Mar 9, 2010
Dental service: Be proactive and flexible I WISH to recall my experience with Toa Payoh Polyclinic's dental clinic in relation to the reply by Dr Joseph Soon, director of National Healthcare Group Polyclinics' dental division ('Clinic appointment', Feb 25).
In October last year, a dentist told me I needed seven fillings. On that visit, I was not given a filling but was charged for consultation and polishing.
In December, a dentist gave me one filling and when I asked for at least one more, the reply was, sorry, one filling per visit.
When I asked the nurse, I was told that 10 minutes, which was the time allotted to me, was inadequate and it would take another six dreadful visits, that is, more than 18 months based on the average waiting period of three months per visit, before I could have all my fillings done.
She explained that while each patient was entitled to about 20 minutes, the shortened time was to allow for emergency cases. She would not tell me how many emergencies there were each day and how much time each required.
Last month, I had another filling done and was upset about the cash deposit imposed, but I paid for my next appointment in May anyway.
The clinic is aware that about 30 to 40 per cent of its patients failed to turn up over the past year. If so, these slots could have been used more productively by patients who needed them on the day, like me, without compromising the clinic's emergency considerations.
Only 10 more minutes would have enabled me to have a second filling and would have shortened my schedule of visits.
Lim Fah Kiong
REPLIES TO THE ABOVE
(A) Mar 17, 2010
Customised plan for fast dental follow-ups
We refer to Mr Lim Fah Kiong's letter, "Dental service: Be proactive and flexible" (March 9).
As our dental clinics see a high volume of patients daily, we manage our appointments carefully and each patient is allotted a standard time slot for consultation and treatment. However, for patients who require follow-up dental treatments, we provide a customised treatment plan which allows them to receive follow-up treatments more quickly, instead of the usual three months' wait.
Our dentist and nurse may not have communicated this clearly to mr Lim and we apologise for causing any misunderstanding.
Since Mr Lim's first visit to our dental clinic on Oct 19 last year, he has returned twice for his follow-up treatments. His next two appointments are on Friday and May 5. We have since contacted Mr Lim to assist him further on his treatment plan.
We hope to continue serving Mr Lim at our dental clinics.
Dr Joseph Soon Director, Dental Division National Healthcare Group (NHG) Polyclinics
(B) Mar 17, 2010 Wide network for quality dental care We refer to Mr Lim Fah Kiong's letter, "Dental service: Be proactive and flexible" (March 9). The health-care infrastructure in Singapore is excellent with a well-managed public sector complemented by the private sector. There are more than 600 private dental clinics conveniently located all over Singapore provideing accessible and good-quality dental treatments at competitive rates. There are also private dental clinics involved in the Primary Care Partnership Scheme to provide needy elderly and/or disabled singaporeans with better access to primary health care at subsidised rates. We urge everyone to be proactive in their overall health-care management because delaying treatment of diseases, including dental diseases, can lead to possible complications, unnecessary suffering and ultimately higher costs. Dr Lewis Lee President Singapore Dental Association New Straits Times Private dentists must collect points to continue practising
Scheme will be compulsory for dentists. -NST
JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - Private dentists will soon have to collect points to allow them to renew their practising certificates.
When amendments to the Dental Act are passed, clocking up a minimum number of credits under the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme will be compulsory for dentists to continue practising.
Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) president Dr Lee Soon Boon said CPD would ensure that dentists continued to broaden their experience and further their education.
Continuous education will also result in better job prospects for dentists and improved quality of services to the public.
"CPD has been compulsory for dentists in the civil service for the past five years and we believe that expanding the scheme to private dentists will greatly benefit the profession."
Points are collected in various ways, such as by attending dentistry conventions and courses and taking up postgraduate studies. Many other countries have similar credit systems for dentists.
"One of them is Singapore and we hope to gain from Singapore's experience of its Continuing Professional Education (CPE) scheme," Dr Lee said after the opening of the MDA-Singapore Dental Association Joint Scientific Convention yesterday.
About 160 dentists from both countries attended the convention, the second held so far.
Singaporean Health Ministry Chief Dental Officer Assoc Prof Dr Patrick Tseng said the Singapore Dental Council would invite MDA to be an accredited CPE provider for Singaporean dentists and oral health therapists.
"This means that Singaporean dentists may attend and obtain credits from MDA-organised CPE events. MDA will be the first overseas accredited CPE provider," he said.
Nov 11, 2009
Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics? WHY does it take so long to receive specialist dental treatment at government clinics?
The process starts with trying to make an appointment for a referral letter from a dental clinic, usually located within a polyclinic. When I called last month, the earliest date I was given was next February - four months away.
The next step can be interminable too. Once you get the referral letter, be prepared to wait for at least three to four months for an appointment with the specialist at the National Dental Centre. The actual treatment, such as making dentures, for example, can take another six months.
In my mother's aborted attempt, we tried to shorten the wait when she tried her luck by waiting at the clinic the entire day for an untaken slot. She was lucky as a scheduled patient did not turn up and it took her only a full day's wait to obtain a referral to the specialist.
But when we subsequently discovered how long it would take for my mother to see the specialist and then have her dentures fitted - almost a year in all - we gave up, and I paid private rates for her treatment at the National Dental Centre.
The result: my mother had new dentures within a month.
I worry now about myself. When I grow old, I may not be able to afford to pay private rates. I am single and my CPF-linked medical savings do not cover most dental treatments.
Singaporeans who need subsidised dental care may also be unable to receive treatment in time. What if I had a toothache, or a gum infection? Must I wait for a year for treatment, or as in my mother's case for gum infection, some six months? What will be left to treat?
Paying private rates does not guarantee earlier treatment either. Last month, I made and confirmed an appointment with the National Dental Centre for Nov 19, only to receive a letter on Monday changing the appointment to almost a month later, on Christmas Eve. Reason: the dentist would be unavailable for my original appointment.
Ho Suit Keng (Ms)
REPLIES TO THE ABOVE
(A) Nov 14, 2009
Specialist dental appointments within 2 weeks
MS HO Suit Keng's letter on Wednesday asked: 'Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?'
The waiting time for a first appointment at the National Dental Centre (NDC) varies by speciality and the number of specialists available each day. Patients who require urgent attention will not be turned away and NDC has a policy of offering same-day appointments.
Patients who need emergency dental services can also seek treatment at government polyclinics with dental services, without the need for appointments during office hours.
A 24-hour emergency dental service is also available at the A&E departments of Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital and Alexandra Hospital.
For patients seeking elective specialist treatment, NDC generally offers an appointment within two weeks. NDC attends to most patients within 15 minutes of their arrival at the clinics.
Dental services at polyclinics and NDC are heavily subsidised by the Ministry of Health to ensure they remain accessible and affordable to the needy. Consequently, there is a waiting list of patients requiring elective crown and bridge work, root canal treatment or dentures.
Occasionally, the dental surgeons are called away from the clinics and hence some appointments are rescheduled. However, we are careful that in such situations, the delivery of care to our patients is not compromised.
Patients are always at the heart of what we do. We will continue to monitor and manage our waiting times rigorously. When the opportunity arises, we often advance appointments. NDC has also called Ms Ho to address her concerns.
Dr Kwa Chong Teck
Executive Director
National Dental Centre of Singapore
Associate Professor Patrick Tseng
Chief Dental Officer
Ministry of Health
(B) Nov 18, 2009
Allow Medisave for private clinics
MS HO Suit Keng's concern in her letter last Wednesday ('Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?), about people who are suffering from toothache and gum infection not getting prompt dental care, is worrying.
We pride ourselves as a country where medical and dental treatment is readily available to everyone. Increasing the number of dentists will not solve the current problem.
Unlike in Britain, where patients visit private clinics and get subsidised dental treatment, Singaporeans are allowed subsidised treatment only at SingHealth and National Health Group (NHG) polyclinics.
Permanent residents and foreign workers pay up to four times what Singaporeans are being charged. Little wonder polyclinics are flooded with patients who want to benefit from their citizenship.
But if the wait is so long, by the time a sufferer sees the dentist four to six months later, she may not be able to save the tooth.
Also, at polyclinics, only simple treatments are carried out, like scale and polish, extractions and simple fills.
More complex treatments are referred to the National Dental Centre, in the case of the SingHealth group of polyclinics.
NHG's polyclinics allow immediate upgrades if you pay a premium - then you get first-class care. Options for more complex treatments are also available upon upgrade.
The answer is to let patients use their Medisave to pay for dental treatment at private clinics, which will charge fees whose amounts are recommended by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
My suggestion is akin to the management of chronic diseases in medical private clinics. Studies have shown that gum disease and coronary heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes are related. If we can encourage people to visit the dentist regularly, we can promote better management of these chronic diseases as well.
Saturday's joint reply by the National Dental Centre and MOH ('Specialist dental appointments within 2 weeks') to Ms Ho's concern does not seem to address the problem of getting prompt dental treatment for patients who need them, which is a recurring problem.
Dr Ng Yong Kheng (C) Nov 21, 2009
Allow Medisave use for preventive care, says dental body WE REFER to Dr Ng Yong Kheng's letter on Wednesday, 'Allow Medisave for private clinics'. Dental disease is prevalent, preventable and affects everyone. A six-monthly check-up, dental radiographs and oral prophylaxis will do much to prevent and control both gum disease and tooth decay. It will also reduce the need for complex and specialist dental treatment, and perhaps shorten the waiting list at the source. Using Medisave requires a balance of appropriate usage and accountability. It requires auditing, making it difficult to cover a plethora of dental treatment. Currently, the use of Medisave in private dental clinics is restricted to only oral surgical procedures. We are recommending to at least extend Medisave use to include the preventive dental treatment procedures mentioned above. Dr Lewis Lee Kim Chuan
President
Singapore Dental Association (D) Nov 21, 2009
Medisave allowed for dental surgery at private clinics: MOH In Wednesday's letter, 'Allow Medisave for private clinics', Dr Ng Yong Kheng suggested the use of Medisave at private dental clinics to reduce the waiting times for 'people who are suffering from toothache and gum infection'. First, Medisave is allowed for dental surgical procedures. In fact, more Medisave claims take place in private clinics than in public institutions. We do not, however, allow Medisave usage for non-surgical dental outpatient treatment as Medisave contribution rates have not priced in the funding of such procedures. While Medisave cannot be used, these services are provided with heavy subsidy for the needy elderly through 180 private dental clinics under the Primary Care Partnership Scheme. Second, such patients with 'toothache and gum infection' requiring urgent treatment are attended to promptly at any of our public dental clinics. They are not put on a waiting list. The recent feedback on long waiting times came from patients asking for non-emergency elective treatments, such as braces and dentures. As these are elective procedures, heavy subsidy without means-testing inevitably leads to long queues. Nonetheless, we will do our best to shorten the waiting time. Karen Tan (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health Oct 24, 2009 Re: HPB and Singapore scientists should take up the challenge Dear Editor, The Singapore Dental Association (SDA) would like to correct the misconceptions regarding the issue of water fluoridation and the role of fluoride in carries prevention in the letter written by Dr Yik Keng Yeong (ST Forum Page, Oct 20, “HPB and Singapore scientists should take up the challenge”. Worldwide, dental decay or caries is the most prevalent childhood disease and is the most common non-communicable disease. Yet it is easily preventable with proper personal oral hygiene care and regular visits to the dentist. Other strategies include changing dietary habits, doing preventive fillings and applying fluoride. The crucial role of fluoride in caries prevention has been well established since the early 1940s. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have selected water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. The importance of fluoride is so significant that the World Health Organisation (WHO), FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) and International Association for Dental Research (IADR) regarded the universal access to fluoride for dental health as a part of basic human right to health. Over 60 years of scientific research has confirmed the safety and efficacy of fluoride to prevent caries at the recommended dosage of 1.5mg/L. In Singapore, the PUB, as recommended by the MOH, has maintained the fluoride concentration level between 0.4 to 0.6mg/L because of our tropical weather and the increasing number of dental products containing fluorides in the market. Our population has benefited greatly from water fluoridation and is proven to be an effective, safe and cost-effective method to reduce the rate of caries. We are grateful for this opportunity to clarify. Dr Kuan Chee Keong
Acting Honorary General Secretary
Singapore Dental Association
Oct 2009
FDI Singapore goes hi-tech for unique orchid-themed gala dinner Extracted from October 2009 CEI Asia
Article by Gerardine Donough-Tan It is traditional at FDI world annual congresses for the gala dinner to be held in a venue unique to the host country. As the 2009 congress theme and logo used Singapore’s national flower, the orchid, the Singapore Dental Association (SDA) local organising committee (LOC) chose the Forrest restaurant at Orchidville, Mandai, as the venue for the gala dinner for about 650 participants on September 4.
What made the event unique?
LOC secretary, Dr Lim Lii, says: “We wanted delegates to see the ‘green’ part of Singapore. An ‘ambassador’ on each coach explained the different landscapes on the half-hour journey from Suntec Singapore to Mandai, where the Forrest restaurant had been transformed into an orchid paradise.” To commemorate the Singapore congress, a new species of orchid was named Dendrobium FDI Singapore and officially presented to FDI with the registration certificate.
What about the special effects?
Jed Mok, general manager of corporate events at Pico Art International, says: “We took advantage of the natural flora environment. Through specially arranged pieces and strategic placement of LED lights, the venue was converted into an enchanted orchid garden with different moods at different points of the programme.”
What were the challenges?
As the venue is a functioning nursery by day, the décor had to be set-up in a short time period without disrupting business operations. “Through a specially designed lighted fabric that enhanced the theme and precise lighting, we were able to create an exclusive experience for guests,” says Mok.
“The Chinese dinner menu was carefully crafted to fit the eating culture and palettes of our foreign guests. Each received a preserved orchid; it was a challenge to produce quality blooms for the memento within such a short timeframe.”
Adds Lim: “The PR director of the Russian Dental Association said it was the most well-organised gala dinner she had attended in over 10 years."
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