A beauty practice with legs (and teeth)
MANILA, Philippines - There is never a lack in information when it comes to beauty breakthroughs. Every latest “magic” skincare ingredient and miracle procedure gets plenty of attention from beauty enthusiasts who are on the constant lookout for ways to maintain a youthful countenance. In fact, the global cosmetic surgery industry has been projected, as early as two years ago, to exceed $40 billion in revenues by 2013, a testament to its drawing power on vanity.
There is another facet to beauty, though, one that could bite you in the rear when it gets neglected. Not much regard has been given to proper dental care and cosmetic surgery when it comes to beautification, especially among Filipinos. There is still that mindset that a visit to the dentist is necessary only when there is already pain or discomfort, and the visit itself is a source of dread. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Philippine Dental Association, 92.4 percent of Filipinos have dental problems—and these problems highly affect one’s appearance and health and, consequently, social life.
Dr. Steve Mark Gan, president and CEO of the Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center, is trying to change the tide, though, and has been for some time: the GAOC was accredited by the Department of Tourism in 2002, making it the first dental center in the country to be recognized by the government as fit for medical tourism and worthy of receiving foreign guests. The state-of-the-art equipment its clinics use and their spa-like ambiance, topped with full-time licensed dentists, are revamping the old reputation of dental clinics as disguised torture chambers.
Gan, who had an advanced prosthodontic residency at the University of Southern California and took up prosthodontic implant education at the University of California, observes, “Many Filipinos are unhappy with their smiles, causing them to avoid social interaction. Cosmetic dentistry corrects dental problems in the most effective—and beautiful—way possible. It can work wonders for your physical and mental health, improve your smile, and increase your confidence.” Not to mention, it’s a way to shave off years in one’s appearance. A great smile—plump, moist lips, pink gums, and white, even teeth—can easily brighten up the whole face and exude a youthful vibe.
Unlike in the beauty and cosmetic industries, cosmetic dentistry isn’t trend-driven. As the requirements for a perfect smile have remained constant through the years, the procedures to achieve this have also remained consistent for decades; only the technology and equipment used have changed. Dental implants, for example, a permanent solution to tooth loss, were introduced in the Philippines as early as the 1970s. “Due to the high rate of infection among patients, though, it was a dead industry by 1987,” Gan says. Aside from the unsophisticated technology, the problem also lay with the materials used to fix teeth. Silver amalgam fillings or pasta, for example, which are still widely used in dental procedures in the country, are comprised of 50 to 55 percent mercury, which they continually release into the body. A neurotoxin, mercury has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1992 as highly toxic, and that there is no harmless level of mercury exposure or absorption.
Gan, who claims to invest in the best when it comes to his dentists and clinic equipment, aims to make the public more informed of their options in fixing dental problems. Consultations in his clinics are extensive, with the dentists using visual aids to elaborate on the possible procedures to address specific teeth and gum problems. “At GAOC, we put a premium on patient education,” he says. “That way, they can pick the procedures that they are most comfortable with and that would fit their budget.”
GAOC offers a wide range of services, which go from preventive and restorative dentistry to cosmetic dentistry (crowns, dentures, and bridges), endodontics (root canal therapy), orthodontics (braces), and dental implantology. With a clientele that includes celebrities and society figures, its clinics have become the go-to place of people who understand what a perfect smile can do. While teeth whitening is still the most in-demand dentistry procedure among celebrity clients, GAOC takes particular pride in their dental implantology procedure. With tooth loss affecting not just one’s smile but facial shape and structure as, well, GAOC restores its patients’ smiles through dental implants made of bio-compatible titanium. Gan explains, “We screw the implant, or the artificial tooth root, onto the gums to anchor it to the jaw bone so it can hold the replacement tooth. The jaw bone then osseointegrates, or fuses, to the metal. This process creates the most secure and stable fit possible for the new tooth.” Gan adds that osseointegration takes four to six months to be completed.
While this procedure is practiced in most quality dental clinics, GAOC has the advantage of having a CT scan as a diagnostic tool for its patients. The 3D scan gives dentists a clear view of the vital structure of the nerves, bones, and teeth, allowing for accurate surgical procedures with minimum invasion. GAOC also has a full-sized laboratory where crowns, veneers, and bridges are custom-made to fit in with the rest of the patients’ teeth, making them more natural-looking from size, shape, color, and translucency.
Not all dental problems are so severe that they require surgical intervention, of course. Proper oral hygiene is still the most basic beauty practice to having healthy teeth, and that includes regular check-ups with the dentist even when there isn’t any pain or visible problem. If a facial can be squeezed in every few weeks to keep skin at its best, then a visit to the dentist for cleaning and maybe even teeth whitening can’t be that too hard to schedule every six months.
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Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC) has clinics at the Medical Plaza Makati (Suite 1204-1206, and Suite 1708-1709), Amorsolo cor. Dela Rosa Sts.; GF The Residences, Greenbelt Bldg., Arnaiz Avenue; 3rd level TriNoma Mall; and at the St. Luke’s Medical Centers in Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City. Call 843-GAOC or e-mail info@gaocdental.com.
