Dental Asia July/August 2021

Under the Spotlight
model and do the mock up. This can
never happen in the analogue world,”
he said.
SOARING HIGHER
Despite the significant advancements
in digital dentistry, Dr Tse acknowledges
that some practitioners still prefer to
follow traditional methods as they feel
more confident in it.
While he understands their comfort
zone, he emphasises that a patientoriented
practice is what will succeed in
the future.
“Patients are now focused on the
experience, just like how we go to a
five-star hotel,” he explained. “You can
use Nokia an example. Although the
company was once considered as the
king of mobile phones, they eventually
got eliminated in the market. The same
thing can happen in dentistry. If you are
hesitant in adopting digital technology,
you will be eliminated.”
In fact, Dr Tse noted that dentistry has
evolved massively in the past decade.
Moving forward, he expects to see more
innovations such as digital guide on
tooth preparation or a robot to prepare
the tooth; as well as advancements on
materials such as “injectable ceramics”
or being able to print ceramic in the
clinic.
“Guided tooth prep has already
happened but it has so many
limitations. Sooner or later, it will have a
breakthrough,” he said.
In addition, he also foresees progress in
teledentistry: “I can imagine that every
patient will have their scanner at home
which can be used for examination and
diagnosis, and they will only go to the
clinic for treatment.”
According to Dr Tse, this phenomenon
has two different aspects, particularly
during the pandemic.
He explained, “With heightened alert
on infection control, as a patient, they
would want to minimise the travel and
visit to the dentist as well as to have the
treatment straight away. As a dentist,
clinicians spend tremendous efforts
in infection control thereby increasing
their workloads. Thus, they would also
prefer to minimise the patient’s visit and
appointment.”
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
Now in his 50s and with a successful
clinical practice under his belt, Dr Tse is
able to find more time to lead a healthy
lifestyle.
“I got fat when I turn old. I planned to
work on my abs last year but COVID-19
happened, resulting in closed gyms,
social distancing and the ‘quarantine 15’
(the 15-pound weight gain during selfisolation),”
he shared in jest.
He admitted that he had become
unmotivated to start his fitness journey
with the closure of gyms and being
surrounded with the instant ramen he
bought from panic buying.
“Finally, after a few months of social
distancing, I decided to jumpstart my
fitness journey after a family gathering
on Mother’s Day. I made the decision
to do the 12-weeks challenge — to gain
six packs even in this age and do what
some people consider impossible,” he
said.
After the 12-weeks challenge, he started
to train for his first-ever marathon, a
sport he used to hate.
He shared: “I finished three online
marathons since last year. First is
the London marathon on October
2020, followed by New York Marathon
in November 2020, and the Tokyo
Marathon on March this year.”
Dr Tse and his fitness challenge
Although Dr Tse misses traveling
and lecturing, he is grateful for the
opportunity brought by the pandemic as
the lockdown allows him to focus on his
fitness and to challenge himself to grow
— whether inside or outside the four walls
of a dental clinic. DA
DENTAL ASIA JULY / AUGUST 2021 27