Dr Tan Shao Yong graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2010. After graduation, Dr Tan worked at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and the School Dental Services. In 2015, he obtained his Master of Dental Surgery (Endodontics) from the National University of Singapore and was awarded the Society of Endodontists Singapore Prize for the best student in Endodontics in the Final Master of Dental Surgery examination.

Dr Tan has presented at several prestigious conferences, including the International Association for Dental Research (South East Asia Division) 28th Annual Scientific Meeting in 2014, the 10th Society of Endodontists Singapore-Malaysia Endodontists Society Joint Scientific Meeting in 2016, and the 19th Scientific Congress of Asian Pacific Endodontic Confederation in 2017. He served as the President of the Society of Endodontists Singapore from 2021 to 2024.

Dr Tan is currently a Consultant in Endodontics at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Dental Surgery. His teaching appointments include Part-time Clinical Lecturer at the Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, and Part-time Clinical Teacher/Practice Facilitator at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.