The dentistry faculty at the National University of Singapore hopes to increase its enrolment from 48 a year now to 60 by 2012.

This will bring Singapore in line with the dentist to population ratios of other developed countries, said the Ministry of Health.

At the same time, the National University Health System Dental Centre (NUHSDC) will expand to accommodate more patients, and allow more dentists and oral health therapists to be trained.

Oral health therapists, who are qualified to carry out basic dental treatment like cleaning, now get practice at the Health Promotion Board's School Dental Service. They will go to the NUHSDC instead.

The dental faculty, which is housed in the dental centre, will move to its own premises eventually, said a National University Health System spokesman.

An ageing population, as well as one that is now more conscious of dental health, has increased the need for more affordable dental resources and facilities, said the health ministry.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.