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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Specialist dental appointments within 2 weeks
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->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
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->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
