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| The smilefocus dentists are from Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., U.S.A. and Singapore, and all of them have trained and worked overseas, before bringing their expertise to Singapore. |  |
| We think all our dentists are fantastic, and in order to help you know us a bit better, we asked them why they chose to become dentists, and to describe an interesting case. Their responses are included with a brief overview of their expertise. |
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Dr Marcus Cooney
B.D.S. (Adelaide) F.I.C.C.D.E. (Singapore)
After being in private practice for more than twelve years in Australia Dr Marcus Cooney wanted to create a dental clinic in Singapore, where the emphasis is on a friendly welcome, stylish comfort, hygienic cleanliness, and first class, modern treatment methods.
Dr. Cooney has served on many dental committees, including The University of Adelaide Post Graduate Committee in Dentistry. He was inducted as a Fellow of the International College of Continuing Dental Education, Singapore in 2001.
Why a dentist?
I just love it. All my patients are different because everyone's teeth are different. No two mouths are the same. My goal is to ensure every patient is satisfied with their smile, because our smiles say so much about us. If the eyes are the window to the soul, then a great smile is the door to the personality.
An interesting case.
Throughout my 25 years there are many memorable cases, but there is one that stands out due to a somewhat unusual conclusion.
A patient in his mid 30's had a rare immunity disorder that had led to the early loss of jawbone around his back teeth. The extreme looseness of these teeth made it difficult for him to enjoy such foods as a nice, big, tasty piece of steak - much to his frustration.
We decided to replace all his back teeth with implant supported bridges, which due to his immunity problems was very challenging and difficult to do. The total treatment period was almost a year in which the patient remained very positive and increasingly excited about his 'new teeth'.
On the day we finished, the result was fantastic and he announced that he had organised a special dinner that evening at a local Steak House to celebrate. Both my wife and I were invited. He ordered the biggest steak on the menu and ate it with gusto, much to everyone's delight and my relief.
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Dr Patricia Hancock
B.D.S (London) B.Sc (Newcastle)
Originally from England, Dr Patricia Hancock has worked in dentistry in London, Switzerland and Hong Kong, also teaching Radiology and Conservative dentistry in Hong Kong for 10 years. During her previous work positions
Dr Hancock had to communicate solely in German and French. Singapore has been home for quite some time, and she only loosens up her Germanic 'ach' and her French 'rrrr' talking treatments with patients.
Dr Hancock is a founding member of the Smilefocus team.
Why a dentist?
As a child I took a psychological battery from overworked and heavy-handed NHS dentists in England. I vowed that when I became a dentist I would not allow my patients to suffer in this way, and indeed would try to reverse the effects of any previous phobias.
We have many ways of making our patients feel relaxed and comfortable during their dental care; each method is tailored to the individual, and happily most are surprised at how well they really do manage.
An interesting case
My patient was an older man who had not visited a dentist for 10 years. He was unhappy with the appearance of his teeth but was so anxious and phobic that he had considered having all his teeth extracted and replaced with implants or dentures while under general anaesthestic in just one visit! After many discussions, together we developed a plan of treatment to address his cosmetic, functional and psychological needs. We managed his anxiety using distraction tactics, sedation and counseling. While we had to remove some of his teeth we were able to restore his smile in a way which achieved a great physical result and even led to a longer term reduction in his anxiety of the dentist.
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Dr Brendan Gin
B.D.Sc (Melbourne)
Dr Brendan Gin moved to Singapore from Melbourne, Australia where he had been practicing for a short time at the Royal Dental Hospital, and a further eight years in private practice. Dr Gin has a wide range of experience in treating adults and children for general dental care and has a particular interest in crown, bridgework and aesthetic dentistry. His gentle and caring manner has a calming effect on even the most nervous of patients.
Why a dentist?
As a teenager I had braces for four years and was fortunate to have an orthodontist who was keen to share his knowledge of dentistry. Having a monthly orthodontic adjustment for four years meant I was exposed to a lot of dentistry at a young age. My interest grew from here such that I become quite disheartened when the braces were finally removed and I could no longer attend the practice. Several years later on my first day of university I crossed paths with my orthodontist who happened to be a lecturer there. I will always remember what he said to me that day: “Brendan, if you treat each and every person as a precious relative, you will have a long and fulfilling career.”
An interesting case
A very nervous lady attended our practice with a severe toothache. She had walked past our front door over 20 times before having the courage to enter, whereupon she broke down in tears for twenty minutes. A very bad childhood experience had stopped her from seeking regular dental care and accordingly both aesthetically and functionally her teeth had suffered. Although a well groomed and successful businesswoman she would shy away from smiling, laughing or any close person to person conversation. Her overall attitude to dentistry was very negative to the point of neglecting her own home care. After many visits acclimatising her to the dental environment we were able to build her trust and confidence to enable me to resolve her immediate toothache problems and restore function. Even a good preventative care home program was organised.
The change in her attitude to dentistry was astounding - laughing and joking when attending the clinic and she became very motivated with her dental homecare. In her own words, she didn't have the smile to suit her new found attitude and regained confidence. Using the latest porcelain materials we were able to rebuild and restore her smile. A regular six monthly attendee, this formerly very nervous patient is now able to reminisce positively about that life changing first visit.
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Dr Christina Liew
B.D.Sc (Melbourne)
Originally from Australia, Dr Christina Liew relocated to Singapore in 2000. Dr Liew's interest is cosmetic work and minor oral surgery, such as wisdom teeth extraction. She is a general dentist who treats both adults and children.
Why a dentist?
I've always been a very active person - cycling, aerobics, that kind of thing. And very competitive. When I was in my teens I was in a bike race where we were racing really hard, and a friend of mine lost control of his bike. He lost some of his teeth too. He had had the most fantastic smile, but the eventual repair job wasn't too good. So I decided I wanted to be the person who could fix anyone else like him. Of course, there's more to dentistry than only fixing broken teeth. I enjoy all of it. There's even an adrenalin hit when you complete some particularly difficult treatment and the patient is really pleased with the result. I love that.
An interesting case
A 25 year old man - tall, unshaven, vivid tattoos on his arms and shoulders, shaved head — kind of 'rough looking' – appeared at the clinic because his girlfriend had agreed to marry him only if he had his teeth fixed. And because previously he had only ever visited the dentist when he was in pain, his teeth were in a pretty bad way. He had several missing teeth (including the front ones) and most of his remaining teeth were either decayed or broken from years of neglect and fights at the local pub, and heavily stained from smoking. It took a few visits for examination, consultation and discussions before we finalised the treatment plan. This included 8 crowns and 2 sets of bridges as well as 5 teeth requiring root canal treatment, teeth whitening and some minor gum surgery. In other words, a full mouth rehabilitation. Treatment took 2 months, with 1-2 long visits per week. Both the patient and his fiancée were thrilled with the outcome, and both of them became regular dental patients who attend every six months. Due to his dental makeover this young man has more confidence and self esteem. No longer embarrassed about his teeth, he smiles more often and he even gained an office job for a large company after his marriage. The last time we spoke, he was planning to start his own business! To quote: “The first steps into your practice, Doc, were the best thing I ever did (apart from marrying my wife, of course). It changed my life forever, and I can't be happier. Thank you.”
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Dr Elaine Ng
B.D.S. (Singapore)
Dr Elaine Ng hails from Auckland, New Zealand. After relocating to Singapore in 1997 she has worked in both public and private sectors, including hospital dentistry and Accident & Emergency. Dr Ng is able to manage emergency/trauma situations as well as fearful patients. Her expertise lies within cosmetic dentistry including crowns, bridges and whitening. She is able to perform wisdom tooth extractions to minor surgeries, and enjoys working with children of all ages.
Why a dentist?
The technical and scientific aspect of dentistry keeps me challenged professionally, but it's the human side - the interaction with my patients that I find most rewarding. There is never a dull moment (especially when treating children), and some of my most phobic patients have become good friends over the years. Many people have bad childhood experiences with dentistry, and my hope is to 'undo' these and hopefully make visiting the dentist something pleasant, or even enjoyable.
An interesting case
I had a patient who was so fearful that even touching her lips made her jump! This lady had had a particularly traumatic experience as a child, involving multiple procedures. It was not the treatment itself which traumatised her, but the way her dentist was 'rough' with her. Even an injection can be a traumatic experience if not handled with care, and patients often remember such experiences their whole lives.
After her ordeal, the patient did not visit a dentist again for more than 20 years. Even basic hygiene such as brushing and flossing was neglected on a daily basis, as her experience had made her feel helpless to manage her oral hygiene herself. So much so that when I met her, her oral condition had deteriorated to the point that many teeth in her mouth were broken and rotten, with rampant infection. Sadly, the only reason she came to see me was the pain of infection. This perfectly normal, pretty young woman in her 20s had a mouth where all her teeth were broken and stained; not even her front teeth were spared.
During my initial exam she was scrunched up on the dental chair in a foetal position with her legs up, hugging a pillow for comfort. That first day I literally was only able to examine her front teeth! What followed were many sessions of counselling, educating and very small steps to begin cleaning her teeth. Over many visits she gradually began to trust that her treatment could be pain free and that I had a genuine desire to help her get better. As her condition was progressively treated this young lady gained confidence in both her dentist and in her appearance. She began to smile, laugh and joke with us. She began to pay more attention to herself and wore makeup. The improvement in her oral health encouraged her to take better care of herself too. She even joined a gym. It was wonderful to be able to help her not only regain her health and confidence in seeing the dentist, but most importantly, in seeing her regain her self-esteem.
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Dr Bernard Siew
BDS (Adelaide)
Dr Bernard Siew is another Australian here at Smilefocus. With more than eight years in general dentistry, Dr Siew concentrates primarily on cosmetic dentistry, in particular total smile makeovers using porcelain veneers, crown and bridgework and teeth whitening.
Why a dentist?
When I was a young child I had a condition where two of my baby teeth were 'fused' together. Until my early teens I had a missing front tooth, revealing a hideously large gap whenever I smiled. Mum tells me that I sang “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth” all the time. I'd imagine how a perfect smile, or even a normal smile, would look. My dentist was an open and gentle guy who fixed my smile.
Because of my heightened interest in teeth from a very young age, dentistry, especially in the area of aesthetics, was certainly the profession for me. It brings me great joy to be able to help improve and rejuvenate people's smiles, as my dentist had done for me many years ago.
An interesting case
A shy woman in her twenties presented with teeth that had been worn down almost to her gums and were severely discoloured. After a long discussion I discovered that she was bulimic and her stomach acid had eroded the enamel. In addition to which she only ate lemons for two years! Needless to say, her teeth were very sensitive. Fortunately she had counseling and recovered. Because this woman wanted to look normal again, but could not afford complicated treatment, we reconstructed her teeth with resin veneers. In a single visit she had her beautiful smile back.
A couple of years later I could not recognize her - she was a successful model brimming with self confidence. She said that after having her teeth fixed she discovered that huge change can be achieved, and this inspired her to make other changes in her life. It was truly gratifying to have been involved in her amazing transformation.
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Dr Francine Chia
B.D.S. (Adelaide)
Dr. Francine Chia is from Adelaide, South Australia. She graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, while winning awards and accolades. She moved into general dentistry in Tasmania, where, working in a large private practice, she gained experience in all aspects of general dentistry. Dr Chia particularly enjoys cosmetic dentistry and creating positive changes to improve smiles while encouraging optimal oral hygiene and health.
Why a dentist?
I have wanted to be a dentist since the age of 11! As a child I had an extremely positive treatment experience through both my general dentist and orthodontist. Their enthusiasm, communication skills and genuine enjoyment of their profession made a lasting impression on me and encouraged me to pursue this career. By emulating their positive attitude and energy, I hope to encourage all my patients to take pride in their oral health and strive for optimal dental health.
An interesting case
Dietary changes are a key challenge in dental health today. Many popular drinks not only contain high levels of sugar, but also contain extremely high levels of acid. A man in his early twenties presented with a complaint of broken, sensitive and yellowing teeth. He had a history of consuming highly acidic drinks throughout the day and while he had no decay, he had all but destroyed all the enamel from the inner surfaces of his front and molar teeth through dietary acid erosion. With education and support we were able to change and modify his dietary habits, and then restore the tooth structure he had lost with a series of tooth coloured resin and porcelain restorations. With this treatment the young man was able to function as he had before, and was also very pleased with the aesthetic improvement. He was amazed at how much destruction had occurred from the acid drink, and grateful that we had stopped any further damage!
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Dr Tatiana Luebke
B.D.S. (Bristol)
Dr. Tatiana Luebke qualified from the University of Bristol over 10 years ago. Having practiced in Brazil, France and now Singapore, Dr Luebke combines Latin flair with a phlegmatic practicality. Fluent in French and Portuguese (and of course English) she has focused on oral implantology, clinical periodontology and restorative dentistry.
Why a dentist?
Being a dentist is incredibly fascinating and rewarding. It is the perfect combination of the scientific (knowing how our body works) with the technical and the personal. New materials and new techniques means we are constantly evolving; the relationships we develop with our patients mean we can have a lasting effect on their health and wellbeing. For all these reasons, being a dentist is just a great profession.
An interesting case
What I find the most rewarding about being a dentist is to see how my treatments can have a profoundly positive impact on the life of my patients. A typical example: a man aged 50, who had originally lost two upper front teeth in a rowing accident some years previously, came to see me. These teeth had been replaced by a bridge, which was held in place by the teeth either side of the gap. Some years later this bridge failed when these supporting teeth also fell out, so then he needed to replace four teeth, with no choice but to replace the bridge with a denture. By the time I saw him he was having a lot of difficulties eating and speaking (just too much acrylic in his mouth). I replaced his denture with four implants. Being able to eat without the fear of his teeth remaining stuck in his steak was liberating. But most importantly, he regained his self esteem and could smile again without holding his denture in position with his tongue. He regained his long lost natural smile. It was a great
feeling, for both of us.
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