March 5, 2009
The Pro
Smile architect
Prosthodontist Wong Keng Mun, 37, lead clinical director of T32 Dental Centre, tells POON CHIAN HUI he loves restoring and building - teeth, that is
I decided to specialise in prosthodontics because...
I enjoy restoring and building things. Prosthodontics, a branch of dentistry, focuses on implants, crowns and bridges, as well as smile design and full-mouth reconstruction for functional and aesthetics reasons. There are patients, for instance, who cannot chew properly or who have ugly teeth.
Teeth are fascinating because...
Each tooth is like a unique beautiful piece of jewellery. A tooth at close range can reflect iridescent colours that change under different types of lighting. This is perhaps why some ceramic artists describe teeth as dental pearls.
If I were to give an analogy for what I do, I'd be an...
Architect. As a prosthodontist, I design the smile which is like the way an architect designs buildings. I then sub-contract parts of the work to other dental or medical specialists to complete the oral rehabilitation - where teeth are replaced with crowns, bridges or implants.
The prosthodontist is in full control of the entire process and I like being in control of what I can do for my patients.
I have come across all types of cases...
I see two main groups of patients - those with worn out and discoloured teeth who require restoration work like veneers or crowns, and those with missing teeth who need dental implants.
I have had several interesting cases where plastic surgery 'collided' with cosmetic dentistry.
Some patients, after their oral rehabilitation, go for plastic surgery like face lifts. Their upper lips get lifted higher and when they smile, the teeth appear too long for their face - like a horse. I have had to replace them with shorter teeth.
A typical day for me would be...
I usually arrive at my clinic at 8am, except on Tuesdays and Saturdays when I play golf at 7am. Usually, I spend the entire day seeing patients. From 6 to 8pm, I might have an office meeting or a chat with my clinic managers.
I am not in the clinic on Wednesdays. That's when I teach dental students at the National University of Singapore.
When I get home, I spend time with my wife and four-year-old daughter. My wife, 37, is a financial analyst. After they go to bed at 11pm, I may read, do laboratory work, reply to e-mail or watch television. I go to bed at 1am.
I love patients who are...
Friendly and relaxed but, more importantly, they have to have realistic expectations.
Patients who get my goat are...
Those who do not value what's in their mouths. It is sad to see people who allow the condition of their teeth to get worse. What's even more appalling is that they don't have dental work done to correct their problem.
One little known fact about cosmetic dentistry is...
The dentist's skills, choice of material, techniques and technology used all play a crucial role in the treatment process.
Also, most procedures are irreversible. Always remember that natural teeth are the most beautiful and never let anyone lead you to believe that veneers or crowns are more natural-looking.
Things that put a smile on my face are...
When my patients walk out of the clinic feeling satisfied because their dental problems have been solved or improved.
It breaks my heart when...
Despite my best efforts, my patient's expectations are not met.
I wouldn't trade places for the world because...
I love my work too much and I still have a very strong desire to improve at it. Plus, I cannot imagine myself doing well in other jobs.
My best tip...
A smile is the most beautiful with good, natural teeth and healthy gums, so protect and look after them well.
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