Dentists Should Provide Ample Information To Their Patients

MOH's Reply

Dentists should provide ample information to their patients

We thank Dr Thomas Lee Hock Seng for his letter (Dentists should pay more heed to professional ethics, Sept 26).

Under the Singapore Dental Council's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, a dentist should provide adequate information to a patient about his dental condition and treatment options so that the patient can make informed decisions. If a procedure needs to be performed, the patient should be made aware of the benefits, risks and possible complications, as well as possible alternatives.

To keep basic dental treatment costs affordable for Singaporeans, subsidised dental care services are available at 10 polyclinics and about 700 dental clinics on the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).

Polyclinic patients, as well as CHAS Blue and Orange, Pioneer Generation and soon Merdeka Generation cardholders, may also be referred for subsidised dental treatments at our two national speciality centres - the National Dental Centre Singapore and National University Centre for Oral Health Singapore.

Patients can also tap their MediSave savings for more complex dental procedures such as dental implants and wisdom tooth surgery.

We will continue to provide quality and affordable dental care for Singaporeans.

Lim Siok Peng
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health

Forum Letter

Dr Wilson Goh is right in urging that appropriate information must be made available so that Singaporeans can make more informed choices on dental care (Don't fuel cost increases in dental care, Sept 23).

Recently, I recommended a reputable dental practice to a friend and told her to ask for a particular dental surgeon there whom I know.

Unfortunately, the clinic's receptionist did not entertain her request and assigned her another dental surgeon.

This dental surgeon proceeded with the treatment without first explaining the procedures and cost involved, and did not tell my friend that the anaesthetic used would affect her ability to speak properly for quite a while.

Apart from having to foot a large bill for the insertion of a crown, my friend also had to endure great embarrassment as she had difficulty delivering a lecture soon after the treatment.

With increasing demand for dental care and more younger dental surgeons providing care, it behoves the profession to ensure that patients are appropriately informed on the specific procedures and cost first. This should be followed with informed consent.

Failure to do so would imply a lack of ethics awareness at least, and may lead to a malpractice lawsuit.

Thomas Lee Hock Seng (Dr)