Starting from February 6th, the Hospital Dental Services (HDS) originally provided by the Hong Kong Department of Health will be officially transferred to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) and integrated with the existing Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Services (OMS).
Involving seven public hospitals: Queen Mary Hospital, Eastern Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, and North District Hospital.
This is not a simple departmental adjustment. For you who are preparing for the Hong Kong Dental Licensing (HKDLE), there are several signals worth pondering hidden in this message.
Service integration, behind it is’ system optimization ‘
The official statement from the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority is that this integration will help further streamline and optimize the overall service process.
The public healthcare system in Hong Kong is consolidating dispersed resources and allowing professionals to do their own professional work.
Originally, these dental clinics mainly served hospitalized patients, those with special oral care needs, and dental emergencies. After integration, the service location remains unchanged, but the management system is incorporated into the hospital authority, which means that service standards, process specifications, and personnel configuration will be more unified.
A medical system that is being systematized and standardized will only have higher requirements for practitioners, not lower.
Standardized management is not a recent phenomenon
If you follow the official website of the Hong Kong Dental Council, you will find that there have been many actions taken in the past six months:
On October 13, 2025, Article 12 of the Dentists Registration Regulations (Dental Business Companies) will be abolished, and the exemption system for clinic licenses and small practice clinics under the Private Medical Institutions Regulations will be implemented on the same day
On January 20, 2026, the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance came into effect, and the Hong Kong Dental Professional Code of Conduct was simultaneously revised
On February 26, 2026, the deadline for applying to become a mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course organizer is set
A clear thread is: practicing dentistry in Hong Kong, from how to open clinics, how to handle special situations, to how to continue learning after practicing, every step is becoming regulated and systematic.
Is this a good or bad thing for dentists?
A standardized market is precisely where professional talents can best demonstrate their value.
Why do you say that?
Firstly, standardization means clarity. Previously, there may have been fewer and fewer ambiguous areas and information asymmetry. As long as you follow the rules, you can reach your destination.
Secondly, standardization implies fairness. The examination standards, professional requirements, and promotion paths are all traceable, not based on personal connections or background, but on genuine abilities.
Thirdly, standardization implies long-term value. What you are taking is not just a certificate, but a professional market with a complete system, clear rules, and continuous operation. This market is not easy to fall out once you enter.
The door of opportunity is opening
Returning to this service integration.
The integration of dental services from seven public hospitals into the Hospital Authority means that dental positions in the public system are being reorganized and repositioned.
The Department of Health has had vacancies for dentists in the past few years, with some positions having a vacancy rate of nearly 30%. Now that services have been integrated, job requirements will not disappear, they will only become clearer.
With the addition of limited registration and special registration channels after the revision of the Dentists Registration Regulations, the channels for non local trained dentists to enter the public system have become wider than before.
By the end of 2025, 19 non locally trained dentists have been approved to practice in Hong Kong, serving the Department of Health and the University of Hong Kong respectively. This number will continue to increase.
There are still 4 days left for registration, and the window is closing
Finally, let’s talk about the current situation.
The registration for the 2026 Hong Kong Dental Licensing Examination will be closed on Thursday, February 26th.
Part 1 written test on May 28th, and Part 2&3 exams from July 27th to 31st.
For those who haven’t prepared all the necessary materials, haven’t obtained the necessary certificates, and haven’t completed the notarization process, now is their last chance.
We have come into contact with too many candidates, and the biggest regret is not that we did not pass the exam, but that we could have started earlier.
CHENG HEI Education’s 2026 systematic class has been fully launched, from Part 1 written test to Part 2 practical operation, from registration guidance to pre exam sprint, we provide companionship.
- I don’t know where the focus is? We have a 60 hour system lecture on Part 1.
- I don’t know if I’m practicing right? We have feedback closed-loop training for 30 teeth grinding classes in Part 2.
The dental practice system in Hong Kong is becoming standardized, mature, and sustainable. This is a good time for professional talents to enter. Reply “Register” in the background to learn more details. CHENG HEI Education, accompany you steadily and steadily.