SINGAPORE – From October 1, Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) dental clinics will be required to display official fee benchmarks alongside their price lists, a move aimed at giving patients clearer guidance on what they can expect to pay.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the change on September 1, noting that benchmarks represent a reasonable range of charges for routine dental procedures. For example, polishing is expected to cost between $26 and $38, while scaling should range from $35 to $60. A molar root canal treatment is estimated at $872 to $1,400.
The new measure comes as the Government increases subsidies to make dental care more affordable and accessible.
Starting October 1, Chas Orange cardholders will receive subsidies of up to $45.50 for 10 basic and preventive treatments, including scaling and polishing.
Chas Orange cardholders are Singaporeans with a per capita household income between $1,501 and $2,300, or those without income who live in a home valued between $21,001 and $31,000 annually.
Subsidy support will also be expanded for seven restorative procedures, such as root canal treatments and dentures, benefiting Pioneer Generation (PG), Merdeka Generation (MG), Chas Blue, and Chas Orange cardholders. For example, a PG cardholder undergoing a molar root canal treatment at a private clinic can now receive a maximum subsidy of $594.50, up from $266.50. An MG cardholder’s out-of-pocket costs for the same procedure will drop to about $370, down from $700.
Further relief will come in mid-2026, when seniors aged 60 and above can use Flexi-MediSave to offset up to $400 annually for treatments such as root canals and permanent crowns at Chas clinics and public healthcare institutions. Flexi-MediSave allows individuals to use their own MediSave, or their spouse’s, for approved outpatient procedures.
The new benchmarks cover 18 dental procedures under Chas. While they are not fee caps, providers are expected to refer to them when discussing treatment costs with patients. The benchmarks were developed by the Dental Fee Benchmarking Advisory Committee, chaired by Associate Professor Patrick Tseng of the National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore. The 13-member panel reviewed past claims, considered procedural complexity, and consulted professional associations before finalising the ranges. Benchmarks will be updated periodically.
From September 1, 2026, clinics must also submit clinical justifications for subsidy claims that exceed benchmarked amounts.
In addition, MOH will update accreditation requirements. All Chas clinics must join the Flexi-MediSave scheme, and all their dental practitioners must be MediSave-accredited. Applications for accreditation are now open for practitioners and will open in October for clinics.
Clinics that fail to gain Flexi-MediSave accreditation by December 31, 2026, will be removed from the Chas scheme.
