DR

TAN WEI JUN

Dr Tan Wei Jun graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor of Dental
Surgery. After graduation, he was posted to different polyclinics and got his first taste of general community dentistry, where he met patients of all ages.

Next posting to the Health Promotion Board (HPB). The School Dental Service was a place where he learned the art of managing uncooperative children. Here he realised the importance of oral health education at a very young age. His posting to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Institute of Mental Health gave him great exposure as he had to treat dental patients with complex medical conditions, and patients with Mental Health Issues. Dr Tan also worked with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) where he performed more complex dental treatment for our soldiers.

Dentistry beyond the clinics
During the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker (2020), Dr Tan was an active volunteer in swabbing for foreign workers in their dormitories.

Dr Tan has been to Pursat, Cambodia, in 2013 to serve as an assistant to the dentist. This was an act of support for his friend, who was the organiser of the mission trip. Although the working environment was challenging, with limited equipment and no running electricity, he nevertheless enjoyed the entire experience there.

Dr Tan realised that the local communities face much difficulty in accessing healthcare, and some had misperceptions towards dental health. He strongly feels the importance of teaching the local population, especially children, to take care of their own dental health, so that their work will persist even after they have left. Dr Tan was very inspired to watch how the senior dentists strive to deliver quality work in spite of the limitations that they faced.