Ask the Dentist - Gummy Smile

Q: Too much of my gum shows when I smile, is there any treatment for me?

A: Gummy smiles can be due to hyperactive lip muscles, which cause your upper lip to rise higher than normal when smiling, or it can be because of the way your jaw bone is developed.

Generally, there are two types of treatment for gummy smiles: non-surgical and surgical. For hyperactive lip muscles, a non-surgical method would be natural, purified protein injections. This is a 10min procedure that consists of a few tiny injections. It generally requires 3 days to take effect and lasts for about 4 months.

As for surgical treatment, crown lengthening can be done by a Periodontist to adjust excessive gum tissue and bone. In some cases, crown lengthening may be done together with crowns or veneers to achieve the ideal proportion of teeth to gums. After treatment, you will see more of your teeth and less of your gums when you smile. With good oral home care and regular professional cleaning by your dentist, the end result can last for years. If the gummy smile is caused by an excessive protrusion of the upper front teeth or vertical growth of upper jaw bone, then orthodontic treatment and/or jaw surgery may be required.

It is advised that you consult your dentist/dental specialist to know the root cause of your gummy smile so that the appropriate treatment can be advised. Depending on your condition, you may be referred to see an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Periodontist and/or Orthodontist.

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Dr Ho Kok Sen is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with Specialist Dental Group®. Dr Ho is a mentor, lecturer and examiner to students in the Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantology course at the National University of Singapore.  He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Academy of Medicine Singapore. He has a special interest in dental implants, jaw surgery, bone grafting and complex extractions.
Tel: 6734 9393 | www.specialistdentalgroup.com



Specialist Dental Group ® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services.

Choosing the right bilingual programme for your child

Chinese-English bilingual programmes offer children many benefits, yet deciding which one is best for your child can be challenging. Huali Xiong, Head of Chinese at Canadian International School (CIS) and author of the best selling Big Apple Chinese Programme, shares why CIS has been a popular choice for so many families.

Substantial experience

CIS’ Chinese-English bilingual programme was one of the first to be offered in Singapore by an international school making us one of the most trusted schools in the region to educate students in becoming fluent communicators in both languages.

Available from Kindergarten to grade 6

Our programme is available to students in junior kindergarten through to grade 6 and offered at both our Lakeside and Tanjong Katong campuses. It is fully aligned to the International Baccalaureate PYP and there are no limits on the number of classes available per grade (we currently have over 30 bilingual classes). We also have a specific pathway in place once the programme ends for students to maintain their high level of Chinese during Secondary School.

Experienced, native speaking teachers

All subjects are taught in each language by native speaking teachers. Students attend lessons in English one day and Chinese the next. One of the key benefits of this two-teacher model is that it compels students to communicate with their teachers in both languages, not just the one they feel most comfortable with.

Strong focus on learning Chinese culture

For all classes taught in Chinese, we try to integrate the Chinese culture into students’ learning where possible. This ensures our students are not just learning empty, meaningless symbols but also the correct forms of address, etiquette and behaviour.

To learn more about CIS’ Chinese-English bilingual programme visit www.cis.edu.sg/learning/bilingual-programme

Don’t let Reading Become a Pain in the Neck!

By Charlotte Manning, Registered Osteopath

We have recently seen a number of patients with neck pain that has been caused by poor reading posture. Pain can present as neck ache, pain in the shoulders or even possibly headaches that develop during or after reading. It is more likely to be around the end of the day.

If this sounds familiar consider the following:

• Ensure you have proper back support and aren’t slouching
• Hold your book out in front of you rather than laying it in your lap
• Don’t hold your book too close to your face, causing your eyes to strain
• Ensure you are using sufficient lighting 
• Sitting at a desk can be beneficial for posture

If your neck pain or headache aren’t going away, pop into one of our clinics and we can assess and treat that nagging pain.

Chickpea Crunch

Submitted by Expat Kitchen  (http://expat-kitchen.com)

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

2 tsp butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tsp curry powder
1 Butternut squash, peeled and cubed (can substitute with local/Japanese pumpkin)
4 cups of chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste

To garnish:

½ cup natural yogurt (optional)
Finely chopped coriander

Here’s what to do:

1.  Heat butter in a pot and cook  onions until glassy.
2.  Add curry powder cook for 1 minute.
3.  Add pumpkin and allow to sweat for 3 minutes.
4.  Add stock, allow to boil.
5.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until pumpkin is soft.
6.  Blend until smooth.
7.  Season with salt and pepper.
8.  To garnish: Swirl spoonful of yogurt and sprinkle coriander, serve immediately.