Financial rebates of approximately $23 or more may be more likely to incentivize patients, especially those who visit the dentist less than once a year, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Dentistry.
Additionally, rebates may positively affect patients with socioeconomic disadvantages, the authors wrote.
“The study’s findings suggest that the magnitude of rebates has an impact on uptake rates,” wrote the authors, led by Sharon HX Tan of the National University of Singapore (J Dent, November 17, 2025, Vol. 164, 106237).
The study sought to examine how different levels of financial rebates influence the use of dental services. In December 2023, 4,400 adults enrolled in the Singapore Population Health Study were invited to participate in a four-group experimental study. Each group was offered a rebate of approximately $8, $15, $23, or $39 if they visited a dental professional and submitted a dental receipt, they wrote.
Participants could receive any type of dental service, and they had six months after the invitation to upload a qualifying receipt. Additionally, the study collected sociodemographic data, past dental use history, and information on oral health knowledge.
Dental uptake increased with higher rebates, ranging from 25.5% for an $8 rebate to 35.4% for a $39 rebate. Compared to an $8 rebate, $23 and $39 rebates were associated with a higher likelihood of dental visits (adjusted prevalence ratio [adj. PR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.71 and 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.76) and higher predicted dental uptake by 9 and 10.3 percentage points, respectively, they wrote.
Rebates of $23 and more particularly increased visits among irregular dental attendees (adj. PR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.74) and residents of smaller public housing flats (adj. PR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.66). The rebate elasticity was 0.36 (95% CI, 0.22 to 0.49), showing that dental utilization increased inelastically with higher rebates.
However, the study had limitations. Even among respondents who visit the dentist at least annually, many did not submit a dental receipt within the six-month study period, the authors added.
“Increasing financial rebates have a positive impact on the uptake of dental services in the population, particularly among irregular dental attendees and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups,” they concluded.
