How important is your kids’ oral health?

How important is our kids’ oral health? DR NIJAM LATIFF from T32 Dental Centre @ Financial District shares his views on how early holistic dental care can shape our children’s wellbeing for life. Plus, he discusses how treatments at this family dental centre like aligners and myofunctional therapy may help.

Why is early intervention on children’s oral health so important?

It is crucial because the developmental years set the foundation for long-term health. With 18 years of experience in dentistry and neuroscience, I’ve seen how oral health affects not just teeth but overall wellbeing. That’s particularly true in areas like sleep, breathing, facial development and mental wellness.

How does your family dental centre support children’s oral health?

At T32 Dental Centre @ Financial District, every young patient undergoes a thorough assessment. We also work with both parent and child to provide customised treatment options that suit their needs and priorities. Our plans consider each patient’s lifestyle, medical history, stage of life and long-term goals – whether we’re working with a child with developing jaws or a teen managing more complex dental issues.

A key part of our early intervention strategy is myofunctional therapy. This is a series of guided exercises that help to strengthen the tongue and lips and promote nasal breathing. Myofunctional therapy helps children establish healthy oral health habits and optimal jaw function.

When we combine myofunctional therapy with aligner-based therapies like Invisalign First and Invisalign Teen, we can gradually expand the young patient’s dental arches in harmony with facial growth. This approach promotes better alignment, oral health, oral function and long-term stability. It’s about helping children develop not just straighter teeth, but healthier, more functional airways and facial structures as they grow.

Speaking of aligner-based therapies, what’s your approach to orthodontics for kids and adults?

At our family dental centre, we place strong focus on non-extraction orthodontics. This approach prioritises airway health, jaw alignment and head posture. Rather than simply straightening teeth, we consider the broader picture: how jaws develop, how the patient breathes and how posture and function interact.

For children, it supports proper development of jaws and facial structures while maintaining or improving the airway. For adults, this helps minimise the risk of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). It’s a holistic approach to orthodontics – not just for aesthetics but for oral health and function too.

Technology also plays a key role at your family dental centre, right? Tell us more.

Technology is integral to what we do. Our family dental centre is equipped with advanced dental technologies designed to improve accuracy, enhance comfort and support better outcomes. These include digital X-rays, intraoral scanners, dental microscopes and cone beam CT (CBCT) scans for detailed bone assessments.

Intraoral scanners have replaced traditional impression materials, which can be messy or uncomfortable, especially for patients with sensitive gag reflexes. Meanwhile, dental microscopes can provide greater precision for intricate procedures like porcelain veneer placement and root canal therapy. And CBCT scans offer high-resolution 3D imaging to support accurate implant planning and safer wisdom tooth removal.

How would you describe the clinic’s approach towards family dental care?

T32 Dental Group was established in 2007 and our Financial District clinic, just steps from Raffles Place MRT, has been open for ten years. We are supported by specialists from our flagship T32 @ Camden, including orthodontists, periodontists, oral surgeons and prosthodontists. Our goal is to provide comprehensive, patient-centred care for local and expat families in Singapore in one convenient location.

We take a holistic view of healthcare and cosmetic dentistry. Rather than focusing only on appearances or isolated issues, we seek solutions that honour both function and form. Often, the simplest approach is best – one that meets aesthetic goals while preserving long-term oral health and comfort.

About this dental surgeon

Dr Nijam Latiff is part of the experienced general dentistry team at T32 Dental Centre @ Financial District. He graduated from the National University of Singapore, is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and holds a master’s degree in applied neuroscience from King’s College London.

T32 Dental Centre @ Financial District
#02-01 CapitaGreen, 138 Market Street
6385 1788 | t32dental.com/dental-centre-financial-district

This article on family dental centre T32 Dental Centre @ Financial District, oral health and myofunctional therapy first appeared in the September 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!

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