Cheah Chia Wei graduated from the University of Malaya with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. She then worked as a dental officer in the Ministry of Health before joining the Faculty of Dentistry. There, she underwent specialist training in Periodontology and became a lecturer, teaching general dentists and specialists in Periodontology. She has a PhD related to oral microbial profiling using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in relation to the inflammatory status of rheumatoid arthritis subjects with periodontitis.

Currently, Cheah Chia Wei is the postgraduate coordinator for the Master of Oral Sciences (Periodontology) program, and also heads the Clinical Craniofacial Dental Research Group in the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya. She is also the treasurer for The Malaysian Society of Oral Microbiologists and Oral Immunologists. She was recently appointed as a council member for the Malaysian Society of Periodontology for the term 2026-2028. Her research interests include alveolar ridge preservation, periodontal/bone regenerative material for implantology, and oral microbiology influencing periodontal health and systemic health.

She has published her work in peer-reviewed journals and has presented it both locally and abroad. Cheah Chia Wei also serves as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals in her area of expertise.