Singapore Dental Council ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SECRETARIAT 4 COMMITTEES 5 DENTISTS AND ORAL HEALTH THERAPISTS REGISTRATION 8 PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 13 FINANCIAL REPORT 14 SINGAPORE DENTAL COUNCIL’S STATEMENT BY COUNCIL’S MANAGEMENT 15 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS OF SINGAPORE DENTAL COUNCIL 16 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 18 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 22 DETAILED INCOME STATEMENT 38

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The Council continued to carry out its regulatory functions in implementing policy and

processes required under the Dental Registration Act (Chapter 76), in what was

another busy year.

The Council has been working to refine and improve processes in view of and in

tandem with the increasing number of registered dental professionals.

I would like to convey my appreciation and express my gratitude to members of the

Council’s committees for taking time out of their busy schedules in contributing to the

meetings and discussions to attend to various issues and concerns.

For their invaluable assistance in the investigations and deliberations of disciplinary

cases, members of the Complaints Panel appointed to respective Complaints

Committees and Disciplinary Committees are acknowledged and credited for their

contributions.

Last but not least, I highlight Council staff and secretariat for their dedication to

Council activities over the last year and acknowledge their hard work and team work

in dispensing their duties.

PROF CHEW CHONG LIN

PRESIDENT

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THE DENTAL COUNCIL

First row from left: Dr Sim Wee Kiat, A/Prof Ong Hui Lian Grace, Prof Chew Chong Lin, Clin A/Prof Tseng Seng Kwong Patrick, Dr Ang Ee Peng Raymond Second row from left: Dr Chan Siew Luen, Dr Choo Keang Hai, Dr Long Benjamin Charles, Ms Lee Show Feai Last row from left: Dr Chng Chai Kiat, Dr Shahul Hameed, Dr Ho Kee Hai, Ms Lee Yong Ching Margaret

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THE DENTAL COUNCIL (as at 31 December 2014)

The Council consists of seven appointed members and five elected members and comprises: Appointed members: President Prof Chew Chong Lin

Registrar Clin A/Prof Tseng Seng Kwong Patrick1

Dr Chan Siew Luen Ms Lee Show Feai2

Ms Lee Yong Ching Margaret3 A/Prof Ong Hui Lian Grace

Dr Shahul Hameed

Elected members: Dr Ang Ee Peng Raymond Dr Choo Keang Hai Dr Ho Kee Hai Dr Long Benjamin Charles Dr Sim Wee Kiat

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Executive Secretary Dr Chng Chai Kiat Assistant Executive Secretary Dr Ng Jing Jing Assistant Executive Secretary Dr Chay Pui Ling Inspecting Officer Dr Chen Fee Yuen4 Administrative Manager Ms Yee Yoke Chun Assistant Manager Mr Shawn Chua Assistant Manager Ms Tan Chou Ling Management Support Officer Ms Stella Goh Management Support Officer Ms Norisah Ahmad 1 Concurrently, Clin A/Prof Patrick Tseng is the Chief Dental Officer at the Ministry of Health.

2 Ms Lee Show Feai is a registered dentist in the second division of the register.

3 Ms Lee Yong Ching Margaret is a registered Oral Health Therapist.

4 Dr Chen Fee Yuen is a part-time officer

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COMMITTEES

(as at 31 December 2014)

Complaints Panel Complaints Committees are appointed by the Chairman of the Complaints Panel from the members of the Complaints Panel on an ad-hoc basis, with a council member chairing each committee. The following are members of the Complaints Panel5.

Chairman Dr Ho Kee Hai Members Dr Ang Ee Peng Raymond

Dr Chan Siew Luen Dr Choo Keang Hai Ms Lee Show Feai Ms Lee Yong Ching Margaret Dr Long Benjamin Charles A/Prof Ong Hui Lian Grace Dr Shahul Hameed Dr Sim Wee Kiat Dr Chee Oon Lin Serene Dr Cheong Kim Yan Dr Chung Kong Mun Dr Djeng Shih Kien Dr Eu Oy Chu Dr Go Wee Ser Dr Goh Bee Tin Dr Hwang Yee Cheau Dr Kaan Sheung Kin Dr Koh Chu Guan Dr Lee Chi Hong Bruce Dr Lee Jee Mui Dr Lee Kim Chuan Lewis Dr Lee Yew Keong David Dr Leung Wing Hung Dominic Dr Li Chung Tai Trevor Dr Lim Sor Kheng Dr Loganathan Vijayan Dr Looh Fan Chee @ Loh Fun Chee Dr Loh Kai Woh Ronald Dr Loh Poey Ling Dr Mok Yuen Yue Betty A/Prof Neo Chiew Lian Jennifer Dr Ong Kheng Kok Dr Ong Meng Ann Marianne Dr Rajendram Sivagnanam Dr Tan Chin Hwee Dr Tay Lai Hock Alphonsus Dr Teoh Kim Hean Dr Wong Soon May Adeline

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Ms Goo Sok Huan Ms Juginder Kaur Ms Lim Kah Choo Ms Tan Chor Khim Ms Wong Lee Fon Serene Dr Chong Jin Long* Mr Chua Thian Huat* Clin Prof Fock Kwong Ming* Mr Lim Yew Tou Eric* Mrs Norhayati Quek (Mrs Noor Quek)* Mr T Raja Kumar* A/Prof Victor R Savage* A/Prof Tay Cho Jui*

5 Members of the Complaints Panel are appointed for a 2-year term and are eligible for re-appointment.

*Lay panel members

Panel of Disciplinary Committee Chairperson Members Dr Djeng Shih Kien Dr Eu Oy Chu Dr Go Wee Ser Dr Leung Wing Hung Dominic Dr Loh Hong Sai A/Prof Neo Chiew Lian Jennifer

Credentials Committee

Chairman Dr Chan Siew Luen Members A/Prof Neo Chiew Lian Jennifer Dr Ong Kheng Kok Dr Shahul Hameed A/Prof Tan Beng Choon Keson

Oral Health Therapist Accreditation Committee Chairman Clin A/Prof Tseng Seng Kwong Patrick Division I Dentists Dr Anshad s/o Ansari Dr Eu Oy Chu Dr Hemalatha Nathan Dr Koh Chu Guan Oral Health Therapists Ms Lee Yong Ching, Margaret Ms Poon Chew King Judith Ms Tan Siew Tee Ms Tham Kui Wah Ms Sree Gaithiri d/o Kunnasegaran Ms Soon Lay Yong

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Audit Committee Chairman Dr Ang Ee Peng Raymond Members Dr Ho Kee Hai Mr Ng Weng Sui Harry

Committee For Continuing Professional Education Chairman Dr Long Benjamin Charles Members Dr Ang Ee Peng Raymond Dr Eu Oy Chu Dr Ho Kee Hai Dr Kwa Chong Teck A/Prof Neo Chiew Lian Jennifer Clin A/Prof Tseng Seng Kwong Patrick

Aesthetic Facial Procedures Oversight Committee for Dentistry Chairman Dr Chan Siew Luen Members Dr Leung Wing Hung Dominic Dr Lye Kok Weng Dr Seah Tian Ee Dr Tan Kwong Shen Winston

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General Dental Practitioners

Total, 1592, 84%

Dental Specialists Total,

313, 16%

Registered Dentists (General Dental Practitioners vs Specialists)

DENTISTS & ORAL HEALTH THERAPISTS REGISTRATION DENTIST REGISTER As at 31 December 2014, there were 1905 registered dentists.

General Dental Practitioners Dental Specialists

Grand Total Registration

Type

Pu

blic

Se

cto

r

Priva

te S

ecto

r

Oth

ers

*

Ge

ne

ral

De

nta

l

Pra

cti

tio

ners

To

tal

Pu

blic

Se

cto

r

Priva

te S

ecto

r

Oth

ers

*

De

nta

l

Sp

ec

ialis

ts

To

tal

Full Registration

302 984 17 1303 88 215 1 304 1607

Conditional Registration

21 235 8 264 1 1 0 2 266

Temporary Registration

25 0 0 25 7 0 0 7 32

Grand Total

348 1219 25 1592 96 216 1 313 1905 *Not available / Not applicable / NIL / Null

There were 187 new dentist registrations, of which 46 were local graduates from the National University of Singapore, 135 had basic dental degrees in the Schedule to the Dental Registration Act and 6 were under Temporary Registration.

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Local, 46, 25%

Foreign, 141, 75%

Dentists Registered in 2014 (Local-trained

vs Foreign-trained)

Local, 1324, 70%

Foreign, 581, 30%

Registered Dentists (Local-trained

vs Foreign-trained)

Div I, 1856, 97%

Div II, 49, 3%

Dentists by Division

Male, 1001, 53%

Female, 904, 47%

Dentists by Gender

In the two divisions of the Register of Dentists, 97% of dentists are entered in Division I and 3% are registered as Division II. 53% of dentists are male and 47% are female.

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Full Registration, 304, 97%

Conditional Registration

, 2, 1%

Temporary Registration

, 7, 2%

Dental Specialists by Registration Type

Full Registration,

1303, 82%

Conditional Registration,

264, 17%

Temporary Registration,

25, 1%

General Dental Practitioners by

Registration Type

Public Sector, 348,

22%

Private Sector,

1219, 77%

Others, 25, 1%

General Dental Practitioners by Employment Sector

Public Sector, 96,

31%

Private Sector, 216,

69%

Others, 1, 0%

Dental Specialists by Employment Sector

84.3% of registered dentists was under Full Registration; 14.0% was under Conditional Registration and 1.7% was under Temporary Registration.

75.3% of registered dentists are in private practice against 23.3% who are practicing in the public sector. The remaining 1.4% of dentists are not in active practice, for reasons such as administrative work, located overseas or pursuing courses.

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Dental Public Health, 5, 2%

Endodontics, 38, 12%

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 58, 19%

Orthodontics, 95, 30%

Paediatric Dentistry, 16, 5%

Periodontics, 40, 13%

Prosthodontics, 61, 19%

Dental Specialists

16.4% of registered dentists are also on the Dental Specialist Register, registered in one of the seven recognised dental specialties. ORAL HEALTH THERAPIST REGISTER In 2014, 35 Oral Health Therapists (OHT) were registered.

Employment Sector

Part I Dental

Therapist /

Hygienist

Part I Dental

Therapist

Part I Dental

Hygienist

Part II Dental

Therapist /

Hygienist

Part II Dental

Therapist

Part II Dental

Hygienist Total

Private Sector

17 13 0 78 5 15 128

Restructured Institutions

4 1 1 20 0 0 26

Statutory Boards

2 132 0 44 14 2 194

Others* 2 7 0 19 0 1 29

Grand Total 25 153 1 161 19 18 377 *Not available / Not applicable / NIL / Null

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Part I, 179, 47%

Part II, 198, 53%

Oral Health Therapists by Part

Male, 43, 11%

Female, 334, 89%

Oral Health Therapists by Gender

Part I Dental Therapist / Hygienist, 25,

7%

Part I Dental

Therapist, 153, 40% Part I

Dental Hygienist, 1, 0%

Part II Dental Therapist / Hygienist, 161,

43%

Part II Dental

Therapist, 19, 5%

Part II Dental

Hygienist, 18, 5%

Oral Health Therapists by Registration Type

Private Sector, 128,

34%

Restructured Institutions,

26, 7%

Statutory Boards, 194,

51%

Unknown, 29, 8%

Oral Health Therapists by Employment Sector

47% of OHTs are registered under Part I of the Register. While allowed to work independently, they have to work within the prescribed scope of dentistry and must work in collaboration with a Division I dentist by referral. For the 53% of OHTs under Part II of the Register, they must work under supervision of registered dentists in Division I of the Register of Dentists in an approved work place and are required to work within the prescribed scope of dentistry.

34% of OHTs are working in the private sector, compared to 58% in the public sector. The remainders have not updated their employment or place of practice.

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Complaints Committees are appointed to deliberate on complaints received by the Council. Provisions in the Dental Registration Act require Council to investigate all complaints that are accompanied by a Statutory Declaration. Each Complaints Committee consists of a member of the Council (as Chairman of the Committee), two dentists who are not members of the Council and one layperson from the Complaints Panel. The Council received a total of 68 written complaints of which six were accompanied by Statutory Declarations and were referred for investigation by a Complaints Committee. Treatment-related complaints formed the bulk of the complaints. Most of these involved issues of dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes, unethical or professional behavior, miscommunication and high treatment fees. The complaints received in 2014 can be categorised as follows:

Dentures 5

Orthodontics 2

Extraction 1

Wisdom tooth extraction / Oral surgery 3

Instant braces / Veneers 1

Implants / Sinus lift 2

Professional conduct / Ethics 6

Poor communication / Miscommunication 2

Arrogance / Intimidating behaviour / Service standards 4

Inadequate hygiene 1

Fees / overcharging 8

CHAS / CPF Medisave payments 2

Claims / Compensation over treatment outcome 1

Dislocated jaw during scaling and polishing 1

HCIs 6

Irrelevant / Unnecessary x-ray / treatment 3

Personal relationship between dentist and nurse 1

Titles / Displayable Qualifications 3

False claims on website 1

Publicity / Flyers / Publication 4

Advertising stem-cell services 1

Employee dentist (leaving) seeking salary from employer 1

Illegal dentist operating in flat 1

Drug allergy 1

X-ray licences NEA 1

Religious symbols 1

Workscope of OHTs 1

Seeking refund of deposit / advanced payment 2

Allegations from whistle-blower 2

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FINANCIAL REPORT

Council retained the services of Andes Consulting Pte Ltd as our accounting consultant and Audit Alliance as our auditing consultant for the financial year 2014. The audited financial statements for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 are reproduced in the following pages.

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Singapore Dental Council 16 College Road #01-01

College of Medicine Building Singapore 169854

Fax: (65) 6253 3185 Email: enquiries@dentalcouncil.gov.sg

www.sdc.gov.sg