Published: 2 October 2026
On Saturday, 26 September 2026, the Centre for Advanced Dental Education (CADE), NUS Faculty of Dentistry welcomed a group of general dental practitioners to the Faculty of Dentistry for a full day of hands-on learning at the “Mastering Flap Design & Suturing: KNOT Your Average Workshop.” This one-day programme delivered exactly what its title promised – a practical, no-nonsense deep dive into the surgical fundamentals that underpin successful oral and dental surgery.
Building Skills from the Ground Up
While oral and dental surgery is well established as effective and predictable, treatment outcomes still hinge on getting the basics right – sound incision techniques, thoughtful flap design, and reliable suturing practices. This workshop was designed to give participants a comprehensive review of surgical flap design and management, together with the fundamental principles of flap closure.
The workshop was led by Associate Professor Alvin Yeo, Senior Consultant at the National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS), Director of the Postgraduate Residency Program in Periodontics, and Assistant Dean of the Centre for Advanced Dental Education (CADE) at NUS Faculty of Dentistry. Assoc Prof Yeo brought decades of clinical and academic expertise to the sessions, supported by experienced instructor Dr Jacob Chew.
The programme was carefully structured to build confidence step by step. The morning opened with the principles and techniques of flap closure and suturing, followed by the first hands-on session in which participants practiced flap closure and suturing on suture pads and typodont models. After lunch, attention turned to incision techniques and the principles of flap design.
A Hands-On Finale on Pig Jaws
The workshop reached its highlight in the final afternoon session – a hands-on exercise in incision, flap preparation, elevation, and suturing performed on pig jaws, offering participants a realistic tissue experience that closely mirrors clinical practice. Dr Jacob Chew, Academic Fellow at the NUS Faculty of Dentistry and Associate Consultant in Periodontics at NUCOHS, joined the group for the afternoon session, lending his expertise in precision, evidence-based periodontics to guide participants through the more advanced techniques.
By moving from suture pads and typodonts through to pig jaws, participants were able to progress from foundational to advanced skills in a safe, supported environment – leaving with greater confidence in both the “why” and the “how” of flap design and suturing.
In the Words of Our Participants
“The topics and skills covered by the course instructor were super relevant and informative, which were not taught into depth in under grad. Although I wish we could have spent a bit longer time on pigs head hands on.” – Dr Lisa Park
“The course was comprehensive and engaging. Prof Yeo and Dr Chew were extremely effective in sharing their knowledge and expertise in flap raising and suturing. There was significant time allocated to practicing techniques on the suture models and pig jaws which I found very helpful. I would certainly recommend the course for anyone interested revisiting basic fundamentals of flap and sutures to more advanced techniques.” – Dr Chin Sue-Kay
“A real in-depth dive into different suturing techniques with useful applications in different surgical situations. Prof Yeo was highly knowledgeable and kept his lectures engaging and lively. The practical segments were well-structured and easy to follow along as well. A highly recommended course if you are aiming to improve your skills in suturing to provide better surgical outcomes for your patients.” – Anonymous
The NUS Faculty of Dentistry looks forward to bringing more practical, skills-focused workshops like this to the dental community. Stay tuned for future course offerings, and follow our page for updates (Subscribe here).
For enquiries about upcoming courses, please email lina.yip@nus.edu.sg.
