Australasian Dentist Magazine March April 2021

88 Australasian Dentist testimonials Towers of strength Towers Family Dental brings dependable, accessible treatments and 3D imaging to a rural town. N icknamed ‘The World’ for its vast and varied offerings, Charters Towers was once home to one of Australia’s richest gold fields, its own stock exchange, and a booming population of some 30,000. It held the distinction of being Queensland’s largest city outside of Brisbane. Today, this northern Queensland town of about 8,000 people is better known for its heritage-listed sites, including the Church of Christ and Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk and Lissner Park. It is here where Dr Moon Baik, a South Korean dentist who moved to Brisbane in 2002, discovered his affinity for working in rural communities and founded his maiden practice. Small town affair While a dental undergraduate at the University of Queensland, Dr Moon served his final year placement at Townsville Government Hospital. Once a week, he would travel 135km inland to Charters Towers, servicing the dental needs of the local population. Away from the hustle and bustle of urban living, Dr Moon found he preferred treating locals in the quaint township. So when a senior position opened up at the Charters Towers hospital dental clinic, he seized it. After working at the hospital clinic for 10 years, Dr Moon set up Towers Family Dental. More than meets the eye Located on Charter Towers’ main street, nestled among a row of heritage buildings, TFD could easily be mistaken for a washed-out rural clinic. In reality, this two-year-old practice has a palpable verve readily borne out by a vibrant youthful team and a technologically modern set up. In addition to two state-of-the-art Adec chairs, the clinic boasts the Vatech Green 3D CBCT, digital x-ray and sensor. The Green CT is an advanced 4-in- 1 digital X-ray imaging system that incorporates PANO, CEPH (Optional), CBCT and MODEL Scan. The system is designed to meet dentists’ clinical application needs, including specialty treatment. Trusted reviews Although Dr Moon had no prior experience working with a CBCT, he heard rave reviews about the brand’s imaging qualities. “I have friends in Sydney and professors in South Korea, from whom I received implant training, who spoke very positively about Vatech’s imaging products. “They were all very experienced implant dentists. I trusted their opinions because my main reason for purchasing the Green CT was for treating implant cases.” Dr Moon would also use the CBCT when planning treatments for third molar extractions and complex root canal procedures. “Although I rarely use the Green CT for root canal cases, the ability to visualise complex root systems is very important,” he says. “Examining the tooth in 3D, we can get a much clearer picture of the tooth’s anatomy and plan the procedure accordingly. This results in better treatment outcomes.” Two-way accessibility As the only government dentist serving the town at one point, Dr Moon is adamant about making his services as accessible as possible. “By locating the Green CT in-house, I no longer have to refer my patients for 3D images. It takes about an hour and By Danny Chan Dr Moon Baik