How To Get Cheaper Root Canal Treatment Cost In Singapore Cost Guide and Medisave, CPF Options

Yannie Woon 06 October 2022

Are you looking for information on root canal treatment cost in Singapore? You have come to the right place.

In this blog post, we will break down the cost of a root canal procedure, share subsidies available for Singaporeans, and discuss what goes behind the cost of root canal in Singapore. We will also provide tips on how to reduce the cost of a root canal procedure.

What Is A Root Canal For?

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. The procedure involves removing the damaged pulp from inside the tooth, cleaning and disinfecting the root canal, and then filling and sealing it. 

Does taking out your pulp affect your long-term tooth health?

No.

The pulp inside your teeth comprises blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. It is important for the health of your tooth, but once it becomes damaged or infected, it needs to be removed to save the tooth. 

Otherwise, leaving this tooth untreated may lead to tooth decay, worsen the existing infection, and trigger immense pain. 

Remember: Although root canals can be a bit daunting, they are actually quite common and relatively simple procedures. And best of all, they can help you keep your smile healthy and pain-free!

How Much Is Root Canal Treatment In Singapore?

The average root canal cost in Singapore is:

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• $421: Anterior tooth
• $910: Molar tooth
• $634: Pre-molar tooth

The larger range of prices varies between $400 and $1,700.

This cost also depends on your choice of medical institution: 

Source

Note: These are just the average prices for the root canal procedure. The treatment entails other costs, such as:

• Consultation
• Investigations
• X-ray
• Re-treatment

Is Root Canal Covered By Medisave?

Medisave does not cover the Root canal treatment cost in Singapore if your procedure is non-surgical. You can only claim with Medisave if your root canal procedure entails a peri-radicular (root) surgery.

What is the difference between these two procedures?

The non-surgical root canal is a procedure in which the pulp, or soft tissue, inside the tooth is removed. This is typically done to save the tooth from further decay or infection. 

On the other hand, peri-radicular surgery is a procedure in which the tooth’s root is exposed to remove any infection or debris.

Therefore, the surgical option is more expensive and requires more expertise from your doctor. Either way, your dentist will tell you the type of procedure you need based on the investigations they make.

Can I Use CPF For Root Canal Treatment?

You cannot use the Central Provident Fund (CPF) to offset your Singapore root canal cost unless this treatment involves surgery, or in other words, deemed medically necessary. 

Here is why.

First, you cannot use CPF to repay loans (including medical bills). You can only use CPF to cover your home loan installments. 

Secondly, you can only use CPF Medisave for medical procedures – and non-surgical root canal procedures are not considered medical. 

Does CHAS Cover Root Canal?

The Community Health Assistance Scheme (CHAS) is public assistance devised by the Singapore government. Eligible Singaporeans can receive subsidies for several medical and dental procedures at partner institutions.

There are three levels of CHAS, depending on how many subsidies you can get and the procedures you are eligible for. These levels are:

• CHAS Green: No root canal subsidies
• CHAS Orange: Root canal subsidies worth $109.50 to $170.50
• CHAS Blue: Root canal subsidies worth $164.00 to $256.50

These discounts amount to 10-25% of the lowest-cost root canal procedure.

The Singapore Government offers two additional options for Singaporeans depending on their birth year, ensuring that the older generations get increased subsidies. The logic is that people in these age groups may already have more health problems and lower incomes.

Here is what you can expect:

• The Pioneer Generation Package: For Singaporeans born on or before 31 December 1949
• The Merdeka Generation Package: For Singaporeans born between 1950 and 1959

If you qualify for one of these alternatives, CHAS can offer these subsidies for your root canal treatment:

• CHAS Orange: $169.00 to $261.50
• CHAS Blue: $174.00 to $266.50

Although there is a slight increase compared to the standard CHAS alternatives, these discounts amount to 42.25% to 66.6% of the cheapest root canal cost in Singapore.

How Can I Make Root Canal Treatment Cheaper For Myself? 

How much you spend in total would hinge on a few important factors, such as: 

Choice of Institution: Public Vs Private

Public hospitals and institutions charge cheaper rates than private ones because they:

• Receive government subsidies, which keep their operating costs low. 
• Tend to see a higher volume of patients than private clinics, which allows them to make economies of scale.
• Are staffed by dental residents who are still in training and therefore have lower salaries (hence overall costs are kept low).

Type Of Procedure

The type of procedure also influences the price because:

• Surgical treatment is more expensive, though you will be entitled to Medisave subsidies. However, we do not encourage you to wait until your infection has spread enough to require surgical treatment. 
• The less complex your condition, the cheaper the cost. A minor problem means milder treatment. In this case, all the associated fees (e.g., consultation, investigations and materials used) will be lower because the procedure is simpler. 

Tooth

Technically, you could lower the cost of your root canal in Singapore if you are “lucky” enough to require this procedure on the right tooth.

For example, an anterior tooth root canal is more expensive, whereas a molar requires extended treatment such as crowning – this dental procedure itself already starts from $700 per tooth. 

What Can You Do

After considering these variables, it is clear that you cannot pick the tooth or the treatment for this problem. However, here is how you can lower your root canal treatment cost in Singapore:

• Go to dental check-ups every six to 12 months to ensure you catch any issues early.
• If you can wait, choose a public institution to have the procedure. 
• Research various clinics and choose one with lower fees for investigations and consultations.
• Check different subsidies to find one that you are eligible for.

Weighing Your Options

We understand that you might be worried about the cost of a root canal in Singapore. However, it is important to remember that this procedure is vital to oral health.

It is an investment in your smile, which is why at Money Kinetics we can help you source for personal loans. You’ll also be able to get your loan approved in as quick as 24 hours – perfect for urgent cases.

Yannie Woon

Starting out as a freelance writer, Yannie quickly realised she had a gift for explaining money matters in a way that didn't make people want to tear their hair out. When she's not cracking jokes about compound interest, Yannie enjoys attending industry seminars, engaging with financial experts on social media, and volunteering her time and expertise to help those in need.