Guide
Government dental clinic charges in Malaysia: how they work
How charges at Ministry of Health dental clinics are set, typical outpatient charges, who pays less or nothing, and what to check at a private clinic.
Compiled from MOH and MDC sources; not reviewed by a dentist; not medical advice. Government charges shown are from MOH documents and may change — confirm with the clinic.
How government dental charges work
Charges at Ministry of Health (KKM) facilities are set by law, under the Fees Act 1951 and the Fees (Medical) Order 1982. For dental treatment, Malaysian citizens are charged under Schedule F (Jadual F) of the Fees (Medical) (Amendment) Order 2017, together with a fee list called Lampiran E.
Lampiran E gives four prices for each item:
- Kelas 1, Kelas 2 and Kelas 3 are hospital ward classes, for patients admitted to a ward.
- Pesakit Luar is the outpatient charge. Most people who visit a dental clinic are outpatients, so this is the column that usually applies.
For patients admitted in Kelas 3, inpatient charges are capped at RM500 per admission.
Non-citizens are charged under a separate order, the Fees (Medical) (Cost of Services) Order 2014, at different rates. This guide covers citizens only. If you are not a Malaysian citizen, ask the clinic what you will pay.
Typical outpatient charges
The general outpatient charge in the fee schedule (Jadual A) is RM1. Examples of dental items in the Pesakit Luar column of Lampiran E:
| Treatment | Pesakit Luar (RM) |
|---|---|
| Scaling and polishing, per visit | 2 |
| Extraction of a permanent tooth | 1 |
| Filling, per surface | 2 |
| Root canal treatment, front or back tooth | 4 |
Amounts in RM. Kelas 1, Kelas 2 and Kelas 3 are hospital ward classes; Pesakit Luar is the outpatient charge, which applies to most clinic visits. These are charges for Malaysian citizens, from MOH Lampiran E (document dated April 2021), and may change. Non-citizens pay different rates. Confirm with the clinic.
Each treatment has its own guide with the full set of charges: scaling and polishing, fillings, root canal treatment, wisdom tooth removal and braces.
Who pays less or nothing
The fee rules exempt some groups, under set conditions:
- Children under 1 year are exempt from outpatient charges.
- Preschool children (aged 6 and below): no dental charges may be imposed, except for orthodontic appliances. Children aged 1 to 6 are exempt from outpatient charges when they bring a guarantee letter (GL) or a letter from their taska, tadika or preschool.
- Pregnant women under antenatal or postnatal care at a government clinic, with the pink Buku Rekod Kesihatan Ibu Mengandung: registration is free. Dental treatment is free on a first visit referred through the pink book, on a government referral, or at a follow-up appointment given by the dental clinic. A walk-in without referral pays outpatient charges. The exemption does not cover supplying or repairing dentures or orthodontic appliances.
- Pregnant women under care at a private clinic who walk in without a referral pay the outpatient charge for registration. Treatment follows the same rule: free on referral or a follow-up appointment, otherwise the outpatient charge.
More on young children in children's dental care.
Seeing a government specialist
What you pay at a government specialist clinic depends on who referred you (Jadual A):
| Specialist visit | Charge |
|---|---|
| First visit, referred by a government clinic | Free |
| Follow-up visit | RM5 |
| First visit, referred by a private practitioner | RM30 |
KKM has also published a separate explanation of the registration charge when a patient is referred between clinics (cross referral). It is listed under sources below. Ask the clinic how it applies to you.
Who government dental clinics serve
KKM's primary dental care is aimed at toddlers, preschool children, school pupils, pregnant mothers, people with special needs, adults and the elderly.
Private clinics: what to check
This site does not list private clinic prices. We found no official, current price schedule for private dental treatment, so ask the clinic directly.
What you can check yourself:
- Every private dental practitioner must hold an Annual Practising Certificate (APC), renewed every year, and display it at each address where they practise (Dental Act 2018, section 42).
- You can look up a practitioner on the Ministry of Health's MHPS system. The steps are in how to check a registered dentist.
- On this site, a clinic marked "In KKM list" matched the KKM list of registered private dental clinics dated 30 Sep 2023. That shows it was on that list, not that it is registered today.
Common questions
How much does a dental visit cost at a government clinic?
For Malaysian citizens as outpatients, Lampiran E lists RM2 for scaling and polishing, RM1 for extracting a permanent tooth, RM2 per filled surface and RM4 for root canal treatment. The document is dated April 2021 and charges may change, so confirm with the clinic.
Why does Lampiran E show four different prices?
Kelas 1, Kelas 2 and Kelas 3 are hospital ward classes for admitted patients. Pesakit Luar is the outpatient charge, which applies to most clinic visits.
Do children and pregnant women pay?
Children under 1 are exempt from outpatient charges, and no dental charges may be imposed on preschool children except for orthodontic appliances. Pregnant women under government antenatal care get free registration and free treatment when referred or on a follow-up appointment; a walk-in pays outpatient charges.
How much is a government specialist visit?
The first visit is free on a government referral and RM30 on a private practitioner's referral. Follow-up visits are RM5.
Does this site show private clinic prices?
No. There is no official current price list for private dental treatment, so we do not publish one. Ask the clinic.
Sources
- Lampiran E – Caj Pergigian (Rawatan Pergigian) Document is over 5 years old; check whether a newer version exists
- Ringkasan Takrif dan Jadual A–H berdasarkan Akta Fi 1951 / Perintah Fi (Perubatan) 1982, Edisi Jun 2023
- Penjelasan Isu Kanak-Kanak Pra-Sekolah
- Penjelasan Isu Ibu Mengandung, Edisi Feb 2024
- Penjelasan Isu Cross Referral Document is over 5 years old; check whether a newer version exists
- Program Kesihatan Pergigian KKM: perkhidmatan pergigian sekolah, primer dan kepakaran
- Annual Practising Certificate (APC)
- Malaysian Healthcare Practitioners System (MHPS)
All sources were read on 14 Oct 2026. If a document has since been updated, the newer version applies.
Compiled from MOH and MDC sources; not reviewed by a dentist; not medical advice. Government charges shown are from MOH documents and may change — confirm with the clinic. Spotted a fact that is wrong or out of date? Tell us at hubungi@checkgigi.my.