Seeing a dentist or other dental practitioner

Dentists and other dental practitioners help you take care of your teeth and gums. They can diagnose and treat a range of diseases of the mouth and provide advice to help you look after your dental health.

You should make an appointment with a dental practitioner if you have a specific oral health problem, such as pain in your mouth. You should also have regular dental check-ups throughout life to identify and deal with any problems early and to help prevent oral problems from developing.

Types of dental health professionals

In Australia, a range of Dental Practitioners registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) may provide dental healthcare. This includes dentists, dental specialists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, dental hygienists and dental prosthetists. Depending on your oral healthcare needs, you may see one or more of these dental practitioners.

The following links provide a description of what each dental practitioner does:

• About dentists and dental practitioners, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government
• Specialist dental care, Dental Health Services Victoria.

Public dental healthcare

The Victorian Government offers free or subsidised general, emergency and denture care to eligible Victorians through the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne and over 50 integrated and registered community health services.

Who can use public dental 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
• all children enrolled in a Victorian government school – dental care is available through the Smile Squad School Dental Program
• 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 of Melbourne.

Fees for public 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. Fees for public dental services are generally far less than private dental services.

For eligible Victorians, free public dental treatment is available for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• people who are homeless or 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) covers the cost of a range of dental care for children aged from 0 to 17 years in eligible families. CDBS funds can be used at public dental services and participating private clinics. For more information on the CDBS, visit the Services Australia website.

Private dental healthcare

Most dentists work in private practice and people often have a regular dentist who has given them dental care 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 other dental practitioners 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 dental clinic

There are 50 community dental agencies located throughout metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria making up the public healthcare service. Public dental services are available to eligible Victorians. To make an appointment, visit the Dental Health Services Victoria website to find a community dental clinic near you or call Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) 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.

The Australian Dental Association website has a directory 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

If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity in your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist or other dental practitioner 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 or other dental practitioner 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.

How often do I need a dental check-up?

Everyone has different oral health needs and risk levels which will affect how often they should have a dental check-up. Talk to your dental practitioner about how frequently you need to see them.

Where to get help

• Your dentist or other dental practitioner
• Oral Health Victoria provide public dental services through the Royal Dental Hospital Of Melbourne and community dental clinics for eligible people.
• Australian Dental Association 'Find a Dentist'
• Australian Society of Orthodontists