Wondering how to get straight and white teeth easily without having to go for veneers or braces in Singapore? The SWT Straight White Teeth procedure, developed by founder Dr Ernest Rex Tan at Smile Inc Dental Surgeons, could be what you need.
For busy adults in Singapore juggling life, family, work and everything in between, time is incredibly precious. After over 30 years of practising cosmetic dentistry, Dr Tan has seen countless patients eager to transform their smiles – but without the time commitment.
“A large proportion of my patients are adults who want a quick, predictable and convenient way to improve their smiles,” he explains. “They want to avoid years of wearing aligners or braces in Singapore. These can take a long time, can be hard to stick with and may not fully address their aesthetic concerns.”
How to get beautiful straight white teeth fast
That’s why he developed SWT Straight White Teeth. It’s a signature procedure at his clinic, Smile Inc Dental Surgeons at Mandarin Gallery. It uses carefully designed cosmetic dental techniques such as selective teeth recontouring, reshaping and applying biocompatible material to beautify crooked, crowded and gapped teeth while refining the teeth’s shape, size and colour. Teeth are whitened during the procedure so there is no additional process required for whitening or bonding.
Each SWT treatment is tailored by Dr Tan to complement your unique smile and facial symmetry. “All of this can be done in one or two visits, and the treatment is totally customised for each smile,” he says.
Understanding each patient’s objectives and preferences is imperative. “The initial consultation is the most important step. It can last anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the complexity of the patient’s condition, their objectives and how clearly we can define the desired outcome.” Then, Dr Tan discusses the various treatment options that will best achieve their goals while ensuring their comfort. Case selection of patients suitable for SWT is also important.
After treatment, there’s a follow-up review visit to make any minor adjustments for optimal function and comfort.
Who is the SWT Straight White Teeth treatment for?
According to Dr Tan, two main groups of patients come to Smile Inc Dental Surgeons for the SWT treatment. The first group is driven by aesthetic concerns, such as crooked, crowded or misshapen teeth, discoloured or yellow teeth, large gaps, sharp fang-like teeth and gummy smiles. Some simply want a more balanced and fuller-looking smile.
The second group is looking for an alternative to aligners and braces in Singapore. “These include those who do not want to wear them for up to two or more years, those who have struggled with braces in Singapore or aligners before, those who have completed their braces treatment but still have concerns like misshapen teeth or discolouration, or those who have experienced relapses after not wearing retainers post-braces.”
The SWT treatment versus aligners and braces in Singapore
For years, braces and aligners have been the go-to conventional treatments for achieving beautiful, straight teeth. So how does SWT compare? Dr Tan breaks it down:
- Scope: SWT addresses many aspects of the smile within the same procedure, compared to traditional braces and aligners that only address the alignment of teeth and not other aesthetic aspects.
- Time: Rather than one or two visits, aligners and braces in Singapore require multiple visits to the dentist to adjust them, with regular downtime. It can take up to two years for significant results to be seen.
- Certainty: SWT’s results are predictable. Meanwhile, with braces or aligners, results depend on patient compliance with the regime, as well as the patient’s physiological and anatomical factors.
- Maintenance: No retainers are needed after SWT. Unlike braces or aligners, where forgetting to wear your retainers can result in relapses and regression of the teeth back towards their original position, undoing all that hard work.
- Hygiene: There are fewer potential issues such as food getting trapped caused by wires, brackets or aligners that make cleaning difficult. Additionally, there’s no long-term discomfort since the teeth are not being moved, nor soreness when chewing.
- Extractions: Traditional aligners and braces in Singapore sometimes require the extraction of teeth to make room. With SWT, there are no extractions required.
How SWT compares to veneers and crowns
The SWT treatment offers a more comprehensive approach compared to conventional crowns and veneers, according to Dr Tan. There is an emphasis on long-lasting aesthetic results achieved conservatively. “Sometimes, only a single tooth or tooth surface is involved to achieve the desired outcome with SWT. Maintenance is minimal and usually involves no more than bi-yearly dental visits.”
Beyond just straight white teeth
Dr Tan notes that the impact of the SWT procedure goes beyond aesthetics. He has seen firsthand how it affects his patients’ confidence. “The results are truly transformative, with definite and predictable changes experienced after one or two visits,” he says. “It empowers our patients with the freedom to smile and express themselves freely in daily life, photographs, interactions, social settings and even presentations. The positive impact on their self-esteem and confidence is instantly noticeable. Personally, it’s gratifying to see so much joy, freedom and positivity in our patients through what I do for their smiles.”
Dr Tan adds that he often hears the same kind of feedback from his patients: “If I had known this was available, I would have done it much earlier!” Many patients have also gone on to refer friends and family.
About the dentist
Dr Ernest Rex Tan has been a dental specialist in prosthodontics and has practised cosmetic dentistry for 30 years. His focus spans full mouth reconstruction, laser teeth whitening and smile makeovers. He’s the founder of Smile Inc Dental Surgeons, which just celebrated its 28th anniversary.
Smile Inc Dental Surgeons
#04-18 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road
6733 0660 | WhatsApp 9010 0133 | smileinc.com.sg