Meet My Dentist!

​Thomson dentist Toh Siew Luan talks about dental care for little ones.

Four-year-old Ian was resting on a dentist’s chair, and it was not just his mouth that was wide open as he got his teeth cleaned.

His eyes, too, were wide open as he watched his favourite episode of

The little ones are entertained by books, toys and children’s TV programmes, both before and during their dental treatment” Thomas the Train on a widescreen TV on the ceiling.

At the new paediatric specialist unit of Thomson Specialist Dentistry, the little ones are entertained by books, toys and children’s TV programmes, both before and during their dental treatment.

A GENTLE TOUCH 

“The main difference between working with children and adults as a dentist is that you need to get children to relax and distract them long enough for you to examine them,” said resident dentist Dr Toh Siew Luan, who has been working with children for more than 10 years now. For Dr Toh, patience is key. “When the children are nervous, I will chat with them and explain what to expect, and then ask them to get on the chair when they’re ready,” she said. “Or sit them down with mummy or daddy to calm them. Sometimes it’s the parent who needs to be relaxed! Children often take their cue from their parents, so they won’t relax until their mummy or daddy does.”

For anxious children with serious dental problems that require immediate treatment such as a root canal, treatment may be carried out under general anaesthesia if necessary.

To Ian’s mother, Mdm Deneuve Tan, 34, it was a relief that her children’s first visit to the dentist was a pleasant one.