Seeing a dentist or dental health practitioner
Seeing a dentist or dental health practitioner
Seeing a dentist or dental health practitioner
Your local
dentist
is the first person to see if you have any dental healthcare problems.
If you need more specialised care, your dentist can refer you to another dental health professional (such as an
orthodontist
) or a specialist.
Regular dental check-ups will help prevent oral problems from developing.
Types of dental health professionals
Depending on your oral healthcare needs, there are a variety of services and professionals who can help. The following links provide a description of what each dental health professional does:
About dentists and dental practitioners, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian
Government
External Link
Specialist dental care, Dental Health Services
Victoria
External Link
.
Public dental healthcare
The Victorian Government offers free or subsidised general, emergency and denture care to eligible Victorians through the
Royal Dental Hospital
Melbourne
External Link
and over 50 integrated and registered community health services.
The following people are eligible for public dental care:
all children aged 0 to 12 years
young people aged 13 to 17 years who hold a healthcare or pensioner concession card, or who are dependants of concession card holders
people aged 18 years and over, who are health care or pensioner concession card holders or dependants of concession card holders
all children and young people up to 18 years of age who are in out-of-home care (including kinship and foster care) provided by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
all people in youth justice custodial care
all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
all refugees and asylum seekers.
All Victorians can access emergency dental care at the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne.
Fees for dental health services
How much you pay for public dental healthcare depends on your situation and the type of treatment you need. You may be able to get treatment for free or there may be a cost involved.
For eligible Victorians, free public dental treatment is available for:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
homeless people and people at risk of homelessness
refugees and asylum seekers
children and young people aged 0 to 17 years who are health care or pensioner concession card holders or who are dependents of concession card holders
all children and young people who are in out-of-home care (including kinship and foster care) provided by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, up to 18 years of age
all people in youth justice custodial care
registered clients of mental health or disability services, supported by a letter of recommendation from their case manager or staff of a special developmental school
people receiving care from undergraduate dental students
people experiencing financial hardship.
The Australian Government’s Commonwealth Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides dental benefits for children aged from 0 to 17 years in eligible families. For more information on the CDBS, visit the
Services
Australia website
External Link
.
Private dental healthcare
Most dentists work in private practice and people often have a regular dentist who has given them dental health service for many years.
If you need to see a dentist and if you do not have a regular one, it is a good idea to ask family, friends or people in your local area to suggest someone who can look after your ongoing dental healthcare needs.
Fees for private dental healthcare
Private dentists and dental health professionals set their own fees, which can vary depending on the dentist and the type of treatment required.
These costs can be offset if you take out dental insurance, which is offered under many private health insurance policies or as an insurance extra.
There are 2 types of dental insurance. General dental usually covers cleaning, removal of plaque, x-rays and smaller
fillings
, while major dental usually includes cover for
orthodontics (braces)
,
wisdom teeth
removal, crowns, bridges and
dentures
.
Finding a dentist
There are 50 community dental agencies located throughout metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria. To make an appointment, eligible Victorians contact a local community dental agency or call
Dental Health Services Victoria
(DHSV)
External Link
on:
Tel.
(03) 9341 1000
(Melbourne Metro), Monday to Friday only: 8:30am-4:30pm.
Tel.
1800 833 039
(outside Melbourne Metro), Monday to Friday only: 8:30am-4:30pm.
You can also visit the DHSV website to
find a community dental
clinic
External Link
near you.
The Australian Dental Association website has a
directory
External Link
to help you find a private dentist near you.
If you need specialised oral health treatment, your local dentist can provide you with a referral.
Preparing for your dental appointment
Everyone has different oral health needs and risk levels which should be reflected in the frequency of dental visits. Talk to your dentist about your risk level and how frequently you need to see your dentist.
If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity in your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
To prepare for your appointment, it is a good idea to:
wear comfortable clothing
avoid drinks containing
caffeine
or
sugar
on the day of your visit
bring a list of any medication and
vitamins
you are taking (name and dosage)
bring a list of any
allergies to medication
or bad reactions you have had to local anaesthetics
have a list of questions to ask.
During your dental appointment
At your check-up, expect your dentist to:
carefully examine your mouth, teeth and gums
ask about your general health and any issues you have with your teeth, mouth or gums
ask about your
oral healthcare
at home and give advice on ways to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy
ask about your diet,
smoking
and
drinking
explain any risks associated with treatment you may need, and the costs
let you know when your next check-up is due.
Where to get help
Your
dentist
Dental Health Services Victoria
(DHSV)
External Link
Tel.
(03) 9341 1000
(Melbourne Metro), Tel.
1800 833 039
(outside Melbourne Metro)
Australian Dental
Association
External Link
Tel.
(02) 8815 3333
Australian Society of
Orthodontists
External Link
Tel.
(02) 9965 7250