The Department of Health (DH) announced today (December 17) that the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP) will expand its services starting January 1, 2026.
The programme will now include dental scaling, root canal treatment, removal of bridges and crowns, and fitting of removable dentures. Coverage will also extend to homeless individuals, enhancing access to subsidised preventive and curative dental care for underprivileged groups.
The CDSP will replace the Community Care Fund Elderly Dental Assistance Programme (EDAP), which will stop accepting applications from January 1.
Homeless applicants must hold a Hong Kong identity card, be enrolled in the Electronic Health System (eHealth), and use services for street sleepers provided by the Social Welfare Department, including temporary shelters, urban hostels, integrated services teams, or the Care and Support Networking Team. Social workers from NGOs will assist eligible individuals with applications and clinic appointments.
Currently, each participant can access subsidised dental services once every 180 days, including oral health assessments, pain relief medication, X-rays, fillings, or extractions. With the new service expansion, participants can receive dental scaling and root canal treatment for one tooth every 365 days, removal of one bridge or two crowns every 180 days, and removable dentures up to twice with a minimum five-year interval. Dentures are limited to individuals with fewer than 20 teeth, who face eating difficulties that can be improved through dentures.
Separately, the DH launched the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents (PDCC) in March 2025. Targeting 13- to 17-year-olds, the scheme provides partial subsidies for annual dental check-ups and promotes long-term dentist partnerships. Currently, 572 private dentists across over 960 locations participate.
The government’s oral health policy emphasizes preventive care and timely intervention for dental diseases, particularly for underprivileged groups. Together, the CDSP and PDCC have benefited more than 10,000 individuals.