To the boisterous tune of drumbeats and cymbals, SmileBay Dental celebrated a triad of milestones as guests, partners, and troupes, rallied at the grand opening of SmileBay Signature Advanced Implant Centre (SmileBay AIC) in Penang, Malaysia, on 8 Jun.
Housing an implant clinic, digital lab, and dental academy under one roof, the new 12,000ft2 facility in Penang, Malaysia, was also introduced as the first Advanced Implant Strategies Centre of Excellence (AIS Centre) in the country, an accreditation given by partnering regional dental services group Dontia Alliance which recognises SmileBay AIC’s commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centric care.
The flagship SmileBay AIC marked the addition of the eighth clinic under the Penang-based dental group, as it further commemorated its 25th anniversary. Amidst the day’s festivities, Dr Yong Peng San, founder of SmileBay Dental, took a modest view of SmileBay Dental’s progress since its founding in 1999, as he reflected on making the most of the present.
“SmileBay Dental’s growth over the past 25 years has been a testament to the power of collaboration and the belief in serendipitous opportunities. With modest beginnings and limited resources, our expansion journey has been marked by fortunate coincidences rather than calculated moves,” said Dr Yong.
He added: “I believe in the phrase ‘seize the day’. When there is an opportunity that presents itself, you need to be able to seize the opportunity and make full use of it. Conversely, if we do not seize the moment and do our best for patients, we will lose out in the long run. It is important to seize the opportunity and do your best in every moment.”
ADVANCED IMPLANT STRATEGIES CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
As a concept newly introduced by Dontia Alliance, AIS Centre is an exclusive title given to a premier comprehensive implant centre. Awarded to partnering clinics, the launch of SmileBay AIC marked the first step in Dontia Alliance’s vision to establish a vast and robust AIS Centre network that will contribute to its growing dental ecosystem in Asia.
In the next two years, four more AIS Centres are planned for launch across Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines, with the vision of having a one-stop shop for implant solutions in each major city in Asia to help preserve the patients’ quality of life amidst their lifelong oral health journey.
Operating under the Dontia Alliance banner affords SmileBay Dental a myriad of benefits, Dr Yong shared, with the assurance of a common brand identity signalling to patients the highest standards of care at the forefront.
“We are thrilled to be recognised as the inaugural AIS Centre under the esteemed Dontia Alliance, underscoring our unwavering dedication to excellence in dental care. Our journey to accreditation demanded substantial investments and rigorous adherence to Dontia Alliance’s exacting standards,” said Dr Yong.
destination for patients seeking holistic care in their lifelong dental health journey
At SmileBay AIC in Penang, SmileBay Dental specialises in comprehensive full mouth rehabilitation and reconstruction using advanced dental treatments and technologies. Its treatments encompass a range of implant surgeries, from simple procedures to complex All-on-X full arch prostheses.
Beyond implant surgery, its services also include thorough assessments of patients’ periodontal health and tooth restorability, offering periodontal treatments like root planning and debridement, as well as root canal therapy, crowns, bridges, and clear aligner therapy.
“What differentiates SmileBay AIC is our ability to tackle a comprehensive range of dental needs compared to just providing straightforward implant surgeries. This approach allows us to address a wide spectrum of cases and provide personalised care plans tailored to each patient,” said Dr Yong. “Supported by continuously trained dental staff and surgeons, we ensure a seamless integration of advanced technologies and human expertise, delivering exceptional care and results to our patients.”
AIS Centres are further distinguished through its emphasis on advanced techniques and technologies in their services, paving the way for excellence in the dental implantology.
Dr Yong highlighted that some of the advanced technologies offered at SmileBay AIC includes Waterlase technology to enhance surgical techniques, ensuring optimal outcomes for its patients. The centre also prioritises the use of Swiss Straumann Implants and in-house manufactured dental prostheses crafted with European dental milling machines.
Central to SmileBay AIC’s value proposition as an advanced offering is its integration of clinical suites, a digital lab, and a dental academy, within the venue.
On the venue’s ground floor, Dr Yong estimated that the clinic will be able to perform five implant surgeries simultaneously at any given time, in addition to consultations and reviews. On its top floor, the in-house lab is equipped to cater to the demand of all eight of SmileBay Dental’s clinic, with the capability of fabricating from basic crown and bridge veneers to full arch All-on-X zirconia bridges.
Housed between these two levels, SmileBay’s dedicated dental academy forms a key link that Dr Yong hoped will serve as a beacon of education for both patients and clinicians, positioning the clinic at the forefront of dental advancements in addressing Malaysia’s specific dental needs.
“Our dual focus ensures top-notch clinical services while fostering a culture of continuous learning and patient education. These initiatives are crucial to elevate the standard of dental care in Malaysia by equipping clinicians with the latest knowledge and skills,” he said.
Spanning 3,000ft2, the space will host a variety of educational events, including seminars, live demonstrations, and hands-on workshops, with a capacity for 25 and 50 participants for workshops and lectures respectively.
Through Dontia Alliance’s access to renowned speakers and experts, the SmileBay academy will cover advanced techniques in root canal treatment, hands-on training for direct and indirect restorations, in-depth sessions on clear aligner therapy, and the latest methods in periodontal tissue management. Dr Yong further highlighted that the academy will be beneficial for clinicians in Northern Malaysia where such facilities and exposure to advanced treatments are lacking.
To read the full article, click here or refer to Dental Asia July/August 2024 issue.
