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DENTISTRY IN SINGAPORE

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DENTISTRY IN SINGAPORE AFTER DENTAL DEGREE  IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

Hi , Welcome  to all dental docs . Dentalorg.com has covered many articles on how to go abroad and settle as a dentist . But most of the options discussed till now were European countries & USA . Though popular but these destinations are costly to pursue financially . So , in todays article we will be discussing SINGAPORE as a destination for future career & higher studies for Dental Graduates .

Don’t worry ! The processes to practice as dentist or doing higher post graduate studies in Singapore is much more simpler and relatively cheaper compared to USA & European countries . So lets start our journey to Singapore as a dentist : ) .

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Go through all the slides that will give you a clear picture about dentistry in Singapore.

Links to official documents in the last slide 

Go to Next Slide – Info for Specialist Dentist

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Information for Dental Specialist

 With effect from 1st January 2008, the Dental Registration Act requires any person who wishes to practise as a dental specialist to register with the Singapore Dental Council.

Applicants should first obtain accreditation from the Dental Specialist Accreditation Board (DSAB). For more information on DSAB’s requirements, please access the DSAB website.

Upon obtaining the letter of accreditation from DSAB, applicants may proceed to apply for registration as specialist with the Singapore Dental Council. Prior to application, please ensure that you have registered the relevant higher qualifications with the Council. Kindly submit the completed application form for registration as dental specialist , together with the letter of accreditation from DSAB and prescribed fee of $500 to the Council.

Use of titles and designations

For Dentists registered under the Dental Specialist Register, they will only use the titles ” Dental Specialist in (Specialty)” or the title of “Endodontist”; “Orthodontist”; “Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeon”; “Periodontist”; “Pedodontist” or “Prosthodontist”.

Designations such as “Registrar, Senior Registrar, Associate Consultant, Consultant, Senior Consultant” are hospital or institution appointments can only be used by registered hospital or institution appointed staff. These designations should not be linked to any specialty of Dentistry eg “Consultant Prosthodontist”.

These designations and appointments should instead relate to departments, hospitals or institutions awarding such designations.

Next Slide – How To Register As A Dentist in Singapore ?

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Register as a dentist

The dental register is divided into a Full Registration, Conditional Registration and Temporary Registration. This division will allow for restrictions on the practice of dentistry in respect of each sub-register to be drawn up, proportionate to the qualifications and experience of the dentist in that sub-register, in the interest of safeguarding dental standards and public safety.

Types of Dental Registration :

  • Full Registration
  • Conditional Registration
  • Temporary Registration

Full Registration ( for students who have studied dental graduation in Singapore )

Dentist under full registration is allowed to practise independently anywhere in Singapore.
Criteria for Full Registration:
(i) holds a basic dental degree from Singapore; or
(ii) holds such qualifications as may be recognised by the Council and satisfies the Council thathe has special knowledgeand skill and sufficient experience in any particular branch of dentistry ;

To be eligible to practice as a dentist in singapore You must have a Dental Degree that is approved by the  Singapore Dental Council .

Now for the degree to be approved by the Singapore Dental Council , you need to have a dental degree from a dental college in Singapore or from a foreign dental college  whose degree  is approved by the Singapore dental council .

 So , If you are a student with dental graduation degree outside singapore then click below to see the complete list of foreign colleges with dental degree approved in singapore :

LIST OF REGISTRABLE BASIC DENTAL QUALIFICATIONS

From the list its is clear that students , who have a dental degree from countries like  Australia , Canada , Hong Kong , New Zealand , Ire Land , United Kingdom  are eligible for conditional registration .

Details about CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION :

Conditional Registration

Dentist under conditional registration is required to adhere to conditions laid down by Council.

Council may specify : –

(a) that dentist registered under Conditional Registration to work for a specified period (usually 2 years) under the supervision of a fully registered dentist approved by the Council; and
(b) the particular employment or the descriptions of employment for the purposes of which he is registered under this section.
The supervisor is required to submit a supervisory report to the Council once every 6 months.
Dentists under conditional registration may apply for conversion to Full Registration after 2 years but this will be subjected to Council’s approval.
Criteria for Conditional Registration:
(i) holds a degree from a university specified in the Schedule or any other degree which is, in the opinion of the Council, not lower in standing than a degree specified in the Schedule;(ii)
 (ii) graduates from recognised dental schools listed in the Schedule must pass the relevant State/Regional Board licensing examination in the country which they attained their basic dental degree. For any country that imposes such licensing conditions on its own dental graduates, the corresponding conditions will also be required for registration to practise in Singapore;
(iii) has been selected for employment in Singapore as a dentist in any hospital or other institution or dental practice approved by the Council; and
(iv) satisfies the Council that he has the knowledge and skill and has acquired the experience which is necessary for practice as a dentist.
(v)

has sat and passed qualifying examination (please refer to eligibility for application to sit for qualifying examination)

Temporary Registration

Dentist under temporary registration is only allowed to practise for a short period of time.Criteria for Temporary Registration:
(i) holds a degree other than Singapore degree;graduates from recognised dental schools listed in the Schedule must pass the relevant State/Regional Board licensing examination in the country which they attained their basic dental degree. For any country that imposes such licensing conditions on its own dental graduates, the corresponding conditions will also be required for registration to practise in Singapore;
(ii) who is in Singapore for the purpose of teaching, research or postgraduate study in dentistry under such training scheme as may be approved by the Council for that purpose;
(iii) who possesses dental knowledge, experience and skill which the Council considers to be of international standing or are such as to have special value to the people of Singapore; or
(iv) who is not otherwise entitled to be registered as a dentist under this Act but who, in the opinion of the Council, possesses other qualifications which are adequate for the purposes of registration under this Act.

Now , if you are a student with a dental degree from a college not listed in the list given above ( India , Pakistan , Bangladesh etc ) then you will need to appear for the qualifying exam and clear it .

See Next Slide – Procedure To Register As Dentist in Singapore

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Registration Procedures

 Applicants are required to complete the dental registration form, attached with necessary supporting documents, and submit to:

Singapore Dental Council
College of Medicine Building
16 College Road #01-01
Singapore 169854
Email: enquiries@dentalcouncil.gov.sg
Fax: 6253 3185

Please note that the minimum processing time is 2 weeks from the time the complete application is received at our office.When the application is approved, applicant will be requested to call at the SDC’s office personally, bringing the following for formal registration:
 (a) original copies of the documents submitted earlier;
 (b) identity card/passport; and
 (c) prescribed practising certificate fees

Fees

The application fee (non-refundable) is

  • $300 for Full / Conditional Registration ;
  • $100 for Temporary Registration.

 

The extension fee for temporary registration is $65.

The practising certificate fee is $300 per year or part thereof.

See Next Slide – The Final Qualifying Exam

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Qualifying Examination

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 The Council may require a person with a degree, other than a degree specified in the Schedule, to undergo and pass an examination conducted or arranged by the Council or by such other person as the Council may appoint.

To apply to sit for qualifying examination (QE), the applicant must meet the criteria laid down by the Council.

Criteria for Qualifying Examination for foreign-trained dentists:
(i) offer of employment, and
(ii) Singaporean/PR, married to Singaporean/PR and children of PR’s, or
(iii) possess a basic dental degree that is comparable to the local BDS, or
(iv) possess recognised higher qualification.
* Foreign-trained applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit exam results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

That is, must attained criteria (i) and any of criteria from (ii) to (iv).

The examination will be conducted in English.
If you have met the criteria listed above, you may send in your curriculum vitae with information relating to your personal particulars, qualifications, working experience and copies of certificates, via email or by post for Council’s consideration.Before you make up your mind to apply and sit for the Qualifying Examination, kindly note that   Section 15A(4) in the Dentists Regulations states that an applicant who is required by the Council to undergo the examination, shall be entitled to only 2 attempts at the examination and both attempts to be taken within a period of 12 months of each other.  Council will deliberate on your application and you will be informed on the outcome of your application at a later date.   Please allow a processing time of 2 weeks.Examination Fee

Kindly note that the examination fee for Qualifying Examination is $2,000 (non-refundable).

If you have sat and passed the Qualifying Examination, you may apply to be registered under Conditional Registration. You are required to complete and submit the Application for registration as a dentist, together with necessary supporting documents and a letter of employment from potential employer to the Council.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL FORM OF THE QUALIFYING EXAM HERE TO KNOW ALL THE DETAILS AND RULES

So , I hope its more  clearer now as to career in dentistry in Singapore after BDS . This article will be regularly updated for the changes .

Crucial Links : http://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/content/hprof/sdc/en/leftnav/information_for_dentists.html

Official Links –

N.B : For all the latest updates always visit the Singapore Embassy of your country . There you can get all the latest and verified informations . This article is just to give the basic informations only . 

All The Best Doctors !

Disclaimer – The article is from the experience of past students who have experience in this regard. Before any decision always directly meet the Singapore Embassy in your country. Never trust & pay money to any middle man who promises to get you the permissions easily.

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