IMPROVEMENTS IN DENTAL LITERACY AND GREATER INSIGHTS THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Dr Kenneth Soh, General Dentist
Smart Dental,
Kellyville, New South Wales
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | February 2025
Dr. Kenneth Soh is a General Dentist based in Kellyville, New South Wales, a suburb located in northwestern Sydney. Originally from Melbourne, he studied Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) at Melbourne University and graduated in 2003. After working for a year in the Mornington Peninsula, Dr. Soh moved to New South Wales, initially thinking it would be temporary; however, he has been there for 19 years. While he has considered specialising, he finds joy in all aspects of dentistry.
Dr. Soh notes that dental care has evolved significantly, particularly with advancements in technology and increased patient awareness. Many patients now come in equipped with knowledge about their treatment options, often asking about cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening. His practice has embraced digital technology early on, transitioning from traditional paper notes and film X-rays to digital forms, including intraoral sensors and cone beam imaging.
This transition to digital technology has provided dentists with a clearer understanding of dental health, allowing for better diagnostics and treatment planning. Dr. Soh emphasises the growing dental literacy among General Practitioners, who now often refer patients for dental check-ups before starting certain medications, such as those for osteoporosis.
The dental training landscape has changed as well, moving toward more competitive entry processes and varied educational paths. Dr Soh talks about the hard journey becoming a dentist currently being at university for seven years before someone can start as a dentist. He shares his observations as a General Dentist and gives his advice for anyone who enjoys working with teeth, with people, incorporating science as well as artistic flair!
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Landmark research projects tackle critical issues in emergency healthcare
For two decades, the demand for emergency department services in Australia has outpaced population growth and wait times have increased. In 2022-2023 more than 8.8 million emergency department presentations occurred nationwide.
While demand is a contributing factor, EDs are currently being impacted by various factors across the entire health system.
The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) is a non-profit organisation funding innovative Australian research that improves the way people are cared for in a medical emergency. The aim of the research is to deliver better and more effective health services to save lives and money.
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Diary of a Paramedic in a primary health care clinic
Alecka Miles is a lecturer at Edith Cowan University and works as a paramedic in a multidisciplinary team at Dianella Family Medical Centre in Metropolitan Perth, Western Australia.
Community paramedic roles have a history in Australia, dating back to 2007 in New South Wales and followed by similar initiatives in South Australia and New Zealand. Alecka’s position emerged after she sought to evaluate how paramedics could integrate into general practice, ultimately leading to a job offer post-COVID lockdown in 2020. Her skills, particularly in cannulation, proved valuable as healthcare shifted towards primary care.
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Awareness campaigns and HCP Toolkits for thyroid health
In 2021, the Australian Thyroid Foundation released analysis to show, well over 1 million Australian are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, including thyroid cancer, lower IQs, lifelong disability, and a causal or possible contributory factor – in the development of other neurological disorders such as ADHD and autism. Some of the challenges for diagnosis and treatment can be addressed by producing material for health care practitioners during patient presentations.
‘Recent statistics show well over 1 million Australians are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, awareness and testing can prevent unwarranted outcomes for mothers and their babies’ says ATF CEO Beverley Garside OAM
The Australian Thyroid Foundation has lodged a Pre-Budget Submission for the Federal Budget 2024-25 to counter increasing misinformation on social media creating dietary deficiencies such as an increasing number of young women, who are planning pregnancy or already pregnant opting for plant based milks such almond, soy or oat milk coffee as an alternative to standard cow’s milk, which is a source of iodine and alternate milks do not include.
