Yes, you can! Polyclinics in Singapore offer subsidised dental care. However, there are a few important things to keep in mind regarding available dental treatments, booking appointments, and options when slots are full.
1) What Dental Treatments Are Available At Polyclinics?
Polyclinics focus primarily on basic, essential dental care. They are ideal for routine maintenance and addressing simple dental issues.
Do note that not every polyclinic provides dental services.
Services Commonly Offered
- Consultation & X-Rays: Routine checks, diagnosis, and digital imaging.
- Preventive Care: Scaling and polishing (cleaning).
- Restorative Work: Standard tooth fillings.
- Extractions: Simple tooth extractions under local anaesthesia.
- Selected Basic Procedures: Minor root canals (usually for front teeth), simple dentures, or basic crowns (available at select polyclinics).
2) Which Dental Treatment Isn’t Handled At Polyclinics?
For complex treatments such as wisdom tooth surgery, complex root canals, braces, or cosmetic dentistry, polyclinic dentists will assess your teeth during your consultation and refer you to a national specialist centre such as the National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS) or the National University Centre for Oral Health Singapore (NUCOHS).
3) How Do You Book An Appointment?
Polyclinic dental clinics operate strictly by appointment only. Walk-in appointments are reserved for serious, acute dental emergencies (like uncontrolled bleeding or severe facial swelling).
Because subsidized dental care is in high demand, slots tend to fill up fast. You can book using the following channels:
- HealthHub App or Portal: Search for available dental slots across various polyclinic clusters.
- Cluster Mobile Apps:
- SingHealth Health Buddy (for SingHealth polyclinics like Bedok, Tampines, Punggol, Eunos, Pasir Ris).
- NHG Health App (for NHG polyclinics like Ang Mo Kio, Woodlands, Toa Payoh).
- NUHS App (for NUP polyclinics like Jurong, Bukit Batok, Clementi).
- Phone Call: You can call the central appointment line of the respective polyclinic cluster.
4) How Much Does It Cost?
Dental treatments at polyclinics are subsidised for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs).
| Patient Category | Cost Level |
| Singapore Citizens | Highest subsidy rate |
| Pioneer / Merdeka Generation | Additional discounts on top of citizen subsidies |
| Permanent Residents (PRs) | Subsidised rate |
| Foreigners | Full unsubsidised rate |
You can refer to this link to find out the charges and fees at SingHealth polyclinics.
Note: Selected surgical dental procedures (like wisdom tooth surgery performed at specialist centres) may qualify for MediSave claims, but basic cleanings and fillings generally require out-of-pocket payment via cash.
5) Can’t Find a Polyclinic Slot? Try a CHAS Dental Clinic
If you need a routine check-up or scaling and polishing sooner than the earliest available polyclinic slot, consider visiting a private CHAS Dental Clinic.
- Subsidised Rates: If you hold a CHAS Blue/Orange card, Pioneer Generation (PG), or Merdeka Generation (MG) card, many participating private dental clinics offer government-subsidised basic dental care right in your neighbourhood.
- Less Waiting: Waiting times for private CHAS clinics are often shorter, making them a convenient alternative for routine scaling or toothaches.
