Healthcare Services (Outpatient Dental Service) Regulations 2023

the licensee provides any information and communication technology to the patient to enable the transmission of data related to the patient’s dental health status between the patient and the licensee and the monitoring of the patient’s dental health by the licensee; or

the licensee communicates with the patient remotely for administrative matters, including (but not limited to) the arrangement of the date of the patient’s next dental appointment.

is registered under section 14 of the Dental Registration Act 1999 and holds a valid practising certificate under that Act; and

has either of the following:

registration under section 14C(1) of the Dental Registration Act 1999 as a specialist in a particular branch of dentistry and accreditation as such specialist by the Dental Specialists Accreditation Board; (ii)full-time work experience as a dentist for a continuous period of at least 2 years in treating patients —

in the provision of an outpatient dental service, acute hospital service or ambulatory surgical centre service provided in a private hospital, medical clinic or healthcare establishment (as the case may be) licensed under the repealed Act; or

in the provision of an outpatient dental service, acute hospital service or ambulatory surgical centre service licensed under the Act.

every equipment or facility must be installed, and used or operated properly, in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the equipment or facility;

where the licensee is approved to provide the outpatient dental service using an approved conveyance, every equipment, instrument, appliance, material or facility that is necessary for the provision of the outpatient dental service is —

fit for use at the approved conveyance; (ii)if necessary, calibrated for use in the approved conveyance; and

securely fastened or stored in a manner so as not to pose a threat or risk to the safety of any person in the approved conveyance while the approved conveyance is in motion; and

where the possession, use or operation of any equipment or facility requires any certification or licence, at all times when the licensee is in possession of the equipment or facility —

the licensee holds the valid certification or licence for the possession, use or operation of the equipment or facility; and

the equipment or facility is checked regularly, and maintained properly and according to the manufacturer’s specifications, so as to ensure that it is adequate, functional and effective.

no personnel provides a service or does an act beyond his or her professional expertise and qualifications; and

the provision of any service, or carrying out of any act, that is necessary to support the provision of an outpatient dental service and requires the provision of direct care to a patient by any personnel who is not a dentist, is supervised by the dentist who is charged with the care of the patient.

ensure that the radiography procedure is necessary for the patient and is conducted in a proper, effective and safe manner;

ensure that the radiography procedure is conducted on the correct patient;

where the radiography procedure is repeated for the patient, keep and maintain proper and accurate records of the reason for repeating the radiography procedure;

establish and implement protocols to minimise the patient’s exposure to radiation or repeated imaging while undergoing the radiography procedure;

establish and implement processes and measures to protect any person who is in the approved permanent premises where the radiography procedure is conducted (other than the patient) against exposure to radiation while the patient is undergoing the radiography procedure;

if the patient is 12 years of age or younger, ensure that the radiography procedure is conducted in a manner that safeguards the patient’s health and safety, taking into account his or her age;

ensure that all findings obtained from the radiography procedure are recorded in the patient’s patient health record; and

ensure that where any finding of a radiography procedure indicates that the patient needs any follow‑up check or treatment by a medical practitioner or dentist, that the patient or (if the patient is a minor or lacks mental capacity) a next‑of‑kin or carer of the patient is notified of this fact and arrangements are made for the follow‑up check or treatment to be provided to the patient.

the radiography procedure is requested to be conducted on the patient by a dentist who is the licensee’s personnel; or

another licensee has engaged the firstmentioned licensee to conduct the radiography procedure on the patient under regulation 21.

a dentist; (b)a medical practitioner who is registered under section 22 of the Medical Registration Act 1997 as a specialist in the branch of diagnostic radiology; (c)an oral health therapist; or

a radiographer who is a duly qualified allied health professional.

a dentist; or

a medical practitioner who is registered under section 22 of the Medical Registration Act 1997 as a specialist in the branch of diagnostic radiology.

a dentist who has been issued a certification that certifies the individual’s competency in the conduct of dental cone beam computed tomography by a body specified by the Director‑General; (b)a medical practitioner who is registered under section 22 of the Medical Registration Act 1997 as a specialist in the branch of diagnostic radiology; (c)an oral health therapist; or (d)a radiographer who is a duly qualified allied health professional.

ensure that any dental cone beam computed tomography is conducted on a patient after the following conditions have been satisfied:

a dentist has assessed that the use of dental x‑ray, which emits a lower dose of radiation than dental cone beam computed tomography, would not be capable of producing an accurate image of the patient’s dental structures;

a dentist, having reviewed the patient’s medical history and conducted a clinical examination on the patient, has assessed that the potential benefits of conducting dental cone beam computed tomography on the patient outweigh the potential risks to the patient;

if the proposed dental cone beam computed tomography is the second or subsequent dental cone beam computed tomography to be conducted on the patient, a qualified person has considered whether the procedure may be conducted on a part of the patient’s teeth, jaws or associated structures that is different from, or is a smaller portion of, the part of the patient’s teeth, jaws or associated structures that were previously subject to dental cone beam computed tomography, to minimise the exposure of any particular area of the patient’s teeth, jaws or associated structures to radiation;

keep and maintain proper and accurate records of the conditions mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) being satisfied in respect of every dental cone beam computed tomography conducted on a patient; and

ensure that the field of view for each dental cone beam computed tomography is collimated to the area of clinical interest.

a dentist who has been issued a certification that certifies the individual’s competency in the reading of dental cone beam computed tomography images by a body specified by the Director‑General; or

a medical practitioner who is registered under section 22 of the Medical Registration Act 1997 as a specialist in the branch of diagnostic radiology.

establish and implement protocols to optimise the x‑ray tube voltage and tube current‑exposure time product during the use of a dental cone beam computed tomography scanner on a patient;

perform the necessary tests and examinations on every newly installed dental cone beam computed tomography equipment prior to its use to ensure that the functions of the equipment (including the function to minimise any unnecessary exposure of any person to radiation while the equipment is being used) are operating normally; and

perform regular tests, checks and maintenance on every dental cone beam computed tomography equipment in accordance with the specifications by the manufacturer of the equipment to ensure that the functions of the equipment (including the function to minimise any unnecessary exposure of any person to radiation while the equipment is being used) are operating normally.

where the radiography procedure is dental x‑ray — B is a licensee or a radiological service licensee; or

where the radiography procedure is dental cone beam computed tomography —

B is a licensee who is approved to provide the radiography procedure or a radiological service licensee; and

a dentist who has successfully completed a course relating to dental cone beam computed tomography specified by the Director‑General and is A’s personnel, has assessed that dental cone beam computed tomography needs to be conducted on the patient for the patient’s dental condition.

where B is a licensee — the licence conditions and duties applicable to B in its capacity as a licensee;

where B is a licensee approved to provide dental cone beam computed tomography — the conditions imposed on B in respect of the approval;

where B is a radiological service licensee — the licence conditions and duties applicable to B in its capacity as a radiological service licensee; and

these Regulations and any other regulations made under the Act applicable to or in relation to B.

the business name by which A provides an outpatient dental service; and (b)if applicable, the name of the dentist who is A’s personnel and who made the referral for and on behalf of A.

only as a service that is incidental to the provision of an outpatient dental service; (b)at the licensee’s approved permanent premises or temporary premises or in the licensee’s approved conveyance, as the case may be; and

by a licensee’s personnel who is —

a dentist who is trained in the conduct of ultrasound imaging;

a radiologist;

a radiographer who is a duly qualified allied health professional; or

a sonographer.

using testing material in respect of which —

the expiry date has not passed; and

the personnel who is administering the test does not suspect or have any reason to suspect that the testing material is no longer fit for use; and

in accordance with the instructions specified by the manufacturer of the testing material.

ensure that adequate and appropriate facilities, equipment and drugs for the provision of any essential life‑saving measure to a patient are readily available at every approved permanent premises, temporary premises and approved conveyance; and

at all times, be capable of providing essential life-saving measures to any patient who is at risk of death.

that only resuscitation drugs that have not passed their expiry dates and are fit for use and resuscitation equipment that is fit for use are made available for use in the provision of any essential life‑saving measure;

the establishment and implementation of protocols for the rapid and accurate assessment of any patient who is in need of essential life‑saving measures; and

every personnel who provides any essential life‑saving measure to a patient is adequately trained —

to provide the essential life‑saving measure in a proper, effective and safe manner; and

in the use of the equipment that is needed to deliver the essential life‑saving measure.

must not provide an outpatient dental service to any patient unless the approved conveyance is stationary and properly parked;

without limiting regulation 17, must ensure that at least one dentist or oral health therapist is present in the approved conveyance during the period when an outpatient dental service is provided using the approved conveyance;

must inform the patient or (if the patient is a minor or lacks mental capacity) a next‑of‑kin or carer of the patient on any follow‑up care and treatment including how the patient may obtain follow‑up care and treatment; and

if a dentist who is the licensee’s personnel, is of the opinion that the patient requires a particular dental treatment or care which cannot be provided in the approved conveyance in a proper, effective and safe manner, must make alternative arrangements for the patient to receive the dental treatment or care and inform the patient or (if the patient is a minor or lacks mental capacity) a next‑of‑kin or carer of the patient of the alternative arrangements.

ensure that in determining whether a particular aspect of the outpatient dental service may be provided at the temporary premises in a proper, effective and safe manner, a dentist (who is the licensee’s personnel) attending to the patient must take into account —

the patient’s medical condition or history;

the dentist’s qualifications, experience, competency and skills; and (iii)the facilities, equipment, dental supplies and other resources that are available at the temporary premises; (b)establish, implement and regularly review guidelines to assist a dentist in making the determination mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a); (c)inform the patient or (if the patient is a minor or lacks mental capacity) a next‑of‑kin or carer of the patient on any follow‑up care and treatment including how the patient may obtain follow‑up care and treatment; and

if a dentist who is the licensee’s personnel is of the opinion that the patient requires a particular dental treatment or care which cannot be provided to or conducted on the patient in the temporary premises in a proper, effective and safe manner, make alternative arrangements for the patient to receive the dental treatment or care and inform the patient or (if the patient is a minor or lacks mental capacity) a next‑of‑kin or carer of the patient of the alternative arrangements.

for a dentist (who is the licensee’s personnel) to review the patient’s dental condition and, if necessary, prescribe any medicine to the patient, where the patient has previously received treatment or undergone a procedure at any approved permanent premises, temporary premises or approved conveyance of the licensee; (b)for a dentist (who is the licensee’s personnel) to review the patient’s dental condition and, if necessary, prescribe any medicine to the patient to prepare the patient for a dental treatment or procedure or temporarily alleviate any pain or suffering of the patient, where the patient intends to receive the dental treatment or procedure at the licensee’s approved permanent premises, temporary premises or approved conveyance.

ensure that the fees charged by the licensee for an outpatient dental service are displayed or otherwise made available at every approved permanent premises, temporary premises or approved conveyance, as the case may be; and

where the licensee provides the outpatient dental service by remote provision — ensure that the licensee’s personnel informs the patient of such fees.

the consultation fee that is applicable to the patient; and

any administrative fee or any other charge that is to be imposed in respect of the outpatient dental service on the patient.

display or otherwise make available, at every approved permanent premises, temporary premises or approved conveyance, the fact that the licensee is an approved institution; and

where the licensee provides the outpatient dental service by remote provision — ensure that the licensee’s personnel informs the patient of the fact that the licensee is an approved institution.

represent to any person or give any person the impression that the licensee is an approved institution; or

otherwise mislead any person as to whether the licensee is an approved institution.

an approved medical institution within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Central Provident Fund (Medisave Account Withdrawals) Regulations (Rg 17);

an approved medical institution approved by the Minister under the MediShield Life Scheme Act 2015;

an accredited clinic under the scheme established by the Government known as the Community Health Assist Scheme or any other similar public scheme providing financial assistance established by the Government.

the estimated range of fees for the claimable outpatient dental service;

the fee benchmark for the same or similar claimable outpatient dental service that is published on the website of the Ministry of Health at https://www.moh.gov.sg (if available); (c)whether any part of the fees mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) may be —

deducted from any medisave account; (ii)reimbursed under the MediShield Life Scheme; or

reduced by any subsidy or grant under a public scheme; and (d)any other benefit that the MediShield Life Scheme provides to the patient in respect of the outpatient dental service, if any.

to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and

in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.