Find a Dentist in the Northern Territory

Finding a dentist in the NT

Private practices in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs provide much of the Territory’s dental care, alongside NT Health’s Oral Health Services. Oral health teams also visit remote communities at set times during the year.

If you are new to the Territory or live outside the main centres, plan ahead: ask practices about appointment waits, and keep the public dental phone number handy if you are eligible.

Public dental care in the NT

According to NT.GOV.AU, you may be eligible for public dental services if you are:

• under 18, or over 18 and attending full-time primary or secondary school
• a holder or dependant of a pensioner concession card, health care card, seniors health card or gold or white repatriation health care card
• an Aboriginal person living in a remote community, or anyone in a remote location with an emergency dental situation
• in one of several additional-needs groups, such as people undergoing cancer therapy or renal dialysis, people experiencing homelessness, and refugees and asylum seekers

Community clinics for all ages are in Alice Springs, Casuarina, Palmerston, Katherine, Gove and Tennant Creek (Tennant Creek is a visiting service). Call 08 8922 6466 for the Top End, Big Rivers or East Arnhem, or 08 8951 6713 for Central Australia and the Barkly, between 8am and 4:30pm on weekdays. Adults may be placed on a waiting list.

Medicare, health funds and payment options

If you are not eligible for public care, you will usually see a private dentist. Most dental treatment is not covered by Medicare; if you have private health insurance, check what your extras cover includes.

Ask for a written estimate before treatment, whether your health fund can be claimed on the day, and whether payment plans are available. You can add these to your search.

Children’s dental care in the NT

All children under 18 are eligible for NT public dental services. Children from birth to Year 6 can be seen at primary school dental clinics at set times during the year, and at the community clinics.

Families who receive certain government payments may also use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule at a private practice. Benefits apply over two consecutive calendar years.

Dental emergencies in the NT

Call 000 for swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop, or a serious injury to the face or head.

If you are eligible for public care, call your regional Oral Health Services number during business hours and explain that the problem is urgent. NT.GOV.AU advises that if you need immediate dental help and are not eligible or cannot get a booking, find after-hours medical care or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Checking a dentist’s registration

Every dentist, dental hygienist, oral health therapist, dental therapist and dental prosthetist practising in Australia must be registered. You can check any practitioner on the Ahpra Register of practitioners by name or registration number; the register also shows any conditions on their registration.

In Australia the title “specialist” is protected. The Dental Board of Australia recognises 13 dental specialties, such as orthodontics and endodontics, and titles like “orthodontist” may only be used by dentists with specialist registration in that field. If a practice describes a dentist as a specialist, you can confirm it on the Ahpra register. Find a Dentist does not describe practitioners as specialists unless that registration has been checked.

Questions to ask a practice

• How long is the wait for a new-patient appointment?
• Can you give me a written treatment plan?
• Do you accept the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
• Can you help if I am anxious or need extra time?
• What should I do if I have a problem while you are closed?