The Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) is a branch of Dentistry that covers the scopes of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Oral Radiology. The range of the specialty is extensive, and includes the diagnosis and management of facial injuries, dento-facial deformities, cysts and tumours of the jaws, impacted teeth, head and neck cancers, salivary gland diseases and medical conditions presenting in the oral cavity.

Several routine oral and maxillofacial surgeries are carried out under local anaesthesia or sedation in the outpatient clinic. More complex or major surgeries can be carried out under general anaesthesia with inpatient hospitalisation. Collaboration with anaesthetists is common to optimise patients for surgery. OMS is often involved in the multi-disciplinary nature of treatment for complex conditions, and frequently works together with other specialties to plan and achieve the best outcome for our patients.

Treatments offered by our specialty include:

• Dentoalveolar surgery involving exodontia, removal of impacted teeth and complex dental roots
• Orthognathic surgery for correction of dento-facial deformities
• Management of complex maxillofacial fractures and soft tissue injuries
• Dental implant surgery
• Reconstructive surgery, including use of implants to retain facial/dental prostheses
• Removal of cysts and tumours of the jaws
• Temporomandibular joint surgery
• Management of benign and malignant lesions of the salivary glands
• Head and neck cancer
• Primary and secondary surgery for cleft lip and palate, and other congenital facial deformities
• Cosmetic surgery including face lifts, eyelid and brow surgery and rhinoplasties

The dental terminology which describes misaligned teeth is malocclusion. It comprises a range of conditions where teeth are displaced or spaced and where their supporting upper and lower jaws are incorrectly positioned resulting in abnormal bite relationships. Such positional mismatch of teeth and jaws may contribute to an unaesthetic smile appearance and could also affect an individual’s ability to chew or speak properly.

Orthodontics is the dental specialty that focuses its skill and knowledge on the correction of misaligned teeth among children and adults. In order to correct malocclusions effectively, the discipline of Orthodontics involves a thorough understanding of facial growth and anatomy and how it affects the development of the face and dentition. As orthodontic treatment involves tooth movement through bone and methods of moving teeth, a sound understanding of bone physiology and the application of mechanical principles are required. In patient care, such knowledge is translated into the diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring of facial growth, implementing the treatment, as well as maintenance of the aligned set of teeth. Through this systematic process, orthodontic treatment aims to improve an individual’s smile visibility and the ability to function well with an aligned set of teeth.

Treatments offered by our specialty include:

• Interceptive orthodontics with Sectional fixed appliances (braces), Growth modification appliances, e.g., functional appliances, facemask, headgear, Maxillary expansion, Active removable appliances
• Fixed appliance (braces) treatment which includes metallic or ceramic (tooth-coloured) attachments (brackets) is carried out either as a singular treatment modality, or as an adjunctive procedure to aid in the prosthodontic restoration of teeth and in conjunction with corrective jaw surgery (for late teenage to adulthood)
• Clear aligner treatment
• Children with cleft lip and/or palate deformity and related craniofacial anomalies
  • Pre-surgical orthopaedic treatment at infancy
  • Orthodontic treatment prior to secondary alveolar bone grafting around 9 to 10 years of age
  • Post-grafting definitive orthodontic treatment (after 10 years of age)
  • Orthodontic treatment (in conjunction with corrective jaw surgery performed by oral maxillofacial surgeons) after facial growth cessation around 18 years of age (if needed)

Periodontal disease, defined as the chronic inflammation of supporting gums and bone around teeth, is one of the most prevalent disease globally. It is primarily caused by bacterial plaque and its progression and severity may be influenced by smoking, diabetes, and genetics. It is characterised by bleeding gums, swollen gums, formation of gum pockets, shrinking gums, bad breath, shaky teeth, and may result in eventual tooth loss. As such, this condition can cause a reduction in chewing and speaking efficiency, self-esteem, and quality of life.

The discipline of Periodontology deals with the prevention, control, and management of periodontal (gum) and peri-implant (inflammation around dental implants) diseases. Our treatment philosophy is to help our patients manage periodontal disease through early detection, customised oral health treatment and oral hygiene instructions, meticulous removal of bacterial plaque, rehabilitation with dental implants, regeneration of supporting gums and bone around teeth and / or dental implants, and enrolment into a life-long maintenance regimen. In addition, we do treat inflammation of the gums and bone around dental implants as well as maintain the health of implants.

Treatments offered by our specialty include:

• Clinical and radiographic examinations
• Diagnosis and treatment planning
• Customised oral health education and oral hygiene instructions
• Scaling and root debridement (deep cleaning) around teeth and dental implants
• Management of acute periodontal conditions, such as gum abscesses
• Advanced surgical procedures, such as open gum debridement, regeneration of gums and bone around teeth and/or dental implants, and placement of dental implants.
• Regular maintenance care of teeth and dental implants.

Paediatric Dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.

The role of paediatric dentists ranges from primary prevention of dental disease and maintenance of optimal oral health to providing comprehensive restorative care for both children who are healthy and those with special needs. Therefore, it encompasses a variety of disciplines, techniques, procedures, and skills that share a common basis with other specialties, but are modified and adapted to the unique requirements of infants, children, adolescents, and those with special health care needs. Disciplines such as behaviour guidance, care of the medically and developmentally compromised and disabled patient, supervision of orofacial growth and development, caries prevention, sedation, pharmacological management, and hospital dentistry, as well as other traditional fields of dentistry, all are within the remit of paediatric dentistry. As children go through ever-changing stages of development, these skills are adapted to their needs for treating conditions and diseases unique to growing individuals.

Treatments offered by our specialty include:

• Primary and secondary prevention
• Oral health advice for carers and children
• Restorative care for early childhood caries
• Advanced restorative care for children with developmental defects of the teeth
• Restorative care for genetic conditions, such as Amelogenesis Imperfecta
• Multidisciplinary care for children with complex anomalies in their dental developmental.
• Management of dental trauma in both primary and permanent teeth in children
• Oral care and restorative care for children with medical conditions such as heart defects and cancer
• Management of children with behavioural problems, including children with Autism
• Restorative care for anxious children both with behaviour modification techniques and/or sedation
• Comprehensive restorative care for decayed teeth under general anaesthesia

Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or maxillofacial tissues by using biocompatible substitutes.

Prosthodontics involves the study and understanding of the stomatognathic system; in other words, the function and aesthetics of the oral environment, especially that of teeth. A thorough knowledge of biomaterials is also fundamental in the provision of prosthodontic treatment. With these in mind, the prosthodontist’s role is to attempt to mimic nature and replace what is lost or damaged.

Our specialty encompasses the restoration of decayed and/or broken-down teeth, as well as the replacement of missing teeth. The plethora of restorative options available include Dentures, Bridges and Dental Implant Restorations. A Dental Implant is a prosthetic device that is placed into the jaw bone to support a fixed or removable dental prosthesis. In recent years, Dental Implants have revolutionised many aspects of prosthodontic treatment planning and have had tremendous impact on the quality of dental treatments.

Treatments offered by our specialty include:

• Crowns
• Bridges
• Dentures
• Dental Implant Restorations
• Laminates / Veneers
• Full Mouth Rehabilitation
• Inlays / Onlays
• Night guards
• Orofacial Pain Management
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances