GPs & practice team
Over 70 per cent of Victorian children under five have never visited a dentist [i], and yet in a child’s first year of life they see a general practitioner almost 11 times [ii]. Supporting general practitioners and practice nurses to incorporate oral health when seeing families with young children could help to tackle Australia’s most common chronic illness, tooth decay.
Referring patients
When to refer
- Non-healing ulcers
- Mucosal colour changes, white, red or speckled
- Facial swelling
- Heavy oral haemorrhage
- Trauma to the mouth
- Dental pain
- Gingival bleeding
- Bad breath
Recommend a regular check-up, even if there is no pain.
Public Dental Services
Public dental care is provided at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and over 80 community dental clinics across the state.
To access general, denture or specialist care through the public dental system, patients will need to be eligible.
For referral information, click here.
Anyone can receive emergency dental care through The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
Please contact us for emergencies, referral or general enquiries.
Patients with special needs
A special care unit is available at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
Visit our Special Care Unit webpage for more information.
Referring patients who cannot consent themselves
For assistance with referring patients who cannot consent to medical and dental treatment, please refer to the Office of the Public Advocate (Victoria).
Visit the Office of the Public Advocate (Victoria) website
Private Dental Services
Some patients may choose to attend a private dentist. Patients should ask about fees when making an appointment. To find a local private dentist you can do a search on google or visit the Yellow Pages website.
Resources for you
The links between oral health and general health
Studies show that poor oral health is connected to major chronic diseases. This report released by Dental Health Services Victoria explains how dental health is linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, stroke, dementia and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Read links between oral and general health
Early detection of oral cancer
Early detection of oral cancer can save a patient’s life. Oral cancer screening forms part of every comprehensive, periodic and limited oral examination. It takes only a short time and is an integral element of routine care.
General Practitioners who are registered with RACGP can access the complete learning module Oral Cancer: Prevention, early detection and referral and earn CPD.
Pregnancy and oral health
This fact sheet provides important information to help GPs understand the importance of oral health during pregnancy and provide evidence-based care and advice to pregnant women.
View the pregnancy and oral health fact sheet
The Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pregnancy Care recommend that oral health advice be discussed in antenatal visits.
Early childhood and oral health
This early childhood fact sheet is designed to support GPs to integrate oral health in their professional practice.
Information for your patients
Useful links
[i] Department of Human Services 2007 Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey Technical Report, 2006
[ii] Goldfeld, S., Wright, M. and Oberklaid, F. (2003), Parents, infants and health care: Utilization of health services in the first 12 months of life. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 39: 249–253
