Dental questions: plain answers for patients in Singapore

Answers to the questions patients most often ask us and search for. Each page explains what is usually going on, what you can do, when it is urgent, and how CHAS, MediSave and insurance apply in Singapore. They are general information and do not replace an examination.

Pain and urgent problems

• Toothache at night: what to do now, and when it is an emergency
  What to do for a toothache at night in Singapore, the warning signs that need A&E, the likely causes, and what happens at the dentist the next day.
• Dental emergency in Singapore: A&E, NDCS or a dentist?
  Where to go for a dental emergency in Singapore: when it is A&E, when NDCS or a dentist can see you, and what to do after hours, on Sundays and public holidays.
• Chipped, cracked or knocked-out tooth: what to do in the first hour
  What to do straight away for a chipped, cracked, loose or knocked-out tooth, how to keep a tooth on the way to the dentist, and how it is repaired.
• Swollen gum around a wisdom tooth: what helps, and will it go away?
  Why the gum around a wisdom tooth swells, what helps at home, warning signs, whether pericoronitis goes away on its own, and when the tooth should come out.
• Sensitive teeth: why cold drinks hurt and what helps
  Why teeth become sensitive to cold, sweet or air, how to tell sensitivity from a problematic tooth, what helps at home and what a dentist can do.

Wisdom teeth and root canal decisions

• Should I remove a wisdom tooth that doesn’t hurt?
  When a pain-free wisdom tooth can be left alone, when removal is still advised, and why some guidelines discourage removing healthy wisdom teeth.
• Is wisdom tooth surgery fully covered by MediSave?
  How MediSave works for wisdom tooth surgery in Singapore, whose MediSave can be used, what is not claimable, what to bring, and when you might still pay cash.
• Does a root canal hurt?
  What root canal treatment feels like, how long it is sore, whether you need time off, and what the evidence says about root canals and cancer.
• Root canal or extraction: what happens if I just pull the tooth?
  Saving a tooth with a root canal or removing it: what a gap does over time, replacement options, and when extraction is the better choice.
• Do I need a crown after a root canal?
  Why back teeth usually need a crown after a root canal, when a filling is enough, how soon to fit it, and what CHAS and Flexi-MediSave cover.

Paying for dental care in Singapore

• What dental treatment can MediSave and Flexi-MediSave pay for?
  Which dental treatments MediSave and Flexi-MediSave pay for in Singapore, how much, whose account can be used, and what is not claimable.
• What does CHAS cover at the dentist?
  Which dental treatments CHAS Blue, Orange, Merdeka and Pioneer cards subsidise, what CHAS does not cover, and whether dental is free with CHAS.
• How much does a dental check-up and scaling cost in Singapore?
  MOH fee benchmarks for a dental check-up, scaling, polishing and X-rays in Singapore, how much CHAS subsidises, and how often you really need scaling.
• Does insurance cover dental treatment in Singapore?
  How company dental plans, personal accident policies and Integrated Shield plans treat dental costs in Singapore, and what to check first.

Gums and everyday care

• Why do my gums bleed when I brush?
  The most common reason gums bleed when brushing, whether gingivitis goes away, when bleeding points to gum disease or another condition, and what helps.
• Bad breath: common causes and what actually helps
  Where bad breath usually comes from, why mouthwash only masks it, causes outside the mouth, and what a dentist can check.
• Receding gums: causes, can they grow back, and treatment
  Why gums recede, whether receded gum can grow back, how to stop it getting worse, and treatment options including bonding and gum grafts.
• Electric or manual toothbrush, and do I need mouthwash?
  Whether an electric toothbrush is better than a manual one, how to brush properly, what toothpaste to use, cleaning between teeth, and when mouthwash is useful.

Seniors and missing teeth

• Implant, bridge or denture: how to choose for a missing tooth
  Implant, bridge or denture for a missing tooth: what each involves, who suits which, time, care, and what MediSave and CHAS cover.
• New dentures: the first weeks and daily care
  Getting used to new dentures: sore spots, speaking and eating, daily cleaning, wearing them at night, relines, and when to see the dentist.
• Dry mouth from medicines: why it matters and what helps
  Which medicines and conditions cause dry mouth, how a dry mouth raises the risk of decay and denture problems, and what helps day to day.
• Dental treatment with diabetes, heart conditions or blood thinners
  What to tell your dentist if you have diabetes, a heart condition, take blood thinners or bone medicines, or had head and neck radiotherapy.

Treatments explained

• Braces or clear aligners: how to decide
  Comparing metal braces and clear aligners for adults and older teens: what each suits, how they look and feel, wear time, cleaning, visits and fees.
• Are dental X-rays safe? Why they are needed and how often
  Why dentists take X-rays, the types used, how much radiation is involved, X-rays in pregnancy, how often they are needed, and the cost with CHAS.
• Dental care in pregnancy: is it safe to see the dentist?
  Is dental treatment safe in pregnancy? Bleeding gums, timing, local anaesthetic, X-rays, medicines and protecting teeth from morning sickness.