Dental Asia March/April 2024

SHOW PREVIEW
mistaken for an easy procedure. Through
this workshop, I wanted to share some of
my experiences to shed some light on this
complex and regionally relevant topic for
others.
How did you come to gain the expertise and
competence needed to treat complex fully
edentulous patients?
During my university days, dental
implantology was not nearly as common
in Singapore as it is today. Then, most
edentulous patients here relied on dentures,
which have their drawbacks and are thus
slowly being phased out in recent years.
The epicentre for dental implantology
advancements was in North America and
Europe, so I seized an opportunity to pursue
my postgraduate studies at the University of
Washington.
My studies abroad introduced and
accustomed me to many other methods that
were at that time relatively novel, or not yet
implemented here in Singapore. I believe
a great deal of the expertise I have today
can be attributed to my further education
abroad, and I am immensely grateful for that
experience.
Above dental expertise and clinical skillset,
one also needs communication, compassion
and empathy to treat patients, something
often overlooked but no less important. This
is achieved through interacting with patients
and understanding their needs.
Dr Gabriel Lee will
be at the Dental
Hygienist & Therapist
forum presenting his
lecture on ‘Oral Care
for the Dependent
Older Adult: How Can
I Help?’
Your teaching and research areas focus on
geriatric oral health and oral health services
in nursing homes. Why did you choose to
focus onto these areas?
The choice to dive into geriatric oral health
stems from a combination of understanding
societal needs and a personal desire to help
address healthcare disparities. My interest is
rooted in the belief that oral health is integral to
overall well-being, particularly in older adults.
The demographic shift towards an ageing
population, particularly in Singapore,
underscores the growing importance of
catering to the unique oral health needs of
older adults. With one in four individuals
projected to be aged 65 and above by the
end of the decade, there is a pressing need
for specialised attention to the oral health
challenges that come with ageing.
A personal focus on oral health services in
nursing homes also aligns with the broader
context of healthcare accessibility. Nursing
home residents often face distinct oral health
issues, and there is a recognised gap in
delivering comprehensive dental care within
the long-term care setting. Through research
and contributing to clinical services this
area, I aim to contribute to filling this gap and
improving the overall quality of oral health
services for a vulnerable segment of the
population.
What is the role of international collaboration
and knowledge exchange in delivering better
health outcomes for older adult populations
globally?
The exploration of oral health needs, access
challenges, and the role of dental professionals
in enhancing oral health for Singapore's
older adult population prompts a broader
consideration of the global scenario. In
addressing the shared challenges faced by
numerous societies, regional and international
collaboration and knowledge exchange play
pivotal roles in fostering improved health
outcomes for older adult populations globally.
Partnerships that extend beyond borders
facilitates the exchange of best practices and
innovative approaches within geriatric oral
health care. By learning from the experiences
and successes of different countries, dental
professionals can gain valuable insights
into effective strategies and care models
for addressing common challenges such as
access to care, preventive measures, and
tailored treatment approaches.
Knowledge exchange also promotes the
development of interdisciplinary approaches
to geriatric oral health. Establishing
collaborations between dental professionals,
healthcare providers, researchers, and
policymakers from various countries
can potentially lead to a comprehensive
understanding of the multifaceted nature of
oral health in older adults.
What is the significance of the new
Dr Andrew Fish
will be presenting
in the scientific
conference on
‘Bone Regeneration,
A Scientific and
Clinical Review
of New Synthetic
Material and Surgical
Protocols’
synthetic materials and surgical protocols
for bone regeneration reviewed in your
session?
Modern synthetics are revolutionising
the dental bone grafting world. With
these products eliminating the need for a
separate collagen membrane, they make
my surgery quicker, easier and more
predictable. The fact you can load your
implant at three months with enough
vital bone to have great stability is a
game-changer.
From experience, we also see it completely
replaced by host bone at around 12 months,
so there are no foreign body particles
left in the body, which you often see from
xenografts and other synthetics. These
materials have transformed the way I do
surgery, giving me greater predictability and
ultimately better care for my patients.
As new materials and protocols continue
to develop, what trends are you keeping
an eye on to achieve optimal long-term
outcomes for bone regeneration?
I have always strived to look for what is
best for my patients. I really believe that
minimally invasive surgery helps patients
heal. The way I see dentistry moving is
more towards giving the body what it needs
to heal, to get it as close to the patient’s
original state as possible, instead of relying
on foreign materials that can linger in the
site long-term. DA
58 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2024