Dental Asia March/April 2023

and their brands through the services
they provide and the products they use.
Nuffield Dental is no exception. In this
regard, it is perhaps more prudent to
view the practice through a business
lens, and how they have approached the
needs of patients as consumers with
demands.
“I don’t just want to give a patient a
crown — it would not be satisfactory.
We only want to give our patients dental
laboratory products that are made in
Singapore. Hence, the crowns used are
designed and produced right here in
our own laboratory; it costs us a lot of
money to maintain but gives us a high
assurance of the quality of component
products used,” shared Dr Kumar.
AI AS AN ENHANCEMENT
When it comes to enhancing treatment
outcomes, artificial intelligence has
become a hot topic of discussion. And
on that front, Dr Kumar retains an open
mind towards the use of AI in the future
of dentistry. In his opinion, AI can be
tapped into for the provision of better
patient care, especially where dentists
might be limited in making further
diagnoses.
“For example, if you observe a lesion,
you take a photo and upload it to an
AI programme that can suggest what
type(s) of lesion it could be. Such packet
recognition of a huge database can help
clinicians derive a diagnosis. So yes, it is
important that dentists are well-trained
to make a spot diagnosis but if they
cannot do so, AI can help.”
He further added instances where AI
can lend a helping hand: in radiographs
and x-rays where hypocalcifications or
potential areas of decay can be identified;
to simple things like brushing, where
the amplitude of the swing and the
amount of pressure to be used can be
ascertained for a better cleaning cycle.
Further, with the advent of technology,
which has enabled the common man
access to an expansive library of
information, patients may also come
to the clinic with questions on esoteric
conditions that dentists might have
forgotten or not know about. The use
of AI can thus broaden the dentist’s
repertoire of knowledge, boosting
patient confidence. This forms part and
parcel of any dentist or clinician’s path
towards success, especially if they are
have just taken the first steps in their
career.
A STRONG PRESENCE BEYOND
PRACTICE
For the practice’s efforts, Nuffield Dental
has been ranked among Singapore’s
fastest growing companies from
2017 to 2020. This road to recognition
had not been easy — with intense
competition in the realm of cosmetic,
aligner, and implant dentistry, practices
are finding ways to define themselves
In addition, Dr Kumar highlighted the
importance of customer service. Though
it was initially a challenge introducing
hospitality to his staff, he stood firm
alongside what his personal interest, and
was able to shape a team that delivered
a cohesive experience for the brand and
its virtues.
Understanding the anxieties and needs
of patients due to the COVID-19
pandemic, Dr Kumar also launched the
ORASYL povidone-iodine mouthwash,
which contains 1% of the eponymous
chemical that reduces the viral burden in
the oropharyngeal region. Subsequently,
the SURGISYL line of surgical masks
was also created — first for clinicians,
then for their patients, and eventually for
the public. These developments which
tap into complementary markets have
allowed Dr Kumar and Nuffield Dental to
establish its presence in Singapore, and
possibly further into the region.
“In the next five to 10 years, I am looking
forward to achieving greater growth for
Nuffield Dental. We want to cater to
patients who seek access to premium
healthcare and technology; it will establish
us as a luxury brand in dental care. We
will take Nuffield Dental regionally and
set up flagship clinics in major cities
throughout South East Asia.” DA
20 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2023