Dr Nijam Latiff is a general dental practitioner with a strong commitment to preventive, minimally invasive and comprehensive care. He graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and subsequently attained Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Over the course of his career, he has served in a range of clinical and leadership roles, including as founder and clinical director of Coast Dental and Coast Kids.
His treatment philosophy centres on prevention, function and minimally invasive care. Rather than considering teeth in isolation, Dr Nijam believes dental treatment should take into account the patient’s bite, jaw development, oral function, breathing, sleep health and overall wellbeing.
This philosophy has shaped his clinical interests in sleep dentistry, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), airway-focused dentistry, myofunctional therapy and early-intervention orthodontics. In children, he has a particular interest in assessing dental and jaw development while a child is still growing, especially when concerns such as crowding, bite discrepancies, mouth breathing, oral dysfunction or sleep-related symptoms are present.
Where orthodontic treatment is indicated, Dr Nijam generally favours a non-extraction approach where clinically appropriate, with attention not only to tooth alignment but also to dental arch development, jaw relationships and oral function.
Another major area of his practice is functional aesthetic dentistry. His philosophy is that aesthetic dentistry should not simply make teeth look better. Treatment should first respect dental health, function and the preservation of natural tooth structure. Depending on the individual patient’s needs, treatment may involve whitening, composite bonding, clear aligner therapy, minimally invasive porcelain restorations, implant dentistry or comprehensive rehabilitation of worn and damaged teeth.
Dr Nijam completed a Master of Science in Applied Neuroscience at King’s College London. His interest in neuroscience has influenced his approach to patient communication and his broader understanding of areas such as behavior, pain management and sleep. He has also attained the Licentiate in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
He believes strongly in multidisciplinary care and works collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, including ENT surgeons, sleep physicians, functional doctors, physiotherapists, myofunctional therapists and dental specialists when appropriate.
Beyond clinical dentistry, Dr Nijam has a strong interest in education and mentorship. He has mentored younger dentists in treatment planning, comprehensive dentistry and patient communication, and has contributed to public education through professional talks, television, radio and digital media.
Outside of dentistry, Dr Nijam enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, travelling, exercising and playing soccer. His family, faith and spirituality remain important influences in his life.