Higher subsidies for dental care, more people to be covered under Chas scheme

Help with costlier procedures starting from Q4 will benefit up to 1.7m Chas cardholders

- Joyce Teo

Higher dental subsidies for tooth-saving procedures such as root canals and permanent crowns will be offered under the Chas scheme to make it easier for Singaporeans to get these costlier procedures done to upkeep a functional set of teeth.

The subsidies will kick in from the fourth quarter of 2025, with the subsidy caps varying by procedure and Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) card type.

The subsidy enhancements for oral care are expected to benefit up to 1.7 million Chas cardholders. Speaking at his ministry's budget debate, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said dental health is one area where affordability is becoming a concern.

Many residents have told him that they would rather have an infected tooth extracted than repaired, as extraction is cheaper and entails fewer trips to the dentist. However, Mr Ong said that having fewer teeth can affect nutritional intake as it can diminish one's ability to chew effectively.

He said MPs have asked if oral health can be part of Singapore's preventive care strategy Healthier SG, where residents pair up with a general practitioner to help them take charge of their health.

A longstanding collaboration between the Ministry of Education schools and the Ministry of Health (MOH) protects the teeth of the young. But, in adulthood, oral health deteriorates, Mr Ong said.

"Generally, a person needs at least 20 natural teeth to chew effectively. Unfortunately, only about half of our older population have them," he added.