental and medical specialists shed light on important issues such as how dental and medical diseases are interrelated, gum problems, crooked teeth, wisdom teeth and missing teeth in a humorous and light hearted manner.
- Dr Cheng and Dr Wai pleasantly surprising the attendees with an opening that you would rarely see in seminars.
Co-Managing Dental & Medical Problems
A/Prof Ansgar Cheng, Prosthodontist (Dental Specialist in Teeth Replacement), and Dr Daniel Wai, Endocrinologist (Medical Specialist in Internal Medicine), kickstart the seminar with a rock star-worthy opening number, going on to share with the audience how one’s oral health is related to medical problems found in the body. Studies have shown that by having better oral hygiene, there may be lesser chances of having medical issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease/stroke, lung infections, stomach ulcers, erectile dysfunction, cancer and negative pregnancy outcomes. A general rule of thumb to follow for good oral hygiene is “2, 2, 2” – brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time and visit your dentist twice a year.
- Dr Leong tackling issues related to gum disease, the top reason that causes tooth loss in adults.
The Painless Enemy – Gum Disease
Thereafter, Dr Daylene Leong, Periodontist (Dental Specialist in Gum Treatment), carried on to clarify a common misconception that people have – to visit a dentist only when experiencing pain. Many times, one may not know that one has gum disease as it does not cause pain until the advanced stage. Gum disease affects 85% of adults and is the top reason for tooth loss.
Amidst gasps and exclamations from the attendees after seeing photos that were consequences of neglected oral hygiene, Dr Leong shared a piece of good news – gum disease is preventable with good home and professional care. Keeping one’s blood sugar under control will also go a long way in ensuring good oral health.
- Dr Ho and Dr Chan doing a great job in capturing the attention of the attendees despite their session being right after the tea break.
Crooked Teeth & Buried Teeth
After a short refreshment break, Dr Ho Kok Sen, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon (Dental Specialist in Oral & Jaw Surgery), and Dr Eugene Chan, Orthodontist (Dental Specialist in Teeth Alignment), took the stage and provided an eye opener to the attendees on how dentists with different specialties like themselves work together to solve complex dental issues. When patients require a combination of treatments, various dental specialists at Specialist Dental Group would work closely with one another to tailor a predictable and effective treatment plan.
In addition, Dr Ho and Dr Chan also explored the options available for a beautiful smile line, removing buried teeth and wisdom teeth, and improving facial aesthetics (eg. square jaw, protruding jaw etc).
Better Teeth, Better Years
Last but not least, Dr Neo Tee Khin, Prosthodontist (Dental Specialist in Teeth Replacement), presented the latest technologies to replace missing teeth, whether it is one missing tooth, multiple missing teeth or the entire mouth. Our teeth have important functions, including mastication (chewing) and speech. A beautiful smile also promotes healthy self-esteem.
- Dr Wai answering one of the attendee’s question during the Q&A session.
To conclude the seminar, all six speakers participated in a Question & Answer session with the attendees. Three lucky winners also went home with product hampers worth $250, $200 and $150.
We hope the attendees found the seminar as fruitful as we did. It was a great opportunity for our dentists to not only share essential dental knowledge, but to also meet new friends.
Finally, special thanks to everyone involved for making this a successful event, including our co-organizer, Channel NewsAsia, and our sponsors for a lovely goodie bag:
More photos of the seminar can be found here.
