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Image of career: Dentist

Dentist

Overview

Dentists are oral health experts who help patients maintain healthy teeth and gums and treat dental diseases.

Description

  • Check teeth, gum, and jaw areas to identify oral problems.
  • Fix and replace tooth damage.
  • Teach proper oral health care to prevent future problems.
  • Perform procedures like applying sealants, mould-taking and extractions.
  • Fill cavities and remove tooth decay using dental tools like brushes, forceps, and drills.

Entry requirements

  • National University of Singapore is the only Singaporean university offering full-time dental degree courses. You may also study at overseas institutions recognised by the Singapore Dental Council.

Salary

$6,000 – 10,400

/mo

Salary ranges are estimated based on public information found on Singaporean job portals, including MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFuture. Updated as of 2026.

Trivia

Singapore was one of the first countries to add fluoride to tap water back in 1954! To date, 12-year-olds in Singapore have some of the healthiest teeth in the world with low tooth decay rates.

What to expect

You may work with diverse patients in challenging situations. You need to stay updated with the latest dental technologies to provide the best care possible.

Soft
skills

Communication

Able to communicate clearly when explaining diagnoses, treatment options, and oral hygiene practices to patients.

Collaboration

Able to work effectively with dental hygienists and assistants to provide thorough dental care.

Customer Orientation

Ability to understand and meet each patient's individual dental needs and concerns.

Dental Assessment

Skilled in thorough dental evaluations to identify problems and plan treatments.

Teeth Restoration

Skilled in different methods for restoring teeth to their proper use and appearance.

Manual Dexterity and Precision

Possess first-rate hand-eye coordination and steady hands for performing elaborate dental procedures safely.

Hard
skills

Frequently asked questions

You may work in public settings like schools, hospitals, and polyclinics, or in private dental clinics and practices.

You need to pass the dexterity test with good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, plus Multiple Mini Interviews that take place annually in March-April.

Dentists can specialise in areas like orthodontics (braces), oral surgery, paediatric dentistry (children's teeth), or periodontics (gum treatment) after additional training.

They maintain a calming and welcoming atmosphere in their dental offices to help anxious patients feel more relaxed.

Keeping up with constantly evolving dental research, techniques, and technology can be demanding, but it's essential for providing the best possible patient care.