Wisdom tooth surgery – a walk in the park or a trek up Everest?
on February 8, 2017
Today, I removed the four wisdom teeth of the son of my first ever wisdom tooth patient. His father was my first ever wisdom tooth surgery patient thirty years ago. I was in final year dental school then and removal of that one tooth took two hours. It was a most traumatic experience, …
Is orthognathic surgery considered as plastic surgery in Singapore?
on February 6, 2017
Orthognathic surgeryis the surgical correction of dentofacial deformities. Orthognathic is derived from two words, “ortho”, which means to straighten and “gnathic”, which means jaw. It refers to the “straightening” of the jaws, i.e. changing the form of the jaws. Plastic surgery, cont …
Why is the cost of dental implants in Singapore so high?
on February 3, 2017
Dental implant treatment is arguably the most expensive treatment in dentistry. Over the years, the feedback that I got from patients included descriptions such as “more expensive than open heart surgery” and “stuffing a BMW into the mouth”. So, let’s get it upfront, it is expensive. …
Dentofacial aesthetics for the older patient
on January 17, 2017
A colleague once told me this story about a patient of his. An elderly gentleman came in with several badly decayed front teeth. The teeth were quite rotten, discolored and malaligned. He thought to himself that he could be a hero to this patient because no matter what he did, he woul …
The perspectives on corrective jaw surgery by patient and parents
on January 14, 2017
Last night, while driving home, I was listening to BBC on the radio and they were talking about President Obama replying a letter sent by a young girl who wants to pierce her nose against her parents’ wishes. Basically, President Obama told her that she should leave such decision to h …
Maxillo-mandibular advancement surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
on January 13, 2017
This is NOT a post about mixed martial arts. MMA in this post refers to maxillo-mandibular advancement. This is a surgical procedure of bring the upper jaw (maxilla) and the lower jaw (mandible) into a more forward position so as to open up the airway for breathing. Just as cosmetic j …
Should all jaw deformities be corrected surgically?
on December 16, 2016
With the advent of the internet, awareness of surgical treatment of jaw deformities has increased. In the past, most of my patients were referred by orthodontists. Today, the majority of them come directly, seeking surgery. Patients who choose to see an orthodontist first are usually …
Corrective Jaw Surgery in Singapore– public or private hospital?
on November 25, 2016
Last week, after a rather lengthy consultation, a patient asked me whether it is better for her to do her corrective jaw surgery in a public or private hospital. This is not an uncommon question but every time I hear that, I will pause for a while before answering. The critical issue …
Is orthognathic surgery medically necessary?
on November 1, 2016
It is not uncommon for insurance companies to question the medical necessity of orthognathic surgery. Certainly, the most noticeable benefit of orthognathic surgery is the cosmetic improvement. However, the objective of the surgery is not always cosmetic enhancement but a functional r …
Dental implants- the $200,000 mouth and the $6 million man
on October 24, 2016
Cost of dental implants in Singapore is the second most important concern of patients seeking dental implants. The first concern is fear. Fear, daunting as it is, can be overcome with education. Cost, however, is a greater barrier as it cannot be easily bridged, especially when the am …
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