Since this site is still under construction and there are a lot more information not uploaded,I have decided to start a series of educational posts for those of you who want to keep your only set of teeth and your mouth in healthy condition. 

1.Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults,and it has been linked to heart disease and strokes.Early stages of gum disease called gingivitis, is totally reversible.Brushing and flossing regularly and correctly will prevent further deterioration of the disease.If left untreated,gingivitis will advance to a more serious and irriversible periodontitis,which is gum disease that involve bone loss.

2.Go for yout regular dental check-up and professional cleaning.Don’t wait till you have a problem before you see your dentist.It is always less uncomfortable and less costly if you do you 6-monthly regular check-up.

3.Brushing alone is not enough.Plaque,which is the sticky substance accumulated on your teeth ,which contains mainly bacteria,can be found between your teeth.You will need to floss your teeth to get rid of them.That will prevent gum disease and tooth decay.Here are some visuals for your toothbrushing and flossing techniques.

Most of us do not spend enough time brushing our teeth.One good point to remember when brushing-make sure you brush every single tooth surface.

Flossing needs to be done once a day,and it has to be done correctly in order to clean out all the plaque between our teeth.

Plaque when left uncleaned from our tooth surface,will harden to become calculus or tartar.And you can only remove tartar through professional cleaning in your dentist’s office.

4.About 85% of people with persistent bad breath have a dental problem that is to blame.Mouth washes will only mask but not treat the underlying problem.Speaking of mouthwashes,some people are more prone to getting stains on their teeth when they use certain mouth washes regularly.So do be aware of that.

5.Proper nutrition in your daily diet is important to maintain good dental health.Limit the amount of sweet food and beverages.Basically the bacteria in our mouths thrive on sugar to create an acidic environment for them to wreak havoc!!

Interestingly,cheese and other dairy products have a buffering effect in our mouth by neutralizing the acidity caused by sugar and bacteria.

6.If you have pain or discomfort in your mouth or on your teeth,see your dentist immediately.The problem will not go away or get better without proper treatment.

7.Change your toothbrush regularly.The normal lifespan of a manual toothbrush is 3 month,after which it may not function as effectively as before.

I have invested in some technology for my clinic,with the vision that it is the way to go in the future.

I attended an international dental conference in March this year and was very inspired by the topics covered about advancements in technology.To stay on the cutting edge,we cannot be lagging behind when everyone is moving forward.

So,I made a decision that I WILL stay in the front while advancing with the new technologies and materials in dentistry.

This is my digital X-Ray system.They are a lot safer and environmental-friendly.Radiation is reduced up till 90%,compared to conventional dental X-Rays,and by going digital,I eliminate the use of toxic chemicals(developing solutions) in my clinic.They show up on my computer screen in seconds and I can enlarge the image to see the details of it.

And this is an example of a radiograph taken with my digital X-Ray system

This is my intra-oral camera,which takes superb pictures of teeth magnified many times.

They are excellent diagnostic tools,apart from being a great way of educating every discerning patient who comes along.It takes very good before and after pictures too.

I believe that the society today is slowly but surely becoming aware of the need for good dental and oral health.Ignorance is no longer an excuse.It is therefore every dental practitioner’s responsibility to educate the public on how to achieve high levels of dental health.And I am convinced that the knowledge and understanding that is gained will be passed on to the next generation and the next.

Having said that,I still believe that the 2 most important things any dentist who wants to make a difference should have,is competence and compassion.Competency means knowing how to do my job well,ie always striving for excellence .Being compassionate means having the commitment to care for every person who comes to me to seek dental treatment . High callings, but I believe standards,just like visions,should be set high and not just at mediocre levels.

It’s my second week into running my clinic, iSmile Dental Center and the feeling is just fantastic! Last week went by in a flash,with the school holiday and lots of children flooding the clinic.It was a wonder there was nothing broken in my brand new clinic!!

I had an opening ceremony of sorts on the 4th June,which was a Sunday afternoon and started business on the next day.It was so heartwarming to see friends and relatives turning up,even though the were many who couldn’t make it because of the school holidays ,as many of them were travelling.Nevertheless,I feel really blessed to have so many friends who took the time and effort to attend.

Here are some snapshots taken during the opening ceremony.

Then there were cameo appearances…

   Amy and Amy.This is Dr Amy Gan and Dr Amy Chin,my dear freinds and dental colleagues,who graciously agreed to help out on that day.

       My science teacher in Form 3,Mr Ho Chu Chuan and his lovely wife.Today, Mr Ho is an accomplished lawyer with his own law firm in PJ.Thank you sir,for attending!

     This is Ricky and his family.Ricky is the contractor who did the renovations for my clinic,and he has won my respect for his integrity and his sense of responsibility.

      That’s Andrew Sr and Andrew Jr(splitting image of his dad!).Senior is an old friend from my hometown Sitiawan.His younger sister and I grew up together,climbing trees and rooftops and doing many other things that would give our parents cardiac arrests if they had known! Its great to have you and family there,celebrating with me,Andrew.

      That’s Tze Shen aka Glamour King,my “favouritest” 2-year-old nephew.

That’s Joy,Pastor Michael Ngui’s daughter and Lu-Zheng,my youngest ,who is 3.

I had a group of friends,I call them Friends of iSmile,who helped me do guided tours for my guests during the opening.They did a superb job,showing and explaning the various aspects of the clinic to my guests,who were ushered upstairs in small groups.I am so proud of them!

Here are some close up pictures inside my clinic.

This is my logo ast the reception counter     

This signage greets you at the entrance before you go upstairs to the clinic

It is very fulfilling to see my dream coming true.And again I am thankful to God for making all these possible.

I have my vision and my practice philosophy put up at the entrance to my clinic,and as much as I want to let everyone who comes to my clinic to read all that,it is also a constant reminder for me as I go to work daily.I am just very thankful that I am doing this with a very clear vision and mission.I guess,it comes with age,well,maturity.That sounds better!!