Singapore’s largest private network of dental clinics, Q & M Dental Group, will be launching their children’s dentistry department this month. We took the opportunity to catch up with the Head of Department of the newly minted Q & M Kids, Dr Serena Yu, and asked her a few questions.
Q: Dr Serena, thanks for meeting us. Could you share with us a bit about your background?
Dr Serena : Firstly, Thank you for this opportunity! I feel very fortunate to have a diverse background. I grew up in Kenya, went to high school in the UK, and then completed my undergraduate as well as dental degree in the States. I chose to specialise in Paediatric Dentistry because I feel that it is a very unique specialty whereby one can truly make a difference to the oral health and therefore overall wellbeing of an individual through proper care and dental guidance from an early age. Being able to positively impact a child and instill good oral health habits from the beginning will benefit the individual for the rest of his/ her life. This, I feel is very special.
Q: Thank you! Seeing that you’re probably busy with the launch of Q & M Kids, and we’ve a quite a few questions to ask, we’re gonna dive right in. What’s the ideal age we should bring our babies to for their first dental check up?
Dr Serena: Your child should see a dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday. A check-up every six months is recommended in order to prevent cavities and other dental problems.
Q: Let’s sort out this myth once and for all. “Baby teeth are temporary and not important at all.” True or False?
Dr Serena: Absolutely False! Primary, or ‘baby,’ teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Damaged or early loss of baby teeth can affect the formation of the adult teeth.
Q: Myth busted, thank you. We understand that you have nitrous oxide or laughing gas facilities in Q & M Kids. Is laughing gas safe for children, and when would you indicate it’s use?
Dr Serena: Nitrous oxide is a very safe form of inhalation sedation as the child remains conscious at all times. Furthermore, the gas is eliminated from the body within 5 minutes of terminating the gas supply. It can be used to decrease anxiety and help a child relax during treatment. However, nitrous oxide is not for every patient, and needs to be used on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Thank you so much for your time. One last question, what can we expect for our child’s first visit to the dentist?
Dr Serena: Your child’s first visit to the dentist is important. As oral health is linked to overall health, we firstly go over the general health of your child. Then, we proceed to the oral health, where an exam is performed and any necessary radiographs are taken. Depending in your child’s needs, we discuss different treatment options and work together to create an optimal plan for your child so that oral health is promoted and maintained. The first appointment is also a good time to discuss dental milestones and what to expect as your child develops.
You may book an appointment with Dr Serena Yu at the following Q & M Branches:
CITY SQUARE MALL (DENTAL CENTRE)
180 Kitchener Road #B1-13/14
City Square Mall Singapore 208539
6509 1133
ORCHARD (DENTAL CENTRE)
176 Orchard Road The Centrepoint #03-16/17/18/19
Singapore 238843
6732 2633 / 6235 8152
