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From Left to Right
Dr Ong Yean Sze, Dr Jon Ryder, Dr Tatiana Luebke, Dr Leroy McCully, Dr Amanda Wong, Dr Bernard Siew, Dr Patricia Hancock, Dr Brendan Gin, Dr Marcus Cooney, Dr Francine Chia, Dr Myles Holt, Dr VicPearly Wong, Dr Elaine Ng, Dr Christina Liew.
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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)
After being in private practice for more than twelve years in Australia Dr Marcus Cooney created his first clinic, Dental Excellence, at Tanglin Shopping Centre in Orchard Road. Now, more than 14 years later Smilefocus has three clinics at Camden Medical Centre.
Dr. Cooney's role at Smilefocus is now as Director and Clinical Mentor.
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.
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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 in 2000 after working 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 an Australian who has practised in Singapore for over 10 years. His areas of focus are
- cosmetic dentistry, including complete smile makeovers, veneers in porcelain and resin, and whitening
- management of excessively worn teeth, from bruxism to acid erosion
- oral rehabiliation and implant prosthodontics, including crowns, bridges and dentures
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 Jon Ryder
D.D.S. (Iowa)
Dr Jon Ryder has almost 20 years of experience in general dentistry, including many years as Assistant Professor Restorative Dentistry, Operative Department of Dentistry, University of Iowa, a post which he still holds as Adjunct Professor. He is also a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Dr Ryder has expertise in
- restorative dentistry (full mouth rehabilitation)
- implant surgery and prosthodontics
- cosmetic dentistry (porcelain veneers)
- periodontal surgery, including, hard &and soft tissue crown lengthening, scale and root planning, flap surgery and tissue grafting, periodontal plastic surgery
- oral pathology, oral medicine and chronic pain
- emergency and trauma
Dr Ryder is also very experienced in using and training others in CEREC®, a computer-aided tool for creating crowns and onlays. Dr Ryder has humanitarian interests (beyond his patients) and provides his dental and business management skills to a number of non-profit organisations in Cambodia.
Why a dentist?
I am particularly attracted to the artistic nature of dentistry. I have always loved both art and science. Dentistry is the perfect blend of these two disciplines. It allows me to be creative and at the same time, provide quality health care.
An interesting case
I was contacted by a young woman who had neglected her teeth due to a 3-year struggle with breast cancer. She needed immediate surgery and was told by the surgeon that all the infection and disease in her mouth needed to be eliminated before he would operate. She had 14 teeth that needed crowns and onlays and was told by another dentist the only way to quickly remove the decay and infection was to extract all the teeth! Since we had Cerec technology in our office we were able to restore all 14 teeth in one day. The young woman was able to have her operation that same week. She still sends me my favorite chocolates every year on my birthday.
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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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Dr Amanda Wong
B.D.S. (Adelaide)
Dr. Amanda Wong, born and bred in Adelaide, graduated from Adelaide University and has since been working in private practice. Dr Wong has a great affinity with children and can usually calm even the most fearfully resistant child, just see her interesting case!
Why a dentist?
Ever since I can remember, I have always known I wanted to work in the medical field, and when I did a stint of work experience in a dental surgery, I'd found my niche. Dentistry has so many facets and I really enjoy them all. Not only is the clinical side of things interesting and challenging but you are also a problem-solver and a teacher - you really get to help people improve their self-esteem and learn ways to improve their lifestyle.
Going to the dentist can be daunting for most people, however I enjoy taking care of people and changing their opinion. I hope to make a positive impact on my patients so they look forward to coming to see me.
An interesting case
I enjoy treating children, especially when they enjoy coming to the dentist and have lots of fun. However, often the kids don’t always start that way, so showing them care, patience and making the appointment fun for them can be rewarding not only for the child, but for me as well.
I had a 3-year old whose mother wanted her to have a check-up. This being the girl’s first time to the dental clinic she was very scared and wouldn’t even go near the room, keeping her hand clamped over her mouth. After much coaxing we settled her in the chair and I managed to convince her to open her mouth for me to do a check-up. After patiently talking her through everything, we even managed to do a filling that she required.
Her mum brought her back for a 6-month recall and this little girl's attitude was so different from the first time she stepped into the dental clinic. She happily jumped into the chair and lay there patiently, with a smile on her face! She then proceeded to try to convince her terrified friend who'd come with her how important getting a check-up was and how there was nothing to it. From holding her hand over her mouth to being an advocate for dental check-ups in 6 months was an amazing change.
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Dr Myles Holt
B.D.S. (Sydney)
Dr. Myles Holt is a native of Melbourne, Australia and has more than 10 years of international experience spanning Australia, UK, Europe and the Middle East. His passion and expertise lies in Cosmetic Dentistry and Facial Aesthetic procedures. Appreciating that a great looking smile goes beyond just great teeth, Dr Holt selectively uses facial aesthetic techniques such as Botox and Dermal Fillers (Juvederm) to create beautiful lips, cheeks and facial profiles that compliment and frame the teeth. Dr Holt is a founding member and the current Director of the Australian Academy of Dento-Facial Aesthetics, a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a member of the International Academy of Dento-Facial Aesthetics.
Why a dentist?
After my childhood dreams of being an astronaut were dashed by Australia failing to develop any kind of space programme; and after the movie Jaws turned me off being a marine biologist, I always wanted to be a Dentist! As it turns out, Dentistry has proven to be the perfect fit for me. I thrive on the daily challenges and the varied nature of the work. I also have an annoying attention to detail. Being a dentist allows me to combine all aspects of my personality – I get to be creative, artistic, scientific, an educator, a care giver, a listener, to use both my hands and my brain, and all on a daily basis. What more could I ask for?
An interesting case
Thankfully, modern Dentistry has come a long way, both in terms of the advanced techniques we are now able to provide, and in the philosophy and approach to the way we treat teeth and our clients as a whole. However, we still see the unfortunate legacy of the "dark ages of Dentistry" and there is one case that stands out in my mind as a shining example of the amazing new age of dental care we offer.
A very stern looking, middle-aged accountant came to see me with a broken tooth. She would only speak in short, sharp bursts with a rather harsh tone and stiff lips. She had developed the reputation around the office as being somewhat mean and to smile was unthinkable! Interestingly, she declared that she really didn't like dentists because despite having spent a lot of time and money on her teeth in the past, she still had "horrible" teeth! The problem was not that this patient had been neglectful of her teeth, as she had a great diet, great oral hygiene and went to the dentist regularly. The problem was that her teeth had been treated with a "patch-up" mentality - filling after filling after filling; on top of more filling!
Her teeth were left weakened by large old silver fillings. They constantly broke and trapped food; there were stained old white fillings and her mouth looked like a dark and jagged patchwork. None of the previous treatment over many years had done anything to improve her appearance or the long-term functionality of her teeth - they were simply filling the holes.
Our approach was different. Our goal was to offer treatment that not only looked fantastic and youthful, but most importantly provided value for money and long-term strength and reliability of function. The goal was to properly reconstruct the teeth rather than just patch them up.
To achieve this we used a combination of porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges which resulted in a beautiful, strong, healthy, long-lasting smile. Naturally this patient was immediately over the moon with the results but it wasn't until she returned for one of her regular check-ups a few years later that she summed everything up. She told me that her work and personal life was now better than ever as she smiled more and chatted freely, no longer ashamed of her appearance. She said she could now function in life with confidence, knowing that the work we had done was strong and reliable. But the best bit ... being an accountant she had done some calculations and the cost of the treatment we provided was far less than what she had spent over the many years of "patchwork" Dentistry.
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