Aileen Loo Dentist introduction
Updated: Sep 12
What I Would Check Before Trusting Any Dentist, Including Me
If a friend asked me how to evaluate a dentist, this is the list I would give them. It applies to me as much as to anyone.
Check the register. The Dental Council of Hong Kong publishes the General Register and the Specialist Register online. Anyone can search them. It takes about a minute and it is the only check that is genuinely non negotiable.
Match the training to your problem. My endodontic background is useful if you have a painful molar. It tells you very little about how good anyone is at straightening teeth.
Ask what the equipment is for. Some procedures genuinely do depend on the tools. Root canal therapy is the clearest example, and I explain why below.
Judge the explanation, not the manner. A warm dentist who leaves you unclear about your own diagnosis has not done the job. You should walk out able to say what is wrong, what the options are, what it will cost and what happens if you do nothing.
Ask for the fee before you agree. Any practice worth attending expects that question.
I have written more on this in a separate guide on how to choose the right dentist for you, which goes into what to ask at a first appointment.
Why I Work Under an Operating Microscope
Every endodontic procedure I perform is done under a dental operating microscope. This is not a preference about gadgets. It changes what I can see, and in endodontics what you cannot see is what causes trouble later.
The root canal system inside a tooth is small, irregular and highly variable between people. Molars in particular often carry extra canals that are easy to overlook. A canal that is missed at the first attempt is one of the most common reasons a root canal fails months or years afterwards. The tooth then needs root canal retreatment, which is harder, costs more and carries a less certain outcome than doing it properly the first time.
High magnification with direct illumination lets me locate those canals, inspect the tooth for cracks, remove old filling material during retreatment, and make an honest assessment of whether a tooth is realistically worth saving. It does not replace judgement. It does remove a great deal of guesswork, and I am not willing to work without it.
Alongside root canal treatment and retreatment, I also provide vital pulp therapy and apical surgery. If you want the technical detail, there is a fuller guide to microscopic endodontic treatment on the site.
What I do not offer
Sola Dental covers general dentistry, endodontics, wisdom tooth surgery, prosthodontics and dental implants. We do not provide orthodontic treatment. If you want braces or clear aligners, I am not your dentist, and I would rather you knew that now than after paying for a consultation.
Who I Am the Right Dentist For
I am probably a good fit if you recognise yourself here.
You have been told you need a root canal, particularly on a back tooth
A previous root canal has failed, or the tooth still hurts
Someone has told you a tooth cannot be saved and you want a second view first
You want the reasoning explained rather than a quotation handed to you
You want to know the cost before treatment begins
Honestly, no article can tell you whether a dentist is good. Qualifications tell you what someone has been trained to do. A consultation tells you whether you want them doing it. Come in for a checkup, ask me what is actually wrong, and judge the answer.
If something has gone wrong suddenly, we also handle dental emergencies. You can reach the clinic on 2887 8520 or by WhatsApp on 9422 8026.
FAQs About Dr Aileen Loo and Sola Dental
Are you registered to practise in Hong Kong?
Yes. Every dentist practising legally in Hong Kong must appear on the General Register held by the Dental Council of Hong Kong, and you can search that register yourself on the Council's website. I would encourage you to check it for any dentist you are considering, not just me.
Can I come to you only for a second opinion?
Absolutely, and quite a few people do. Second opinions are common in endodontics, especially when a tooth is still symptomatic after treatment or when extraction has been recommended. The consultation is $350. Please bring any existing radiographs or reports from your previous dentist, as they make my assessment considerably more useful.
Where is your clinic and when are you open?
Sola Dental is at Unit 12B, Cameron Plaza on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, about two to three minutes walk from Exit B2 of Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station. We are open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday appointments are available by arrangement.
I am nervous about dental treatment. Will that be a problem?
It is not a problem and you are not unusual. Please tell us when you book rather than on the day, because advance notice lets me plan a slower appointment, talk you through each step before it happens and agree a signal for stopping. Being able to pause on your terms makes more difference than most people expect.
Do you treat children?
We welcome patients of all ages for general dental care such as examinations, cleaning and fillings. If a child needs treatment that would be better handled by a dentist with dedicated paediatric training, I will say so and refer you rather than proceed.
