Dental Asia May/June 2020
For more than two decades, Dental Asia is the premium journal in linking dental innovators and manufacturers to its rightful audience. We devote ourselves in showcasing the latest dental technology and share evidence-based clinical philosophies to serve as an educational platform to dental professionals. Our combined portfolio of print and digital media also allows us to reach a wider market and secure our position as the leading dental media in the Asia Pacific region while facilitating global interactions among our readers.
For more than two decades, Dental Asia is the premium journal in linking dental innovators
and manufacturers to its rightful audience. We devote ourselves in showcasing the latest dental technology and share evidence-based clinical philosophies to serve as an educational platform to dental professionals. Our combined portfolio of print and digital media also allows us to reach a wider market and secure our position as the leading dental media in the Asia Pacific region while facilitating global interactions among our readers.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Behind the Scenes<br />
They are often technical issues, which can be solved through<br />
demonstration by a mentor. An example is the setting of teeth,<br />
which can be agonising for a junior technician.<br />
Has there been any time in the past 16 years when you’d<br />
considered leaving the profession?<br />
That has never occurred to me at all. I am proud to be a dental<br />
technician, and of every prosthesis that I’ve made. Using the skills<br />
I’ve acquired, I’d been able to help people talk, eat and smile.<br />
<strong>Dental</strong> lab work takes up a tremendous amount of time and<br />
patience; it can also get frustrating at times. So seeing the<br />
change in a patient’s appearance and quality of life gives me great<br />
satisfaction. Even though not many know about the work that we<br />
do, I know the purpose of our existence. <strong>Dental</strong> technicians are, to<br />
me, the unsung heroes of the dental industry.<br />
Dennis Goh guiding a technician on a scanned model<br />
What is the attitude towards dental technology like in other<br />
countries?<br />
In Brisbane, where I spent two years pursuing a diploma in dental<br />
technology at the Southbank Institute of Technology, I got to<br />
know classmates from Taiwan, Korea and Japan, as well as further<br />
afield – Africa and South America. Everyone had a positive learning<br />
attitude, especially since the course was such an eye-opener. We<br />
were exposed to different methods of fabricating prostheses.<br />
For example, before the course, I’d usually take an hour or so to<br />
make one sports guard. After the course, I picked up some tips that<br />
enabled me to churn one out within 30 to 45 minutes.<br />
Dennis Goh<br />
What advice would you give aspiring dental technicians?<br />
Value what you do because it makes a difference for another human<br />
being. Strive to look for the best possible result. Keep up with new<br />
skills and technologies by reading up and going to conferences.<br />
Dennis Goh with Australian lecturers and schoolmates<br />
What is your philosophy in life?<br />
The sky is the limit. Even when you meet with failures, never give<br />
up. Keep practising, find the error, and solve the problem. I always<br />
tell myself to keep pushing on. DA<br />
56<br />
DENTAL ASIA MAY / JUNE <strong>2020</strong>
Change language