Dr Aw Jong Dental Surgery

27/08/2026

A root canal treatment (RCT) is a dental procedure to remove inflamed or infected pulp on the inside of the tooth which is then carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.

RCT is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth (AAE).

25/08/2026

A diagnosis conundrum..

This pleasant lady had few treatment with us on her upper right quadrant. She developed right facial swelling in between waiting for her crowns. We suspected her upper right 2nd premolar (15) to be the cause but the tooth tested vital to every mode of pulp testing.

Shortly after, she developed another episode of localised swelling at the same tooth. We managed to insert a gutta percha and tracked the causative tooth. The tooth likewise tested positive to pulp testing.

Puzzled by the contradictory finding, we ordered a CBCT, only to find visible crack lines at the palatal root of her otherwise unrestored 15.

Therefore, we recommended extraction and replacement for her 15.

25/08/2026

20/08/2026

This pleasant gentleman came requesting for replacement of his missing upper right teeth. He was a secondary school teacher and preferred fixed prostheses at an affordable price range if possible.

2 SOI Osstem fixtures were placed at 14 (4x8.5mm) and 16 (5x7mm) with simultaneous buccal GBR using Sureoss chip 0.5cc and Cytoplast resorbable collagen membrane 15x20mm. At 2 weeks post-op, there were some wound dehiscence but no membrane was exposed. OHI was reinforced.

Stage 2 was carried out uneventfully at 4 months post-op. The implants were then restored with screw-retained monolithic zirconia bridges lab-cemented onto customised titanium abutments. Canine riser was built at his worn 13 with composite to achieve mutually-protection occlusion.

Now he can grin from ear to ear.
*work done by Restorative Specialist Dr Kong Lik Lin
Osstem Malaysia

18/08/2026

Dens evaginatus (DE) is a rare developmental dental anomaly characterized by an accessory cusp or tubercle that projects from the surface of a tooth. This tubercle consists of an outer layer of enamel, a dentin core, and often a delicate extension of live pulp tissue inside. It most frequently affects the chewing surfaces of lower premolars (sometimes called Leong's premolars).

We treated this case of Leong's premolar with MTA apexification. 6 months review showed resolution of root infection.

14/08/2026

A minimally-invasive treatment option for replacement of missing teeth

12/08/2026

When no prosthetic replacement is the best option...

A missing incisor does not mean you always need to replace it with a denture, bridge or implant.

In some scenarios, a combined Orthodontic-Restorative approach can be used to move the adjacent incisor into the position of the missing incisor. The size and shape discrepancy will then be managed restoratively using direct composite fillings (build-ups), and in this case a bit of gum recontouring to match the gingival zenith of the contralateral central incisor.

With this approach, patient will not need to maintain a prosthesis, be it a bridge or implant or a denture, for life.

05/08/2026

Restorative disassembly refers to removal of old crowns, failing fillings or posts, before root canal treatment (RCT) to accurately assess if the tooth can be saved, eliminate hidden decay, find all hidden root canals, and ensure clean, straight-line access for instruments.

This pleasant foreign gentleman was advised for RCT of his lower right 2nd premolar following diagnosis of deep caries and irreversible pulpitis. He then had the above treatment done at his home country (Pakistan), only to return to us shortly with an even more severe toothache.

Xray taken showed a less-than-satisfactory crown fit on the affected tooth that appeared to have been root-treated with signs of root infection.

After acquiring consent, we proceeded to remove the crown and discovered residual decay and a leaky temporary filling all hidden under the crown. We restored the decay foremost before redoing the RCT. At the following visit, we completed the ReRCT, restored the tooth permanently with composite resin and replaced the crown.

02/08/2026

Internal root resorption (IRR) is a rare dental condition where the inner part of a tooth dissolves from the inside out due to chronic inflammation of the dental pulp and specialized cells eating away at the dentin.

While early internal resorption is usually silent, a perforation often triggers sudden pain, swelling, a foul taste, or a small pimple-like bump (sinus tract) on the gums.

This pleasant gentlemen was referred for management of a perforating IRR with bone loss on his upper right central incisor, which presented as gingival swelling after he had a filling done at a local dentist.

We commenced root canal therapy on the tooth to halt the resorptive process. It was not a straightforward RCT, as the files kept getting led towards the resorptive defect. We obturated the tooth using sandwich technique for perforation repair (styleitaliano.org), wherein the perforated aspect of the root was sealed with bioceramic putty. We will continue to monitor the tooth for months to come.

30/07/2026

The incidence of a lower (mandibular) first premolar with three root canals is extremely rare, occurring in roughly 0.1% to 0.2% of cases. While the vast majority of these teeth have a single canal, complex anatomical variations do occasionally present.

This pleasant gentleman was referred for RCT 35 after the referring dentist failed to negotiate the canal to working length.

Unbeknownst to him, there were additional 2 canals (ML and DL) in addition to the partially-negotiated buccal canal. All canals were shaped to 24mm working length with Protaper F1 ultimate, debrided and obturated. In the final radiograph, the tooth took on the appearance of a squid.