Can I Pay For All My Teeth Extraction Cost With Medisave?

If you are wondering whether it is possible to save cash for a rainy day and use Medisave to pay for all your tooth extraction cost, the answer is that it really depends. 

Your Medisave account can only be used in the event it is a surgical extraction or a surgical dental treatment. This can be dental treatments like dental implants, extensive bone grafting or wisdom tooth surgery. 

At Frank Dental, we often meet patients looking to remove multiple teeth at one-go because of shaky teeth or extensive teeth damage from poor oral hygiene or a result of chronic health conditions. In some of these instances, it has been possible to help subsidise their overall cost of treatment by claiming for Medisave when the tooth requires a surgical extraction instead of just a simple extraction. 

If you are looking to proceed with a dental clinic for treatments like wisdom tooth removal, dentures, dental implants or dental implant dentures and want to know whether it is possible to pay for your teeth extractions with Medisave, this article has been written to help answer your questions! 

Can I Use My Medisave To Pay For A Wisdom Tooth Extraction? 

You can use Medisave to pay for a wisdom tooth extraction if it is a wisdom tooth surgery and not a simple wisdom tooth extraction. It will not be possible to claim for a simple wisdom tooth extraction with Medisave. 

Fortunately, for certain CHAS patients (Blue/PG/MG CHAS card holders), it is possible to subsidise your simple tooth extraction procedure up to 4 tooth extractions in a calendar year. This means that your total tooth extraction cost will be equivalent to the total cost of treatment reduced by the maximum CHAS subsidy allowed based on your CHAS card. 

At Frank Dental, a wisdom tooth extraction (simple) costs $180 while a wisdom tooth surgery costs from $650 – $1,250 (entirely Medisave claimable) depending on the complexity of the wisdom tooth surgery. 

For further reference, please use the table below to see how much you can expect to pay for a simple or surgical wisdom tooth removal at Frank Dental. 

I am a Workers Permit/foreign worker. How much do I have to pay for wisdom tooth extraction? 

If you are on a Workers Permit (WP) or are a foreign worker in Singapore without CHAS, Medisave and/or dental insurance, you qualify for reduced rates at Frank Dental. Frank Dental has made it more accessible for all patients to receive dental care and treatment regardless of their nationality. 

The cost of removing your wisdom tooth (simple extraction) will be $70 while the surgical cost of removing your wisdom tooth will be $300. None of our dental treatments at Frank Dental have GST. We are a GST-free dental clinic. 

Please take note that you do not qualify for reduced rates at Frank Dental if you hold the following passes: Student Pass, Employment Pass (EP) or S-Pass. 

If you are a foreigner in Singapore (WP/Student Pass/EP/S-Pass) without dental insurance looking for more accessible dental care and treatment, we highly recommend taking up our Revive Dental Package. The Revive Dental Package covers most commonly asked for dental treatments while subsidising the cost of dental care in Singapore.

When do my teeth need a simple or surgical extraction? 

Your teeth will warrant a simple extraction if the entire tooth is visible above the gum and does not have an abnormally curved or large root. However, in the event there is extensive tooth decay or dental fillings or the presence of an abnormally curved or large root, you might need a surgical extraction. 

In most instances, it is possible to determine whether you need a simple or surgical extraction after taking an X-ray (OPG) at your dental clinic. The diagnostic imaging tool will be able to help your dentist ascertain how complex the extraction is, and whether you require a simple or surgical extraction. 

Sometimes simple extractions can become surgeries if the root tip breaks or your tooth is particularly difficult to remove. While the initial attempt might be a simple extraction, should the dentist run into the above circumstances, it will become a surgical extraction. Should that be the case, you will be able to use Medisave to claim for your extraction. 

Why did my dentist tell me to go to an oral surgeon for the surgical extraction?

Your dentist probably advised you to go to an oral surgeon for a surgical extraction because of one of these factors: The root of your tooth is close to a sinus, and/or the tooth is extremely impacted and close to a nerve. 

This does not mean that your dentist is trying to rip you off. It also does not mean that your dentist is incompetent. If a general dentist has advised you to head to a dental specialist for further treatment, it might actually be for your own good! 

While a general dentist can perform simple tooth extractions and some complex surgical extractions, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is equipped to work with complex tooth removals. 

Can I Use My Medisave To Pay For A Normal Tooth Extraction?

No it will not be possible for you to use Medisave to pay for a normal tooth extraction. Routine tooth extractions are not covered under Medisave as they do not fall under the category of surgical dental treatments. 

Fortunately for most Singaporeans and Singaporean PRs, if you are a holder of Blue/PG/MG CHAS cards, you stand to enjoy subsidies for your tooth extraction procedure. 

How much does it cost to remove my teeth?

It typically costs $55 – $70 per tooth at Frank Dental to do a simple tooth extraction. For surgical tooth removal procedures, it will cost around $650 – $1,250 per tooth. Should you have any of the relevant CHAS cards or Medisave, you might be able to enjoy heavy subsidies on your tooth removal procedure. 

Please refer to the following chart for what you can expect to pay for tooth removal procedures (not inclusive of wisdom tooth removal) at Frank Dental with or without subsidies. Do take note that CHAS subsidies are only relevant for up to 4 dental extractions per calendar year. 

Is tooth extraction not a simple dental procedure? Why does it still cost so much to remove a tooth? 

While a tooth extraction is not as complicated as a restorative dental procedure such as root canal treatment, it can sometimes cost more to remove a tooth depending on the following factors: 

• Complexity of the tooth removal procedure 
• Whether you have gone to a general dentist or a dental specialist 
• If you require specific equipment or expertise to get it done safely and effectively
• Whether you need to preserve the bone socket for further treatment like dental implants. 

At Frank Dental, we ensure that all patients are able to afford the rising costs of dental care by benchmarking our fees on a regular basis to neighbouring countries and dental clinics. If cost is the main issue hindering you from obtaining dental treatment, do let us know to see how we can assist you better.  

What Can I Actually Use My Medisave For At A Dental Clinic?

Your Medisave can only be used for surgical dental treatments such as bone grafting, dental implants, dental implant dentures (for the dental implants portion), All-on-4 dental implants, gum grafting or wisdom tooth surgery. It will not be possible to use your Medisave for non-surgical related dental treatments such as root canal treatment or dental crowns. 

If you are unsure as to what dental treatments can be covered under Medisave or CHAS, please refer to the following table for further information.  

Why is my dental clinic not able to secretly bill all my dental procedures under Medisave?

If your dental clinic has informed you that you will not be able to claim Medisave for your dental treatment, you might be wondering why your dental clinic is so rigid. Perhaps you might even be thinking: Is it not possible to secretly bill the procedure under a surgical procedure? Why are they not doing me a favour? 

While it might seem as if your dental clinic is not being flexible or empathetic to your budgetary needs, that is not the case. Billing a non-surgical procedure as a surgical procedure is fraud and frowned upon heavily by the Ministry of Health (MOH). 

Dental clinics who perform fraud, even if they were done out of kindness, can have their clinic licence suspended, be made to pay a fine, serve jail time and even get their medical licence revoked. 

While it might not be possible to claim for all your tooth extractions with Medisave, there might be alternative subsidies available. 

While Medisave cannot be used for routine dental procedures like simple tooth extractions, it can be utilised for surgical dental treatments including wisdom tooth surgery, dental implants, and extensive bone grafting.

For routine dental care, CHAS cardholders (Blue/PG/MG) can benefit from subsidies for up to 4 tooth extractions per calendar year. The cost of tooth extractions varies, with simple extractions ranging from $55-$70 and surgical extractions costing between $650-$1,250 at Frank Dental. Foreign workers on Work Permits may also qualify for reduced rates.

It is important to note that dental clinics cannot falsely classify non-surgical procedures as surgical ones to enable Medisave claims, as this constitutes fraud and can result in severe penalties from the Ministry of Health. The distinction between simple and surgical extractions is determined through proper diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays, and is based on factors like tooth visibility, root structure, and extraction complexity.

For those concerned about dental costs, exploring available subsidies through CHAS cards and discussing payment options with your dental clinic is recommended. Remember that while some procedures may seem expensive, the complexity of the treatment, required expertise, and necessary equipment all contribute to the overall cost. Always consult with your dental professional to understand the most appropriate and cost-effective treatment options for your specific situation.