The dentist to the stars

For the longest time, I feared dentists. The dental chair to me was the electric chair.

But cowardice is not a Waray trait. It is forbidden among the old folks. My beautiful dentist Irma Cascante knows this too well. I would make an appointment with her but on the appointed date, I would chicken out. One time, I gathered all my strength and found myself stuck to the horrifying chair. After a hysterical struggle against the dental needle, I was injected with anesthesia. Wow, what an achievement! I told Irma that while my mouth was starting to get numb, I just had to take a short, very quick call in my nearby office. I scurried out of the dental clinic and did not return for the scheduled root canal. Irma Cascante will always remain one of the most forgiving human beings in the world. She is also a fantastic lady dentist.

But I have conquered my fear of dentists. It was by accident that I got to know Dr. Steve Mark Gan, the dentist to the stars. Dr. Gan is the best dental surgeon/implantologist in the world. He performs the best dental implant surgery in the country. He also gives you the most beautiful smile. Dr. Gan has made hundreds of people smile their best smile.

Business partners, clients and staff have only the best words for Dr. Gan who is celebrating his birthday on Nov. 24. The top dental surgeon according to Dr. Cherrie Cruz is "workaholic, perfectionist, meticulous, yet mababaw.""He has simple joys. Expensive gifts do not appeal to him," according to Dr. Cruz who has been working with Dr. Gan for the past four years now.

Here’s what the stars say about Dr. Gan.

"Dr. Gan is a man of perfection. He sees to it that everything is in order and everybody is at his best. He’s very idealistic and he’s such a visionary (I would say)… he never misses a day without striving for perfection. He stands for what he believes in and he practices what he preaches. He envisions Philippine dentistry to be of higher standards and he wants to raise the bar. He likes to spend time with his son. He’s very friendly and easy to be with though he’s often mistaken as a snob (maybe because of the way he dresses, his looks and the way he talks… super inglesero kasi and has a hard time speaking or understanding Tagalog)." – Dr. Cherrie Cruz

"To me he is not just a dentist but also someone you can surely count on whenever you seek for help. Thank you, Dr. Gan, for being truly a great friend and a wonderful (make me smile) dentist! And I also would like to thank his staff who stood by him and who never fails to make me comfortable and assist me in any matter."– Lana Asanin

"Efficient, professional, with state-of-the-art dental facilities where every procedure is thoroughly explained with great personal concern. You actually look forward to your next trip!" – Plinky Recto

"As a dentist, Dr. Gan has the gentlest but the most and precise hands as well. His education and training make him the most able in his profession. His clinic is very sophisticated and his staff-sweet! But there’s more to Dr. Gan – he’s very warm and very concerned. Dr. Mark Gan doesn’t just look after my teeth, he makes sure there’s a big and bright smile to show them off!" – Angel Aquino

"I had my four wisdom teeth extracted by Dr. Steve Mark Gan. In the four extractions, I did not feel any discomfort – not even a slight one. I consider him a highly-qualified dental surgeon and one of the best. He uses the most modern equipment which is a very assuring factor when looking for someone to do one’s dental needs. I strongly recommend him. – Lindsay Custodio Platon

"I had a total of three teeth removed in under 20 minutes. Both the operation and the recovery went as smooth as possible. After a day, I was even back on TV delivering the news! Not only did Dr. Gan remove my painful wisdom teeth, he cured me of my phobia. He is truly Manila’s most skillful oral surgeon in my opinion. No second doubts, if you want the best, GAOC is your only choice." – Cristina Pecson

"I have always been afraid and wary of going to a clinic to get my teeth fixed. But with GAOC, that’s a problem no more! They’re the best! The staff is very cordial and nice. They really take good care of you! and Dr. Gan... I just love him! He did surgery on me one time. He got my wisdom tooth in no time at all. I thought he was pulling my leg when he said it’s almost out, but he wasn’t! I couldn’t believe it! He’s gentle and quick too! You’re always in good hands with him!" – Roselle Nava

"Dr. Mark Gan’s forte is tooth implant, being a trained dental surgeon. He is patient, caring and understanding of his patient’s individual idiosyncracies and does not insist on doing tooth implant without in-depth consultation with his patients." – Grace Glory Go

"My teeth were sensitive to hot and cold intakes, so Dr. Gan gave me this preventive treatment gel, and soon enough, the pain was relieved. Dr. Gan is very meticulous with how he treats his patients, and he really knows what he is doing. He follows up the development of his patients, and he makes sure that his clients get the utmost care for their teeth. He is a perfectionist, he maintains a very reliable staff and uses only state-of-the-art equipment."– Jamie Rivera

"He is very professional and approaches each patient with utmost care. He explains each procedure in meticulous detail, establishing a great bond of trust. With Dr. Gan, you know you’re in good hands. No wonder celebrities, executives and partyphiles love him! And, he has the most high tech yet unintimidating gadgets. Simply put, he is the most kick-ass dentist this side of town." – Tim Yap

Happy birthday, Mark. And as Maya Angelou my favorite poetess would declare "Say thank you. It is the language of the divine. It is what you say in the presence of God."

Thank you, Mark.