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Registrar
12.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, there is to be a Registrar of the Council. (2) The Chief Dental Officer is to be the Registrar of the Council. (3) The Minister may appoint a person to act as Registrar during the absence from Singapore or incapacity from illness or otherwise of the Registrar.
Registers
13.—(1) In addition to duties under the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018, the Registrar must maintain and keep the following registers:(a) a register to be called the “Register of Dentists” containing —(i) in the first division of the register —(A) under Part I, the names of persons registered as fully registered dentists under section 14(1) and (2); (B) under Part II, the names of persons registered as dentists with conditional registration under section 14A(1); and (C) all the particulars which are transferred to or entered in that division under section 40(6)(a) of the Dentists (Amendment) Act 2007; and (ii) in the second division of the register, all the names, addresses, qualifications and other particulars which are transferred to or entered in that division under section 40(6)(b) of the Dentists (Amendment) Act 2007; (b) a register to be called the “Register of Temporarily Registered Dentists” containing —(i) the names of persons registered temporarily as dentists under section 14B(1); and (ii) all the names, addresses, qualifications and other particulars which are transferred to or entered in the first division of the register under section 40(6)(c) of the Dentists (Amendment) Act 2007; (c) a register to be called the “Register of Specialists” containing the names of persons registered as specialists under section 14C(1); (d) a register to be called the “Register of Oral Health Therapists” containing —(i) under Part I, the names of persons registered as oral health therapists under section 21(1); and (ii) under Part II, the names of persons registered as oral health therapists under section 21(2).[5/2018] (2) Each register must contain —(a) the names and addresses of the persons registered; (b) the dates of the registration of the persons; (c) the qualifications by virtue of which the persons are so registered; and (d) any other particulars that the Council may determine for that register. (3) The Registrar —(a) is responsible for the maintenance and custody of the registers; and (b) must publish on the Council’s Internet website a list of the names, addresses, qualifications and dates of qualification of all dentists and oral health therapists who —(i) are registered under this Act; and (ii) have in force practising certificates. (4) Every person whose name is entered in any of the registers must inform the Registrar in writing of any change in his or her practice address or residential address within 28 days of the change, except that a person who makes a report of a change in his or her residential address under section 10 of the National Registration Act 1965 is deemed to have complied with this subsection on the date on which the person makes the report. (5) The Registrar may disclose any information in the registers to any person prescribed by regulations made under this Act, if such disclosure is in accordance with the conditions specified in those regulations. (6) Subsection (5) is without prejudice to any other right or duty to disclose the information under general or written law. (7) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Full registration
14.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who holds a Singapore degree is entitled to be registered as a fully registered dentist. (2) Despite subsection (1), a person, not being a Singapore degree holder, who holds the qualifications recognised by the Council, and satisfies the Council that the person has special knowledge and skill and sufficient experience in any particular branch of dentistry, is to be registered as a fully registered dentist, if the Council thinks fit so to direct. (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Council may, if it is of the view that it is not in the public interest for a person mentioned in either of those subsections to be registered as a fully registered dentist, direct that the person be registered as a dentist with conditional registration in the Register of Dentists, and section 14A(3) to (7) applies accordingly.
Conditional registration
14A.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who —(a) 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 that Schedule; (b) has been selected for employment in Singapore as a dentist in any hospital or other institution or dental practice approved by the Council; and (c) satisfies the Council that the person has the knowledge and skill and has acquired the experience which is necessary for practice as a dentist, is to be registered as a dentist with conditional registration in the Register of Dentists, if the Council thinks fit so to direct. (2) 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 any other person that the Council may appoint to satisfy itself that the degree is not lower in standing than a degree specified in the Schedule. (3) The conditions of a person’s registration under this section must be specified in the direction by virtue of which he or she is registered. (4) Without affecting the power of the Council to impose conditions, the direction may specify —(a) that the person must work for a specified period 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 the person is registered under this section. (5) The Council may cancel the conditional registration of a dentist if —(a) the dentist has contravened any condition specified in the direction by virtue of which he or she is registered; or (b) the Council is of the opinion, having regard to the report of the dentist supervising him or her (if any) that he or she is unable to perform the duties of a dentist satisfactorily. (6) A person who is or has been registered with conditional registration may, after the expiry of the period of supervision specified under subsection (4)(a), apply to the Council to be registered as a fully registered dentist. (7) If the Council thinks fit so to direct, having regard to the knowledge and skill shown and the experience acquired by the applicant, the applicant is to be registered under section 14(1) as a fully registered dentist. (8) On a dentist with conditional registration becoming registered otherwise than conditionally or on his or her registration being cancelled under subsection (5), his or her name must be removed from Part II of the Register of Dentists.
Temporary registration
14B.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who has a degree other than a Singapore degree and —(a) who is in Singapore for the purpose of teaching, research or postgraduate study in dentistry under any training scheme that may be approved by the Council for that purpose; (b) 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 (c) 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, may be registered temporarily in such dental capacity and for such period as the Council may specify. (2) Any registration under subsection (1) is for a period not exceeding 3 years which may be renewed, at the discretion of the Council, for any further period that the Council thinks fit. (3) A person may be registered under subsection (1) subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Council may impose.
Registration of specialists
14C.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who —(a) holds such postgraduate degrees or qualifications; (b) has gained such special knowledge of and skill and experience in any particular branch of dentistry; or (c) has both such postgraduate degrees or qualifications and experience, as the Council may approve, may apply to the Council to be registered as a specialist in that branch of dentistry. (2) A person may be registered under subsection (1) subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Council may impose.[1/2010] (3) The Council must not register any person under subsection (1) as a specialist unless the person has obtained a certificate from the Dental Specialists Accreditation Board under section 42. (4) The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:(a) providing for the registration of specialists in any branch of dentistry; (b) regulating the recording in, removal from and restoration to the Register of Specialists of the names, particulars and qualifications of persons so registered; (c) providing for appeals by dentists against any refusal of the Council to register them in the Register of Specialists or to restore their names to that Register or against any decision of the Council to remove their names from that Register; (d) prescribing the fees payable in respect of —(i) any application for registration as a specialist; (ii) any such registration as a specialist; (iii) any restoration of names to the Register of Specialists; and (iv) any appeal.
Application for registration
15.—(1) Every application for registration must be made in such form, and must be accompanied by such documents, photographs, particulars and fees, as may be prescribed by the Council. (2) Before registering an applicant, the Council may require the applicant to submit himself or herself to a medical examination by a medical practitioner approved by the Council to determine if the applicant is fit to practise dentistry. (3) The medical examination is at the applicant’s own expense. (4) Subject to subsection (5), where a person has complied with subsection (1) and any requirement of the Council mentioned in subsection (2), the Council must register the person as a dentist. (5) The Council may refuse to register any applicant who, in the opinion of the Council —(a) is not a person entitled to be registered as a dentist in accordance with section 14, 14A or 14B; (b) is not of good reputation and character; (c) has had his or her registration as a dentist in any other country withdrawn, suspended or cancelled; or (d) is unfit to practise dentistry by reason of his or her physical or mental condition. (6) Where the Council refuses to register an applicant, the Council must by written notice inform the applicant of that refusal. (7) Any person who is aggrieved by any refusal of the Council under subsection (5) may, within one month of the notice given under subsection (6), appeal to the Minister whose decision is final. (8) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Council may prescribe different fees for different classes of applicants.
Certificate of registration
16. Where a person has been registered as a dentist, the Council must issue to the person a certificate of registration, and the Council may require that there be affixed to the certificate a photograph of that person or such other evidence of identity as the Council may direct.
Practising certificate
17.—(1) Any registered dentist who desires to obtain a practising certificate must apply to the Council in such form and manner as the Council may prescribe. (2) The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (3) A practising certificate is to be granted for a period not exceeding 2 years from the date of issue of the practising certificate. (4) Any application for renewal of a practising certificate must be made not later than one month before the expiry of the practising certificate in such form as the Council may require. (5) Any registered dentist who applies for a practising certificate later than one month before the expiry of the practising certificate is liable to pay to the Council such late application fee as may be prescribed by the Council. (6) The Council may —(a) refuse to grant a practising certificate to a registered dentist; or (b) refuse to renew the practising certificate of a registered dentist, if the registered dentist has contravened any condition that is imposed by the Council with the approval of the Minister for the purposes of this section. (7) Where a registered dentist has had his or her name removed from the appropriate register or his or her registration suspended under any provision of this Act, any practising certificate issued to him or her is deemed to be cancelled and the registered dentist must immediately surrender the certificate to the Council. (8) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (7) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (9) For the purposes of subsection (5), the Council may prescribe different late application fees for applications made before, and applications made after, the expiry of the practising certificates.
Certificate of Registrar in relation to dentists
18. A certificate purporting to be under the hand of the Registrar —(a) to the effect that at any time or during any period specified in the certificate any person was or was not a registered dentist, or had or did not have in force a practising certificate; or (b) as to any entry in the appropriate register, or the removal from the appropriate register of any entry, is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, and without further proof of the signature appended to the certificate, sufficient evidence of the matters specified in the certificate. [19
Correction of appropriate register
19.—(1) The Registrar must —(a) insert in the appropriate register any alteration which may come to the Registrar’s knowledge in the name or address of any registered dentist; (b) correct any error in any entry in the appropriate register; (c) remove from the appropriate register the name of any person —(i) whose name is ordered to be removed under any provision of this Act; or (ii) who is deceased; (d) insert in the appropriate register any alteration in the qualifications or additional qualifications of a registered dentist; and (e) remove from the appropriate register the name of any person who has requested and shown sufficient reason for his or her name to be removed from that register, unless a complaint has been made, or an inquiry has, or investigations or proceedings have, commenced under Part 5 against that person. (2) The Registrar may remove from the appropriate register the name of any person who has not renewed his or her practising certificate for a continuous period of at least 5 years.[20
Removal of name from appropriate register
20.—(1) Despite the provisions of this Act, the Council may, upon such evidence as it may require, order the removal from the appropriate register of the name of a registered dentist under any of the following circumstances:(a) if the registered dentist has contravened any condition or restriction imposed by the Council as regards his or her conditional registration under section 14A; (b) if the registered dentist has contravened any condition or restriction imposed by the Council as regards his or her temporary registration under section 14B; (c) if the registered dentist, being a registered dentist whose name is in the Register of Specialists —(i) has had his or her name removed from the first division of the Register of Dentists; or (ii) has contravened any condition or restriction imposed by the Council under section 14C; (d) if the registered dentist, being a person to whom section 40 applies, has contravened any regulation made under that section; (e) if the registered dentist has obtained his or her registration fraudulently or by any incorrect statement; (f) if the registered dentist’s degree for registration under this Act has been withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded; (g) if the registered dentist has had his or her registration as a dentist in any other country withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by the authority which registered him or her; (h) if the registered dentist has failed to serve the Government or such other body or organisation as directed by the Government for the period specified in any undertaking given by the registered dentist to the Government. (2) The Council must, before exercising its powers under subsection (1), notify the registered dentist concerned of its intention to take such action and must give the registered dentist an opportunity to submit reasons, within such period as the Council may determine, why his or her name should not be removed. (3) Any person aggrieved by an order under subsection (1) may, within 30 days of being notified of the order, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.[21
Persons entitled to be registered as oral health therapists
21.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the following persons may apply to the Council to be registered as an oral health therapist under Part I of the Register of Oral Health Therapists:(a) a person who —(i) holds a diploma in dental hygiene and therapy from the Nanyang Polytechnic or any other certificate or diploma which, in the opinion of the Council, is of an equivalent standard and that has been awarded for successfully completing a course of dental training extending over a period of at least 3 years; and (ii) after being registered under Part II of the Register of Oral Health Therapists, has obtained at least 5 years of practical experience in the area of oral health therapy while under the supervision of a registered dentist whose name appears in the first division of the Register of Dentists; (b) a person who —(i) holds —(A) a certificate of dental therapy from the Ministry of Health or the Board or any other certificate or diploma which, in the opinion of the Council, is of an equivalent standard and that has been awarded for successfully completing a course of dental training extending over a period of at least 3 years; or (B) a qualification in dental hygiene that is approved by the Council; (ii) has sat for and passed such examinations as may be prescribed by the Council; and (iii) after being registered under Part II of the Register of Oral Health Therapists, has obtained at least 5 years of practical experience in the area of oral health therapy while under the supervision of a registered dentist whose name appears in the first division of the Register of Dentists. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the following persons may apply to the Council to be registered as an oral health therapist under Part II of the Register of Oral Health Therapists:(a) a person who holds a diploma in dental hygiene and therapy from the Nanyang Polytechnic or any other certificate or diploma which, in the opinion of the Council, is of an equivalent standard and that has been awarded for successfully completing a course of dental training extending over a period of at least 3 years; (b) a person who holds a certificate of dental therapy from the Ministry of Health or the Board or any other certificate or diploma which, in the opinion of the Council, is of an equivalent standard and that has been awarded for successfully completing a course of dental training extending over a period of at least 3 years; (c) a person who holds a qualification in dental hygiene that is approved by the Council. (3) The registration of any person mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) may be subject to such conditions as the Council may determine. (4) It is a condition of the registration of any person mentioned in subsection (2) that he or she may only practise dentistry under the supervision of a registered dentist whose name appears in the first division of the Register of Dentists. (5) The Council may require any person mentioned in subsection (2) to undergo and pass such examinations as may be prescribed by the Council to satisfy the Council that he or she has the knowledge and skill and has acquired the experience which is necessary for practice as a registered oral health therapist. (6) Subsection (4) does not apply to —(a) any person who is in the public service or who is an officer of the Board practising dentistry in the course of his or her duties in the public service or as an officer of the Board; and (b) any other person that the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, specify.[21A
Application for registration as oral health therapist
22.—(1) Every application for registration as an oral health therapist must be made in such form, and must be accompanied by such document, photograph, particulars and fee, as may be prescribed by the Council. (2) Before registering an applicant, the Council may require the applicant to submit himself or herself to a medical examination by a medical practitioner approved by the Council to determine if the applicant is fit to practise dentistry. (3) The medical examination is at the applicant’s own expense. (4) Subject to subsection (5), where a person has complied with subsection (1) and any requirement of the Council mentioned in subsection (2), the Council must register the person as an oral health therapist. (5) The Council may refuse to register any applicant who —(a) has had his or her registration as an oral health therapist in any other country withdrawn, suspended or cancelled; or (b) in the opinion of the Council —(i) is not a person entitled to be registered as an oral health therapist under section 21; (ii) is not of good reputation and character; or (iii) is unfit to practise dentistry by reason of his or her physical or mental condition. (6) Where the Council refuses to register an applicant, the Council must by written notice inform the applicant of the refusal. (7) Any person who is aggrieved by any refusal of the Council under subsection (5) may, within one month of the notice given under subsection (6), appeal to the Minister whose decision is final. (8) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Council may prescribe different fees for different classes of applicants.[21B
Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee
23.—(1) The Council must appoint a committee of persons, called the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee —(a) to determine the qualifications, experience and other conditions for registration as oral health therapists under this Act; (b) to make recommendations to the appropriate authorities on the courses of instructions and examinations leading to any qualification as oral health therapists under section 21(1) and (2); (c) to accredit the training programmes to be recognised for persons who intend to qualify for registration as oral health therapists under this Act; and (d) to recommend to the Council programmes for the continuing professional education of persons who are registered as oral health therapists under this Act. (2) The Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee consists of —(a) the chairperson, who is the Chief Dental Officer; (b) one member of the academic staff of the dental hygiene and therapy course offered by the Nanyang Polytechnic; (c) not more than 2 dentists whose names appear in the first division of the Register of Dentists; and (d) not less than 3 and not more than 5 registered oral health therapists, one of whom must be a member of the Council. (3) The members of the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee mentioned in subsection (2)(c) and (d) must be appointed for a term not exceeding 3 years each but may be re‑appointed and may at any time be removed from office by the Council. (4) If any appointed member of the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee dies, resigns or is removed from office, the vacancy so created must as soon as practicable be filled in the manner in which the appointment to the vacant office was made; and every person so appointed holds office for the remainder of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed. (5) The powers of the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee are not affected by any vacancy in the membership thereof. (6) At any meeting of the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee, 3 members form a quorum. (7) At any meeting of the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee, the chairperson presides and, in the chairperson’s absence, the members present must elect one of their members to preside at the meeting. (8) If on any question to be determined by the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee there is an equality of votes, the chairperson or the member presiding at the meeting has a casting vote. (9) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Oral Health Therapists Accreditation Committee may determine its own procedure.[21C
Certificate of registration of oral health therapist
24. Where a person has been registered as an oral health therapist, the Council must issue to the person a certificate of registration, and the Council may require that there be affixed to the certificate a photograph of that person or such other evidence of identity as the Council may direct from time to time.[21D
Practising certificate of oral health therapist
25.—(1) Any registered oral health therapist who desires to obtain a practising certificate must apply to the Council in such form and manner as the Council may prescribe. (2) The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (3) A practising certificate must be granted for a period not exceeding 2 years from the date of issue of the practising certificate. (4) Any application for renewal of a practising certificate must be made not later than one month before the expiry of the practising certificate in such form as the Council may require. (5) Any registered oral health therapist who applies for a practising certificate later than one month before the expiry of the practising certificate is liable to pay to the Council such late application fee as may be prescribed by the Council. (6) The Council may —(a) refuse to grant a practising certificate to a registered oral health therapist; or (b) refuse to renew the practising certificate of a registered oral health therapist, if the registered oral health therapist has contravened any condition that is imposed by the Council with the approval of the Minister for the purposes of this section. (7) Where a registered oral health therapist has had his or her name removed from the Register of Oral Health Therapists or his or her registration suspended under any provision of this Act, any practising certificate issued to him or her is deemed to be cancelled and the registered oral health therapist must immediately surrender the certificate to the Council. (8) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (7) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (9) For the purposes of subsection (5), the Council may prescribe different late application fees for applications made before, and applications made after, the expiry of the practising certificates.[21E
Certificate of Registrar in relation to oral health therapists
26. A certificate purporting to be under the hand of the Registrar —(a) to the effect that at any time or during any period specified in the certificate any person was or was not a registered oral health therapist, or had or did not have in force a practising certificate; or (b) as to any entry in the Register of Oral Health Therapists, or the removal from that Register of any entry, is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, and without further proof of the signature appended to the certificate, sufficient evidence of the matters specified in the certificate. [21F
Correction of Register of Oral Health Therapists
27.—(1) The Registrar must —(a) insert in the Register of Oral Health Therapists any alteration which may come to the Registrar’s knowledge in the name or address of any registered oral health therapist; (b) correct any error in any entry in the Register of Oral Health Therapists; (c) remove from the Register of Oral Health Therapists the name of any person —(i) whose name is ordered to be removed under any provision of this Act; or (ii) who is deceased; (d) insert in the Register of Oral Health Therapists any alteration in the qualifications or additional qualifications of a registered oral health therapist; and (e) remove from the Register of Oral Health Therapists the name of any person who has requested and shown sufficient reason for that person’s name to be removed from that Register, unless a complaint has been made, or an inquiry has, or investigations or proceedings have, commenced under Part 5 against that person. (2) The Registrar may remove from the Register of Oral Health Therapists the name of any person who has not renewed his or her practising certificate for a continuous period of at least 5 years.[21G
Removal of name from Register of Oral Health Therapists
28.—(1) Despite the provisions of Part 5, the Council may order the removal from the Register of Oral Health Therapists of the name of a registered oral health therapist if it comes to the knowledge of the Council that the registered oral health therapist —(a) has contravened any condition or restriction to which his or her registration as an oral health therapist is subject; (b) has obtained his or her registration by a fraudulent or an incorrect statement; (c) has had his or her qualification for registration under this Act withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded; or (d) has had his or her registration as an oral health therapist in any other country withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by the authority which registered him or her. (2) The Council must, before exercising its powers under subsection (1), notify the registered oral health therapist concerned of its intention to take such action and must give the registered oral health therapist an opportunity to submit reasons, within such period as the Council may determine, why his or her name should not be removed. (3) Any person aggrieved by an order under subsection (1) may, within 30 days of being notified of the order, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.[21H
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