Teeth Talk

CEBU, Philippines - Frequent brushing, flossing, regular check-ups, the works! These are keys to good oral hygiene.

Some of us cringe when we talk about oral care, our fear awakened. Our knees weaken at the sound of the dentist’s drill. We know by heart that the more we shy away from dental clinics, the more we become susceptible to dental problems, causing more panic and serious oral woes. We were taught of this. We’re just afraid, big time!

That’s why DentaLand, located at Basement 1 in Ayala Center Cebu, dressed its clinic with warm-colored walls and ceilings, bright-colored leather-upholstered sleek dental chairs, the latest dental facilities, and run by all-smiles professional dentists and receptionists to attract clients and not to intimidate instead – anything that spells customer convenience. The tidy interiors reflect well of how neat their tools & equipment are, how they are well-stored and always Autoclaved (sterilized). 

A power cast of seven dentists – two couples and friends – keeps the clinic operational. Each has his/her own established-clinic yet they extend their services in one roof in shifting basis. Each also has his/her own specialization, making DentaLand a one-stop dental clinic. They’ve got every part of dentistry covered. The owners are doctors Mark Acorin (General Dentistry), Cherrie Ann Lim-Acorin (General Dentistry/Orthodontics), Romie Stewart R. Sembrano (General Dentistry/Prostohodontics), Raquel Babarin-Sembrano (General Dentistry / Orthodontics), Ferdinand V. Duque (General Dentistry), Dino V. Salvador (General Dentistry) and Rachel Elisha Acla-Ng (Oral Surgery/Orthodontics/Pediatric Dentistry) – all graduates of Cebu Doctors College. They are joined by the Salvador couple, Gino and Carmel, who handles the marketing and management aspect.

Aside from the usual services they offer such as oral prophylaxis (cleaning) and tooth extraction, they also specialize in periodontics (deals with the diseases of the structures/tissues surrounding the teeth), oral surgery, endodontics (root canal treatment, treating cracked teeth and dental trauma), restorative treatment, prosthodontics a.k.a dental prosthetics (dental implants, veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures), orthodontics (braces), cosmetic surgery, and pediatric dentistry.

DentaLand brings to Cebu a US hit, the non-light activated teeth whitening treatment done in less than an hour sans UV light exposure. The result: eight to 10 shades lighter! Patients can also avail of the night guard, a dental protector for teeth grinding, and the boxer’s mouthguard used by athletes, usually boxers, that protects the teeth and supports the jaw, and to avoid teeth damage. Sedation dentistry is also another first here in DetaLand. “When a patient is anxious, we sedate them for a procedure,” explained Dr. Ng, oral surgeon/orthodontist. And while kids easily get anxious, DentaLand solely has a dedicated space for kids, according to Dr. Acorin, as seen in one treatment area with puzzle mats, pastel-washed walls and a mural of animals. Dr. Ng, who specializes in pediatric dentistry, does the kids, as well as the special kids with special needs.

Their service centers on patient education. Before and after every procedure, the doctors come into a more personalized relationship with their patients by sharing about preventive care practices and promote proper oral hygiene.

Friendly Reminders: Ideally, you need to brush your teeth after EVERY meal but since we are living in a fast-paced life, Dr. Acorin said it is a must to brush twice a day. This also goes with flossing and gargling/mouth rinsing with fluoride mouthwash. Have your pearly whites checked with a dentist every six months for proper recommendations and preventive care such as oral prophylaxis and inlays/onlays. Kids, meanwhile, are advised to see their dentists every three months.