UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
The presence of technologies and skilled staff at DDi Lab will encourage knowledge sharing within the Dontia Alliance eco-system
The global disease burden of edentulism is high, affecting 13.5% of the population in Singapore. Dr Wong highlighted that an estimated 13% of Singaporeans who are 60 years old and above do not have teeth, many of whom are unaware of dental treatments available while others are reluctant to spend on quality dental implants due to steep costs involved. Coupled with Singapore's rapidly ageing population and it being projected to reach 'super-aged' status by 2026, it is crucial to address edentulism early and improve oral health and overall wellbeing of Singaporeans. “By consolidating resources and expertise, our AIS Centres leverage economies of scale to deliver cost-effective and quality implant solutions. We are dedicated to educate the public on the benefits of implants and complex oral rehabilitation, thereby empowering them to make informed decisions about their oral health,” Dr Wong explained. In response, Dontia Alliance has also launched its '8020 Movement' in conjunction with the launch of AIS Centre in Singapore. Inspired by a successful campaign in Japan, the initiative seeks to enhance the quality of life for Singaporeans by promoting the importance of maintaining at least 20 functioning teeth by age 80. This core principle enables individuals to enjoy a diverse diet, achieve good nutrition, and live a healthy life.
“We want to raise awareness among the public that missing teeth goes beyond the ability to chew. It is an emotional, psychological, and general health problem as missing teeth affects a person's confidence and self-esteem. With our platform, we can provide the support that a solo practitioner may not be able to address,” Dr Wong said. As part of the movement, three T32 Dental clinics will provide denture cleaning services for all denture wearing individuals. Dontia Education at the DDi Lab will also include topics and events catered for public education. Additionally, as more AIS Centres are established by 2026, Dr Wong envisions the AIS Centre in Singapore to function as a headquarters that facilitates the knowledge exchange of new dental trends and technologies. "DDi Lab will have experts who test and investigate new treatments and techniques. Once we develop something beneficial for the network, we will host a workshop in Singapore where our partners in the region will be invited to participate. This will accelerate the adoption of latest techniques and technologies throughout our network in Asia," he said. Dontia Education will host workshops and programmes that cater to a wide spectrum of professionals, from young dentists to experienced clinicians. There will be didactic and clinical hands-on events in collaboration with international dental manufacturers and experts.
With two of the five AIS Centres up and running, Dr Wong raised the wider cultural change among dental professionals that Dontia Alliance is looking to create. He envisioned that as time progresses, patient care will evolve to emphasise treatments that are quicker, more affordable, and deliver consistent, positive results. Dr Wong believes the most important quality for an AIS Centre partner is the willingness to evolve. “Every type of patient and country that we serve is different. Despite these cultural differences, we want to find partners who have the same mindset to invest in innovative approaches. We are constantly looking at ways to improve ourselves together with our partners,” he said. Dr Wong concluded hoping that the AIS Centre concept would unite dental professionals, both under and beyond the Dontia Alliance network, to bring about new benefits and dialogues to advance the standard of the profession. He said: "Dentistry is a fragmented market where everyone treats their own patients; the networking aspect is missing. Our concept allows dentists to operate their own clinic, while providing a common platform to learn from each other. We hope to open more doors of opportunities for dentists, and inspire more to explore new ways of operating in the highly fragmented dentistry sector." DA
19 DENTAL ASIA SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
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