Dental Health Services Victoria

Teen Dental Plan

Patients aged between 12 and 17 years may be eligible for free dental checks through the Medicare Teen Dental Plan.

Call the GP Medicare Provider Enquiry Line on 132 or visit the Deptartment of Health and Ageing website.

Patients with Chronic and Complex Conditions (not applicable at RDHM)

May be eligible to receive a Medicare benefit for dental services. Patients must have a GP management plan and the patients oral health must be impacting on or likely to impact on, their oral health.

Call the GP Medicare Provider Enquiry Line on 132 150 for further information on referral process and patients entitlements or visit the Department of Health and Ageing website. 

Download the GP Fact Sheet 

Download the GP Referral Form> 

Download the GP Referral Form Word Document 
 

A Special Care Unit is available at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne for people with intellectual or physical disabilities. For further information please visit here or alternatively phone 1300 360 054 (standard charges apply).

Download the  Special Needs Dentistry Application Form [PDF, 53KB].
 

Download the Special Needs Domiciliary Application Form.

Early childhood oral health: case studies from general practice

This online activity supports general practitioners and practice nurses to effectively perform their critical role in identifying, preventing and managing early childhood caries.

This activity was developed by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) & the Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW. Participation has 2 QA&CPD Program Category 2 points and 1 Royal College of Nursing Australia Continuing Nurse Education point.

Access is free to RACGP and their affiliate members via the gplearning website (www.racgp.org.au ) and  the Clin-ed website (www.clined.com.au )

 Download the DHSV Presentation on Chronic Disease. [PDF, 1.86MB]

There is growing evidence that there is an association between oral health and a range of diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and preterm & low weight births.

The term ‘oral disease’ refers to dental caries (or tooth decay), periodontal (or gum) disease, and oral cancer. Approximately one in five Australians has moderate or severe periodontal disease, and one in four has untreated dental decay (Slade, Spencer and Roberts-Thomson, 2007). Oral cancer, although far less prevalent, is often aggressive and poses an increased risk to people as they age.

Oral disease shares common risk factors with a range of chronic health conditions. These include diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption, stress and socio-economic status.

To learn more, please read, “Links between oral health and general health – the case for action”, a report based on a literature review that examined the connection between oral health status and major chronic diseases.
 

Emerging scientific evidence shows that people with gum disease are at a greater risk of developing heart disease. A study released last year found that a person with fewer than 10 natural teeth is seven times more likely to die of coronary disease than someone with more than 25 of their own natural teeth.

Oral diseases and heart disease share common risk factors including diet, hygiene, smoking, alcohol use, stress and trauma. The most common oral diseases are gum diseases and tooth decay. Both these diseases are largely preventable if identified and treated early. But if these conditions remain untreated, both will eventually lead to tooth loss.”

So how do oral diseases affect the heart? One explanation is that the bacteria that causes periodontal disease enters the blood stream through the inflamed gums. The bacteria then attach themselves to the inner walls of the blood vessels contributing to the formation of blood clots. Another possibility is that inflammation caused by periodontal disease produces certain products that damage the inner linings of blood vessels making them susceptible to fats, bacteria and other harmful products. The accumulation of these products and blood clot formation can block normal blood flow and restrict nutrients and oxygen reaching the heart.

Better Health Channel

Raising Children’s Network

Australian Dental Association

The Cancer Council Victoria – oral cancer page

Victorian Government Health Information - Dentistry in Victoria