Singapore Dental Care Market Analysis

Singapore Dental Care Services Market Executive Summary

Singapore is a multi-ethnic city-state with a population of 5.07 Mn people, 4.02 Mn of whom are citizens or permanent residents. Singapore inherited a health system that provided virtually free services as a former British colony, and by 2022, Singapore is attaining good health outcomes, with a total health expenditure of 4.47% of GDP, of which the government's part was nearly a third. Singapore ranks highly in international comparisons of health indices and healthcare systems. However, other causes of public concern have surfaced since 2020, including acute hospital bed shortages, intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) services, and healthcare affordability. Singapore has made concerted efforts to comprehend and solve the underlying causes.

Singapore has made a concerted effort to analyze and treat the underlying causes of system stress, as well as to design a strategy for fundamentally transforming the healthcare system; hence, the current healthcare delivery model is a hybrid of public and private components. Public hospitals dominate the hospital sector, accounting for 9,071 (83.8%) of the total 10,826 acute hospital beds and 455.272 (77.8%) of the total 584,819 acute hospital inpatient admissions. In contrast, private clinics dominate the outpatient market; roughly 2000 private GP clinics account for nearly 80% of all primary care attendances. Singapore's healthcare reforms have tried to improve care integration between public and private service providers, particularly in light of the country's rapidly aging population and rising Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevalence. Several attempts to promote public-private health provider partnerships have been developed throughout the last decade.

Singapore's dental care system is regarded as high-quality and extensively available to the general public. Certain dental procedures are subsidized by the government, and both public and private dental facilities are offered. Singapore also offers a variety of dental colleges that teach dentists from all over the world. Furthermore, the country boasts a large number of specialists, including orthodontists, periodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Singapore is one of the fastest-aging societies in the world, and the proportion of the population aged 65 years and older is projected to double over the next 17 years. Although Singapore's approach of targeted subsidies has made inpatient care in public hospitals and primary care in public polyclinics affordable, particularly for low-income citizens, it has had the unintended effect of creating out-of-pocket payment gradients that favour patients choosing to have a care in polyclinics.

As income levels in Singapore rise, more people can afford to pay for dental services, including expensive procedures such as orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. Expats (foreign citizens living in Singapore) can potentially help to increase the utilization of dental services in Singapore as they tend to have higher disposable incomes, and may be more likely to seek out expensive or specialized dental services such as orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry.  As of June 2021, the population of Singapore stood at 5.45 Mn of its total population of 5.45 Mn in 2021, 4 Mn are residents, consisting of citizens and permanent residents (PRs). 1.45 Mn are non-residents, comprising foreign students and individuals on work passes. Expats may have different dental needs and expectations than local residents, which can drive innovation and diversity in dental services.

Market Restraints

Dental services in Singapore can be expensive, especially if you need orthodontics or implant dentistry. This can be difficult for some people, especially those from low-income homes. Some people, particularly those living in rural or remote areas, may have limited access to dental treatment. This could be due to a lack of dental clinics in their immediate vicinity or a lack of transportation to reach clinics located further away. Some people avoid going to the dentist because they are terrified of the procedures. This can be a significant barrier, particularly for people who have had negative experiences with dental treatment in the past. Dental insurance coverage in Singapore can be limited, putting certain people out of reach of dental services.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

• National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS) (SGP)
• Singapore Dental Corporation (SGP)
• Q & M Dental Group (SGP)
• Healthway Medical Group (SGP)
• Raffles Dental (SGP)
• Pacific Healthcare Holdings (SGP)

Notable Recent Deals

January 2020 - Clearbridge Health Limited purchased majority ownership in 9 dental clinics in Singapore under the brand name "Dental Focus". With the establishment of the first Dental Focus dental clinic in 2011, it has grown into a network of dental clinics around Singapore, providing a comprehensive range of dental treatments such as primary dental care, restorative and aesthetic dentistry, and pain management.

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape

The regulatory body for dental services in Singapore is the Singapore Dental Council (SDC). The SDC is responsible for regulating and maintaining the standards of the dental profession in Singapore, including registering and accrediting dental professionals, enforcing ethical guidelines, and investigating complaints against dental practitioners.

Reimbursement Scenario

Patient co-payments are an essential component of the system, emphasizing the emphasis on personal health responsibility. Schemes have been formed to assist patients in paying their share of the costs and to ensure that out-of-pocket charges do not limit access to healthcare services, particularly for low-income groups; hence, MediShield Life was released. Many Singapore insurance companies, including MediShield Life, Integrated Shield Plans, and Private Integrated Shield Plans, offer dental coverage. Private insurance companies in Singapore that offer dental coverage include AIA, Aviva, Great Eastern, NTUC Income, Prudential, and AXA. Some Singapore insurance companies offer orthodontic-specific insurance plans that cover the cost of orthodontic treatments including braces and aligners. Orthodontic treatment coverage limits in these policies are frequently higher than in standard dental insurance plans. Orthodontic treatments such as braces and aligners, as well as consultations, teeth extractions, and retainers, are all part of AIA's Orthodontic Plan. Great Eastern Dental Care provides an orthodontic plan that includes these and other appliances.