The Hong Kong government has approved applications from 19 non-local trained dentists to practice in the city following a 2024 legislative amendment. Among the approved applicants, seven are from mainland China, seven from the UK, and the remainder from Malaysia, the Czech Republic, France, and South Africa.
Of these, 11 have been employed by the Department of Health, while eight joined the University of Hong Kong. The 11 Department of Health dentists were hired last year under non-civil service contracts, with a new round of full-time recruitment launched in November 2025 and still ongoing.
The government reported that the dentist attrition rate for 2025/26 reached 12.7%, up 3.4 percentage points from the previous year, with 26 resignations— the highest in three years. Most departures (73%) were aged 35 or below, and around 80% had under 10 years of experience.
Dental graduates are required to complete at least one year of service in government clinics or designated non-governmental dental centers. The first batch graduated in the second half of 2024, including 15 dental therapists and six dental hygienists.
All dental therapists have remained in service after completing the one-year period, while the hygienists have yet to finish their service term.