Cl Asst Prof Bien Lai

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• Researcher, NDRIS
  
• Head and Consultant, Paediatric Dentistry Unit, National Dental Centre Singapore
  
• Associate Director, Master of Dental Surgery, Paediatric Dentistry, National University Singapore
  
• Visiting Consultant, KK Women and Children’s Hospital
  
• Diplomate, American Board Pediatric Dentistry
  
• Member, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Dr Bien Lai is a paediatric dental specialist working primarily at NDCS. As a resident, she was awarded a startup grant from the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute for a health service research on access to care. After graduation, Dr Lai received a grant from SingHealth Foundation for her research in an oral health programme for infants and toddlers. The study has since been published and translated to clinical service.

Research focus areas
Infant oral health, dental caries, oral microbiome, health services research

Current Projects

• The association between motor development, chronological age and toothbrushing effectiveness in five to eight-year-old children (resident research; ongoing)
• Parental perception of the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride for children with autism (accepted; waiting for publication)
• Umbrella review on dental fear and anxiety in children and adolescence (ongoing)
• Role of oral microbiome in early childhood caries (collaboration with SOMI)

Publications and/or research projects

1. Lai B, Tan WK, Lu QS. Clinical efficacy of a two-year oral health programme for infants and toddlers in Singapore. Singapore Med J 2018;59(2):87-93.
    
2. Lai B, Milano M, Roberts MW, Hooper SR. Unmet dental needs and barriers to dental care among children with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2012;42(7):1294-303.
    
3. Lai B, Muenzer J, Roberts MW. Idiopathic gingival hyperplasia: A case report with a 17-year follow-up. Case Rep Dent 2011;2011:986237. doi: 10.1155/2011/986237.