How to start a dental practice in Singapore
Starting your own dental practice is a very challenging yet rewarding venture that requires sheer determination and will to pull off. You are no longer just a dentist, but a business owner as well. Which means you will have to take care of the business aspects of your dental practice - that includes HR, finance, marketing, and more.
When should you start your own dental practice?
Most dentists would have had at least a few years of experience working in a dental group or as an associate dentist before thinking about starting their own practice. Here are a few pre-requisites to consider before taking the leap:
A proper dental practice business plan
Financial capital required
Competency in dentistry and customer relationship skills
No legal obligations and implications from your current employer
If you meet all of the above pre-requisites and are mentally prepared, you are ready to start your own dental practice. Let’s go through the step-by-step guide to starting a dental practice in Singapore.
Here are the steps to opening a dental practice in Singapore
Funding
Prepare your dental practice Business plan
Name your dental practice and create a logo
Pick a location
Pick the right business structure
Dental practice incorporation
Hiring
License and Certificates
MOH inspection
Equipment checklist
The steps to setting up a dental practice are very similar to setting up a medical practice, check our complete step-by-step guide on How to start a clinic in Singapore
How much does it cost to start a dental practice in Singapore?
The initial startup cost of starting a dental practice in Singapore can be as high as $ SGD 200,000 or more. Which includes rent, renovation, equipment costs, license fees, salaries, and other miscellaneous fees.
Depending on your dental startup size and specializations, the cost may go even higher for rents and equipment.
Hiring dental staff
Time for some recruitments
Dental Office Manager
The dental office manager MUST be a registered practitioner under Singapore Medical Council.
He/she will:
Work directly under the dentist
Be fully responsible for the activities involved in the preparation and dispensing of medicines, including all the relevant records.
Ensure no dentistry work is done by under-qualified staff
Ensure procedures are carried out by a registered dentist or other qualified people who have adequate training and experience in the use of any equipment used for carrying out such procedures.
Dental assistants
You may need 1 or more dental assistants depending on your size, he/she will:
Prepare patients for treatments
Sterilize instruments and equipment
Prepare and support dentists in their procedures
Instruct and offer advice to patients on dental hygiene
They will also work at the front desk for:
Schedule appointments
Collect payment
Keep patient records
Welcome and cater to patient
Dental Hygienist (optional)
Not every dental practice has a hygienist, some dentist prefers to take on the cleaning and polishing themselves. If you feel like delegating some work to a hygienist and has the budget, you can consider hiring one.
He/she will:
Carry out cleaning procedures such as removing plaque and tartar
Take X-rays for patients
Give basic diagnosis
All of the required licenses and certificates for dental practice
In order to start a dental practice in Singapore, you will have to obtain a list of required licenses.
‘Risk Based Licensing’: All healthcare institutions are now categorised into 3 categories based on the nature of services (‘high-risk’, ‘moderate-risk’, and ‘low-risk’)
All applications must be submitted to MOH at least 2 months before the date of commencement
If you are a dental group with multiple outlets, each outlet must be individually licensed.
Licenses and certificate
Certificate of Registration of a Pharmacy – if your dental practice dispenses drugs, you must apply with Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
L3 License - if your dental practice has irradiating equipment, such as the X-ray machine or ultrasound, you will have to apply to National Environment Agency (NEA) for such equipment *You will need to apply a license for every machine you have.
Medisave accreditation – This accreditation is required when you intend to let your patient make Medisave claims at your dental Practice. The application for this accreditation can be done after you have gotten your dental practice license.
Hazardous Substances Permit – Apply for this permit with NEA. *Can only be done by a senior executive of the company.
Medical Advertisements and Sales Promotion Permit – For advertisements and promotions of medical product within your practice.
Licensing for dentists
Licensing fees for dentists:
1 dentist: S$770
2 to 5 dentists: S$1100
6 or more dentists: S$1,500
X-ray lab and clinical fees
S$1600 for an X-ray laboratory
S$2000 for an X-ray laboratory and clinical
Dental Practice equipment checklist
A general dental practice should have the following equipment:
Automated external defibrillator (AED)
Dental charts
Dental engine(s)
Specialized lighting
Stainless steel equipment
X-ray equipment (need NEA license)
Sterilization Equipment
Pantry appliances (e.g. coffee machine, microwave, refrigerator, cutlery, etc.)
Clocks
Computers, printers, payment terminals
Emergency equipment and supplies
Label Printers
Computers & Peripherals
Queue Management/Ticketing System
Personal protective equipment (PPEs)
Inventory/Medicine storage space (MOH compliant)
Janitorial equipment (e.g. vacuum cleaner, mop, sanitizers, etc.)
Protective equipment (e.g. gloves, aprons, eyewear, facemasks)
Mouth mirror(s)
Temperature screening and SafeEntry/TraceTogether registration equipment
A washroom (recommended in case your patient got uncomfortable during a procedure)