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28 I I feature _ interview _cosmetic dentistry: Dr Sim, would you please tellusabitaboutyourself,yourbackgroundandyour initialinvolvementindentistry? Dr Sim Tang Eng: I graduated from the Univer- sity of Malaya in 1985 and obtained my MFGDP(UK) in 1997. I undertook clinical attachment in Oral Im- plantology at Goethe University Frankfurt and was awarded the Certificate in Oral Implantology in 2001. I served as part-time clinical supervisor and lecturer in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Malaya andwasalectureroftheOralImplantologycourseor- ganisedjointlybytheUniversityofMalayaandGoethe UniversityFrankfurt.Iamnowinaprivategroupprac- ticeandmyworkisfocusedonaestheticdentistryand implantology. _HowwastheAsianAcademyofAestheticDentistry (AAAD)establishedandwhoqualifiestobeamember? The AAAD was established as an umbrella body for the various aesthetic dentistry academies/associa- tions/societies in the many Asian countries. Following apreliminarymeetinginKoreaofinterestedrepresen- tativesfromKorea,JapanandSingaporein1989,afor- mal meeting was convened at the Prince Philip Dental HospitalinHongKongforthefoundingoftheAAADon 15 January 1990. At this historic meeting, which was chaired by Prof Stephen Wei, the founding officers wereunanimouslyelected,withProfMichioHagafrom Japan as Founding President of the AAAD. Since then, the Academy has grown annually and the number of member countries has increased from the original three to include China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,Nepal,thePhilippines,TaiwanandThailand. In order to become a member of AAAD, one must hold a university dental degree. One can become a member through the institutional membership of an aesthetic dentistry organisation in one of the member countries,orprivately.TheAAADaimstohaveallmem- bercountriesregisterasinstitutionalmembersinorder tosimplifythelogisticsofkeepingtrackofmembership records. _The11th biennialAAADmeetingisgoingtobeheld inMay.Whatobjectiveswouldyouliketofulfilthrough thisyear’smeeting? InaccordancewiththeobjectivesofAAAD,themain objective will be the promotion of the art and science of the disciplines in aesthetic dentistry. This is the first time that the biennial AAAD meeting will be held in Malaysia and it certainly is an opportunity for many of our dental colleagues to experience the meeting and visit beautiful Malaysia. I hope the meeting will foster greater understanding amongst Malaysian and otherAsiandentists,besidesprovidinganopportunity to experience the excellent scientific meetings that AAADorganisesbienniallyinthisregion. Thisyear’sbiennialmeetingboastssomeofthebest speakers and clinicians in aesthetic dentistry in the world. It is very difficult to book them and we thus hadtoplantheirlecturescheduleswayinadvance.This meeting will be a golden learning opportunity for our colleagues in Asia, particularly in Malaysia. Thanks to thismeeting,ourcolleagueswillnothavetoflyhalfway around the globe and pay hefty registration fees in order to hear these top speakers at meetings in USA and Europe. I am sure it will be an eye-opening and rewarding experience to see and hear the level of aesthetic dentistry presented by the four keynote speakers, Dr Galip Gurel, Dr Mauro Fradeani, Dr Didier Dietschi and Dr Rhys Spoor. In the process, I hope attendees will be inspired and never look at aesthetic dentistrythesamewayagain. _In your opinion, how important is continuing educationinthefieldofcosmeticdentistry? Very important! In fact, I strongly believe that all dental professionals who profess to practise aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry must keep up-to-date withthedevelopmentsindentalmaterials,technology and clinical techniques, as this clinical discipline changesdynamicallyandrapidly.Theyhavetopossess knowledge of sound scientific theories and clinical practice.Theyoweittotheirpatientswhoentrustthem with the responsibility of providing quality aesthetic dentistry. This is only possible if the dentists keep abreast of developments through continuing edu- cation. _What options for continuing education are availableforAsiandentists? cosmeticdentistry 1_2010 Patients demand instant aesthetic results An interview with Dr Sim Tang Eng, AAAD president Dr Sim Tang Eng