Dr. Lingfeng Soo

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (University of Otago) 1998

Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Perio) University of Otago 2008

Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Perio) 2008

What do I do?

As a Periodontist I provide corrective/restorative surgical procedures as well as primary or foundation care for the management of periodontal problems and peri-implant diseases. I place dental implants and bone grafts.  I supervise and provide clinical direction for maintenance care on completion of treatment. 

I'm a member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Periodontists, the International Team of Implantology, the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Auckland Dental Association and the New Zealand Dental Association. 

What do I enjoy about what I do?

It is very rewarding to see patients move from a very bad state of oral health to achieving biological stability and function and having the confidence of a healthy smile.

I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and getting to know them. Each patient is a jigsaw puzzle where there are many variables and factors on several levels which need to be addressed in order to arrive at an optimum outcome. I see each patient as a challenge motivating them into a healthier lifestyle. I also like the technical and detailed aspects of each procedure and being up to date with the scientific literature. Many of my patients are complex cases or have elevated risk for complications.

How did I become a periodontist?

I was born in Singapore and I'm bilingual in Mandarin and English. In 1998 Queensland Health (Australia) was recruiting dentists to work in the remote and rural areas of Far North Queensland. I spent 12 months based at Cairns Base Hospital. It was a privilege to work as part of the team on board the Royal Flying Doctors Service and to travel to remote communities.

Back in Auckland I worked for several years as an emergency dentist and I established a busy private general practice on the North Shore.

Seven years later I returned to the university for specialist post-graduate training in the fields of periodontology and dental implantology. I taught in the undergraduate clinics and my area of research was the use of the Erbium:YAG laser for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. 

I graduated from the University of Otago and I was at university for 8 years in total. Five years to qualify as a general dentist and then later another three years to qualify as a specialist periodontist. Since 2009 I've been in specialist practice in Auckland.  

I look forward to meeting you in person.