Community Dental Support
Programme (CDSP)
HomeCommunity Dental Support Programme (CDSP)PublicFAQ

FAQ

Programme Background

1. What is “Community Dental Support Programme”?

As announced by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address 2022, the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care (Working Group) was established in 2022 for conducting a comprehensive review of the dental services provided or subsidised by the Government. In light of the views of the Working Group, the Government launches the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP). By collaboration with non-government organisations (NGOs), it aims at enhancing the dental services targeting at the underprivileged group with financial difficulties by expanding service capacity, service points and service scope to promote early identification and timely intervention of dental disease

2. What are the eligibility criteria for CDSP Scheme Participants?

To enrol in the CDSP, an individual is required to meet the following criteria:

  • is a holder of a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or is a holder of a valid Certificate of Exemption; and
  • Current beneficiary/ recipient of:
    • Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) administered by Social Welfare Department (SWD); or
    • Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly (CCSV) administered by SWD with Co-payment Category II; or
    • “Integrated Home Care Services (Frail Case)”, “Enhanced Home and Community Care Services” and “Home Support Services” subvented by SWD while paying Level 1 or 2 fee charge / with Co-payment Category I or II ; and
    • Medical Fee Waiver put in place by the Hospital Authority
  • has joined the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth).

Enrolment in CDSP

3. Is there an age limit for enrolment in the CDSP?

No. Individual of any age who meets the eligibility criteria may enrol in the CDSP.

4. How can an eligible person enrol in the CDSP?

An eligible person can choose a dental clinic from the participating NGOs and contact the clinic directly to book an appointment to enrol in the CDSP. Alternatively, a needy person can contact a registered social worker who will make referrals for eligible persons and contact the dental clinics to book an appointment.

5. How can eligible persons obtain information about the participating NGO dental clinics in the CDSP?

Eligible persons can select a participating dental clinic according to their own choice. The list of dental clinics can be found in the website of the CDSP, with their essential information including practice district and contact information.

In addition, registered social workers also have the list and information of the participating NGO dental clinics.

6. Do applicants need to bring any documents when enrolling in the CDSP?

Eligible persons must bring their (1) completed Application Form (Application Forms are also available at participating dental clinic for use, if necessary), (2) original Hong Kong Identity Card and (3) supporting documents as listed in the Application Form upon enrolment in the CDSP.

Needy persons as referred by a registered social workers should bring the original Hong Kong Identity Card to the dental clinic on the day of appointment to receive services.

7. Can Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients enrol in the CDSP?

Besides enrolling in the CDSP, CSSA recipients can make use of the Dental Grant under the existing CSSA mechanism, as it provides subsidised dental services other than dental filling and tooth extraction.

8. Can current recipient of Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) administered by Social Welfare Department (SWD) use bank statements or passbooks showing monthly deposits of the allowance for the most recent three consecutive months as acceptable proof of eligibility?

Yes.

9. Can eligible persons choose dental clinics that are not close to their residence to receive services?

Yes. Eligible persons can select a suitable participating NGO dental clinic of their own choice to receive services.

CDSP Subsidised Services

10. What is the scope of services provided under the CDSP?

The following services will be provided only if the participant is considered suitable based on the findings of the oral health assessment per professional judgement of the attending registered dentist of the chosen NGO dental clinic:

  • Oral health assessment
  • Medication for dental pain relief (if necessary)
  • X-ray examination
  • Dental filling or tooth extraction as treatment for one tooth (as one “Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quota”), with a maximum of three Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quotas
11. Is dental scaling/ removable denture included in the CDSP?

Dental scaling/ removable denture is not included in the scope of services provided under the CDSP.

12. If a Scheme Participant has fewer than three teeth requiring dental filling or tooth extraction, can the Teeth Filling/Extraction Quota be transferred for dental scaling?

No. The CDSP only provides designated subsidised services, such as dental filling or tooth extraction.

13. Do eligible persons need to complete all treatments in one session, or is there a limited period for completing all treatments?

Eligible person can complete all treatments in one session or in several sessions as needed, provided that all treatments are completed within 180 days since the CDSP Participant enrolled in the programme.

14. If the attending registered dentist has already prescribed medication for dental pain relief, but later considers a tooth suitable for dental filling or tooth extraction, can the CDSP Participant use the Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quota under the CDSP for such services?

Yes. If the CDSP Participant is considered suitable per professional judgement of the attending registered dentist, the dentist can provide each CDSP Participant with a maximum of three Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quotas. A “Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quota” is based on one tooth, for the treatment of that tooth.

15. After receiving services under CDSP, can an eligible individual re-enrol in the CDSP for subsidised service the second time?

Eligible persons can re-enrol in the CDSP 180 days (“revolving period”) after his previous enrolment in the CDSP.

16. If a CDSP Participant has not used up his Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quotas within the revolving period, can the quotas be carried over to the next eligibility period for use?

No. The Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quotas allocated for each CDSP Participant in each revolving period must only be used within that period when considered suitable per professional judgement of the attending registered dentist. Any unused quotas cannot be carried over to the next revolving period.

17. If both spouses are CDSP Participants, can they share the Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quotas?

No. The Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quotas are allocated per CDSP Participant and cannot be shared.

18. Can an individual receive services from both the General Public Session and the CDSP?

Yes. An individual can receive services from both the General Public Session and the CDSP.

19. Can a CDSP Participant receive services from more than one NGO dental clinic/dentist within a revolving period?

No. A CDSP Participant can only receive subsidised services from the same dentist in the selected NGO dental clinic within a revolving period.

20. Can an eligible person select an NGO dental clinic that is different from the one he/she used in the previous revolving period to receive services?

Yes. An eligible person can select an NGO dental clinic different from the one he/she used in the previous revolving period to receive services.

21. What can CDSP Participants do if they are not satisfied with the CDSP services?

For suggestions on the NGO dental clinic administration and services, CDSP Participants can directly report to the NGO the services belong. For enquiries, suggestions or complaints on the CDSP, CDSP Participants can contact the Programme Office.

Dental services that fall outside the scope of subsidised services

22. What is the arrangement if the attending registered dentist considers the CDSP Participant needs pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis?

If under the professional judgement of the attending registered dentist that there is a need of pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis for any subsidised services for the CDSP Participant, such medication fee shall be settled in the own expense of the CDSP Participant.

23. What is the arrangement if the dentist recommends Scheme Participant to receive dental services that fall outside the scope of subsidised services?

Attending dentists may advice and provide dental services that fall outside the scope of subsidised services per professional judgement. The dentists should explain to Scheme Participants that such dental services fall outside the scope of the CDSP, inform Scheme Participants of any fees arising from such items and obtain agreement and consent from Scheme Participants to receive and pay for those services. It shall be considered a private arrangement between the NGO dental clinic and the Scheme Participant at the latter’s own expense.

CDSP Administration Fee

24. Is CDSP service free of charge?

The CDSP service is subsidised by the Government. The CDSP Participant is required to pay an administration fee only.

25. What is the administration fee required upon receiving subsidised dental services under the CDSP?

The CDSP Participant is required to pay the administration fee directly to the NGO for each Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quota. The administration fee for each Teeth Filling/ Extraction Quota is $50.

26. Do any CDSP Participants have exemptions for administration fee?

The administration fee is fully subsidised by the Government for the following groups:

  • Aged 75 or above Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) beneficiary; or
  • “Integrated Home Care Services (Frail Case)”, “Enhanced Home and Community Care Services” and “Home Support Services” subvented by SWD while paying Level 1 fee charge / with Co-payment Category I; or
  • Beneficiary of Medical Fee Waiver (Full) of the Hospital Authority
27. Can CDSP Participants settle the administration fee by vouchers from the Elderly Healthcare Vouncher Scheme?

Yes.

28. If the attending registered dentist of the chosen NGO considers the CDSP Participant unsuitable for dental filling or tooth extraction, would he/she be required to pay the administration fee?

No. In each revolving period, a CDSP Participant is subsidised for necessary medication for dental pain relief once based on the findings of the oral health assessment.

26. If the attending registered dentist of the chosen NGO only prescribed medication for dental pain relief, would he be required to pay the administration fee?

No. In each revolving period, a CDSP Participant is subsidised for necessary medication for dental pain relief once based on the findings of the oral health assessment.