Gabriel Keng Yan Lee, Kuan Yee Wong, Wan Zhen Lee, Chai Kiat Chng
{"title":"The oral health landscape in Singapore: A commentary on key features, challenges and future policies","authors":"Gabriel Keng Yan Lee, Kuan Yee Wong, Wan Zhen Lee, Chai Kiat Chng","doi":"10.1111/cdoe.12927","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Over the last decade, Singapore has grappled with substantial healthcare challenges, chiefly a bourgeoning aging population and a mounting burden of chronic diseases. The oral health landscape has also changed, with the Ministry of Health placing a greater focus on a life-course approach supported by policies that facilitate Singaporeans to receive dental care appropriately and affordably. A pivotal oral health policy is the National Dental Strategy, a comprehensive framework governing dental services in the public sector. This strategy encompasses aspects such as financing, workforce management, and capacity considerations. To facilitate affordability and accessibility to dental services in the public sector, the government extends subsidies to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Those attending private dental clinics also benefit from the Community Health Assist Scheme, introduced in 2012, which alleviates treatment costs for enrolled Singaporeans. Furthermore, additional age-banded subsidies have been introduced for older Singaporeans born before 1960, enhancing financial support when accessing dental services in both private and public sectors. In 2019, a national adult oral health survey was commissioned to gauge the oral health status of Singaporeans aged 21 and above. The findings reported 34.8% having untreated dental caries, and 15.7% and 41.2% experiencing moderate and severe periodontitis, respectively. While over half (53.9%) of respondents visited the dentist at least annually, about 60% of eligible individuals did not utilize their government dental subsidies. In response, the Ministry of Health is committed to strengthening oral disease prevention, integrating oral health into general healthcare services, expanding dental financing schemes to enhance service utilization, improving the quality and transparency of dental care, and leveraging advancements in tele-dentistry and other modes of dental services. It is imperative to adapt Singapore's oral health policies and service delivery models to meet the evolving needs of the population and ensure a sustainable, equitable and resilient oral healthcare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":10580,"journal":{"name":"Community dentistry and oral epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2023-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Community dentistry and oral epidemiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdoe.12927","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Over the last decade, Singapore has grappled with substantial healthcare challenges, chiefly a bourgeoning aging population and a mounting burden of chronic diseases. The oral health landscape has also changed, with the Ministry of Health placing a greater focus on a life-course approach supported by policies that facilitate Singaporeans to receive dental care appropriately and affordably. A pivotal oral health policy is the National Dental Strategy, a comprehensive framework governing dental services in the public sector. This strategy encompasses aspects such as financing, workforce management, and capacity considerations. To facilitate affordability and accessibility to dental services in the public sector, the government extends subsidies to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Those attending private dental clinics also benefit from the Community Health Assist Scheme, introduced in 2012, which alleviates treatment costs for enrolled Singaporeans. Furthermore, additional age-banded subsidies have been introduced for older Singaporeans born before 1960, enhancing financial support when accessing dental services in both private and public sectors. In 2019, a national adult oral health survey was commissioned to gauge the oral health status of Singaporeans aged 21 and above. The findings reported 34.8% having untreated dental caries, and 15.7% and 41.2% experiencing moderate and severe periodontitis, respectively. While over half (53.9%) of respondents visited the dentist at least annually, about 60% of eligible individuals did not utilize their government dental subsidies. In response, the Ministry of Health is committed to strengthening oral disease prevention, integrating oral health into general healthcare services, expanding dental financing schemes to enhance service utilization, improving the quality and transparency of dental care, and leveraging advancements in tele-dentistry and other modes of dental services. It is imperative to adapt Singapore's oral health policies and service delivery models to meet the evolving needs of the population and ensure a sustainable, equitable and resilient oral healthcare system.
期刊介绍:
The aim of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology is to serve as a forum for scientifically based information in community dentistry, with the intention of continually expanding the knowledge base in the field. The scope is therefore broad, ranging from original studies in epidemiology, behavioral sciences related to dentistry, and health services research through to methodological reports in program planning, implementation and evaluation. Reports dealing with people of all age groups are welcome.
The journal encourages manuscripts which present methodologically detailed scientific research findings from original data collection or analysis of existing databases. Preference is given to new findings. Confirmations of previous findings can be of value, but the journal seeks to avoid needless repetition. It also encourages thoughtful, provocative commentaries on subjects ranging from research methods to public policies. Purely descriptive reports are not encouraged, nor are behavioral science reports with only marginal application to dentistry.
The journal is published bimonthly.