Baby Bonus (CDA) for children’s dental care
The Child Development Account (CDA) is a special co-savings account for your child under Singapore’s Baby Bonus Scheme — and its savings can pay for children’s dental care. Every Advanced Dental clinic accepts CDA payment, so you can pay for your child’s check-ups, cleaning, fluoride treatment and fillings with the Baby Bonus NETS card at any of our locations across Singapore.
What the CDA is
The CDA is a savings account opened for your child with POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB as part of the Baby Bonus Scheme. It starts with a grant deposited by the Government when the account is opened, and for every dollar you deposit after that, the Government adds a dollar, up to the cap your child is eligible for. The savings can be spent on approved child-related expenses at organisations registered with MSF as Baby Bonus Approved Institutions — and those approved expenses include medical care at healthcare institutions, which is where children’s dental treatment comes in.
It helps to be clear about what the CDA is not: it is not a subsidy scheme. Nothing is deducted from your bill the way a CHAS subsidy is. Instead, the CDA is your child’s own savings, co-matched by the Government, that you draw on to pay the bill — a way to meet dental costs from money already set aside for your child.
What dental care you can pay for with CDA funds
At our clinics, CDA funds can pay for your child’s dental treatment. Each treatment below links to its own page, where you will find fees, what to expect during the visit and answers to common questions.
- Children’s dentistry — Age-appropriate check-ups, cleaning and treatment for babies, toddlers and school-age children.
- Check-ups, scaling and polishing — Routine examinations, cleaning and X-rays where clinically needed.
- Fillings — Treatment for decay in baby and adult teeth.
- Extractions — Removal of baby teeth that are decayed or blocking adult teeth from coming through.
Fluoride treatment during a check-up is included as part of routine preventive care. If your child needs treatment beyond this list, ask our team whether it can be paid with CDA funds before the visit — we will confirm what applies to your case.
Paying for brothers and sisters
A useful feature of the scheme: CDA savings may be used on all your children, not just the child the account belongs to. If an older sibling no longer has a CDA of their own, their dental treatment at our clinics can still be paid from a younger child’s account, because the Baby Bonus Scheme allows CDA funds to be used for siblings’ expenses at Approved Institutions. Simply let our reception team know which child is being treated when you pay.
How to pay with the CDA at our clinics
- Book a visit or walk in. Book online at any of our clinics across Singapore — no referral is needed, and there is no need to register the clinic with your bank in advance.
- Bring your Baby Bonus NETS card. This is the card issued by the bank your child’s CDA is held with — POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB. It draws directly on the CDA balance.
- Your child sees the dentist. The dentist explains any treatment needed beyond the check-up, and you will know the fee before anything goes ahead.
- Pay at the counter. Tap or insert the Baby Bonus NETS card as you would for a regular NETS payment. If the bill is above the CDA balance, the difference is payable by cash, NETS, PayNow or card.
The Baby Bonus NETS card works at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions and cannot be used elsewhere or to withdraw cash, so it is worth keeping it in the wallet you bring to dental visits. If you have misplaced the card, your bank can reissue it.
Other ways to make dental care affordable
The CDA is a payment account, and it sits alongside two schemes that reduce or offset the bill itself:
CHAS dental subsidies — children covered by a CHAS card receive a subsidy on eligible treatments such as check-ups, fillings and extractions, deducted from the bill at the counter. Where your child is eligible, the subsidy is applied on the spot and the remainder can be paid with the Baby Bonus NETS card. Every Advanced Dental clinic is CHAS-accredited.
MediSave for dental treatment — for surgical procedures such as implant placement and surgical wisdom tooth removal. MediSave typically applies to adult treatment rather than children’s, but it is the scheme to read about if a parent is planning their own treatment alongside a child’s visit.
Baby Bonus CDA frequently asked questions
Do all Advanced Dental clinics accept Baby Bonus CDA payment?
Yes. Every Advanced Dental clinic accepts CDA payment for children’s dental treatment. Bring your Baby Bonus NETS card to any of our locations across Singapore and pay at the counter, the same way you would make a regular NETS payment.
What children’s dental treatment can I pay for with CDA funds?
CDA funds apply to your child’s dental care at our clinics — check-ups, scaling and polishing, fluoride treatment, fillings and extractions. If you are unsure whether a planned treatment qualifies, ask our reception team before the visit and we will confirm.
Can I use my child’s CDA to pay for a brother or sister’s treatment?
Yes. Under the Baby Bonus Scheme, CDA savings may be used on all your children — including a sibling who does not have a CDA of their own — for their expenses at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions. Let our reception team know which child is being treated when you pay.
Can parents use CDA funds for their own dental treatment?
No. CDA savings are for your children’s expenses, so a parent’s bill cannot be paid from a child’s CDA. For your own treatment, CHAS subsidies apply to routine care if you hold a CHAS card, and MediSave applies to surgical procedures such as implant placement and surgical wisdom tooth removal.
How do I pay with the CDA at the clinic?
Pay with the Baby Bonus NETS card issued by the bank your child’s CDA is held with — POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB. It works like a standard NETS payment at the counter, drawing on the CDA balance. The card works at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions and cannot be used elsewhere or to withdraw cash at ATMs.
What if the bill is larger than the CDA balance?
The CDA pays up to whatever balance is in the account, and the difference is payable at the counter by cash, NETS, PayNow or card. Our reception team can split the payment for you on the spot.
Can I combine CDA payment with CHAS subsidies for my child?
Yes, where your child is covered by a CHAS card. The CHAS subsidy is deducted from the bill at the counter, and the remaining amount can then be paid with the Baby Bonus NETS card. The subsidy schedule is on our CHAS page.
What happens to unused CDA savings?
Savings left in the CDA are transferred to your child’s Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) in the year they turn 13, under MOE rules. Using the CDA for dental care while your child is young draws on savings set aside for exactly these expenses.
Book your child’s dental visit
Use your Baby Bonus NETS card at any Advanced Dental clinic. Book online in a few taps, or message us on WhatsApp if you would like help choosing a clinic or checking what CDA funds can pay for.