Singapore Government Press Release

I am happy to be here this morning to officiate at the opening of NTUC Denticare's fifth clinic. With this clinic at Parkway Parade in Marine Parade, NTUC Denticare's services becomes more accessible to the public staying in the eastern part of Singapore.

Promotion of dental care is an important part of the total healthcare programme. Poor dental health affects our ability to enjoy a healthy life. NTUC Denticare helps to complement the Government's dental health services. As you may be aware the Ministry of Health provides preventive, promotive and curative dental health services through the School Dental Service, the Hospital Dental Service and the Community Dental Service.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Besides practising good dental habits daily, we should also encourage people to visit their dentist regularly to check the state of their teeth. This is not only a preventive measure, it will also enable them to detect any dental problems early and seek remedy immediately.

Denticare's effort to generate greater awareness of good dental health is commendable. Your active participation in the healthy lifestyle campaign by giving talks and providing free dental consultation is a good and effective way to promote greater awareness of dental health.

I have also been told that attendance in Denticare clinics has increased significantly from 14,405 in 1990 to 58,419 in 1996. Denticare has played an important role to stabilize the cost of dental treatment and keeping basic dental treatment affordable. At the same time, Denticare is actively improving of the range of specialised services which it can offer to the public. These include orthodontics service (correcting of irregularities in teeth), oral surgery (such as removal of wisdom tooth) and periodontics (gum treatment).

Further, I understand that Denticare is also looking for an Endodontist (i.e. specialists in rootcanal treatment). Denticare's vigorous programme to expand its range of specialised treatments at affordable cost will benefit union members as well as other workers.

NTUC Denticare is also providing community service by offering dental services at union member's rate to senior citizens aged 60 years and above and to all residents of welfare homes affiliated to the National Council of Social Service. This is indeed a good gesture, and helps these groups to enjoy good dental services at affordable rates.

Finally, I am happy to note that NTUC Denticare had a very successful 1996 with Denticare's revenue growing by 14.6%. This was achieved without any change in the fees charged in 1996. Instead the growth was largely due to high productivity and greater economy of scale. I congratulate the Cooperative's management and staff on the opening of this clinic and I like to wish you success in your future expansion both in your range of dental services provided as well as bringing Denticare Services nearer to the homes of Singaporeans.

On this note I am happy to declare the Parkway Parade Denticare clinic officially opened.