Dental Health Services Victoria

Public dental services

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How to access dental care

Do you have a dental emergency?

Go to our Emergency dental care page.

Do you need a check-up?

Please note: You must be eligible to receive public dental care to access this service.
 

Who is eligible?

  • All children who are 12 years and under
  • People who hold a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and dependants listed on these cards
  • Newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers
  • Children enrolled in special development schools
  • Those in residential care provided by the Children, Youth and Families Division of the Department of Human Services
  • All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are treated at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.

    For more information, go to Who is eligible?


Check-ups are offered through our 'General care' service. General care includes routine examinations or check-ups, oral health advice, scale and cleans, extractions, fillings, X-rays and fissure sealants.

If you are eligible and would like to access this service, contact your local community dental clinic.
To find one near you, visit our Community dental clinics page or telephone 1300 360 054 (standard charges apply).

What will happen when I call?

When you call, the receptionist will check if you are eligible. If you are, you will be placed on a waiting list.

You may prefer to access treatment at a teaching clinic where there are no fees and usually, shorter waiting times. 
Find out more about teaching clinics
 

Do you fit into one of these groups?
  • Children and young people under 18 years of age
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers
  • Pregnant women

If you fit into one of the above groups, you may not have to go on a waiting list. Tell the receptionist that you may qualify for ‘priority access’.


Denture care

Please note: You must be eligible to receive public dental care to access this service.

If you have no natural teeth, you can access denture care by contacting your local community dental clinic.
If you still have natural teeth, you need to access general care first.

To find a clinic near you, visit our Community dental clinics page or telephone 1300 360 054 (standard charges apply).

The clinic will first check if you are eligible. If you are, clinic staff will make you an appointment or will place your name on a waiting list.

Specialist care

Please note: You must be eligible to receive public dental care to access this service.

Specialist care includes:

  • Endodontics - root canal treatment for those where routine treatment is not possible
  • Prosthodontics - includes dentures, crowns and bridges for those people who have more complex dental problems
  • Orthodontics - tooth straightening for people with more serious dental problems
  • Periodontics - treatment of severe gum disease
  • Paediatrics - treatment for children with complex dental, medical and other problems
  • Oral Medicine - treatment for a variety of diseases of the lips, cheeks, tongues and jaw joints
  • Oral Surgery - complex surgical procedures involving the teeth, mouth and jaws

If you require specialist care, you will need to be referred by a community dental clinic.
To find one near you, visit our Community dental clinics page or telephone 1300 360 054 (standard charges apply).

Referrals

Oral health professionals who need details on how to refer patients for specialist care should visit our Referrals page.