Find a Dentist in Victoria

Finding a dentist in Victoria

Private dental practices provide most dental care in Victoria. If you are not eligible for public care, or you want to choose your own dentist and appointment time, a private practice is usually the way to go.

Think about what will make it easy to keep going back: a location near home or work, hours that fit, the services you need, and how they explain your options. If language matters, ask whether someone at the practice speaks your language, or whether they use an interpreter service.

Public dental care in Victoria

Victoria’s public dental services are provided through the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne and more than 40 community health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. The Victorian Department of Health lists these groups as eligible:

• all children aged 0–12
• young people aged 13–17 who hold, or are dependants of someone who holds, a health care or pensioner concession card
• adults with a health care or pensioner concession card, and their dependants
• children and young people in out-of-home care, people in youth justice custodial care
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and all refugees and asylum seekers

Some groups get priority access and are offered the next available appointment rather than joining the general waiting list, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and young people, pregnant people, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and refugees and asylum seekers. Everyone else joins a waiting list.

To find a clinic, use Oral Health Victoria’s clinic search or call the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne on (03) 9341 1000, or 1800 833 039 from outside metropolitan Melbourne.

Medicare, health funds and payment options

For private care, most dental treatment is not covered by Medicare. Private health insurance extras cover can help, usually up to limits per service and per year. Ask any practice for a written treatment plan, whether they can claim your health fund on the spot, and whether they offer payment plans.

Oral Health Victoria notes that dental teaching clinics, where students treat patients under supervision, usually have shorter waiting times for eligible patients.

Kids’ dental care and CDBS in Victoria

All Victorian children aged 0–12 are eligible for public dental care, and children are a priority access group. Families who receive certain government payments may also be able to use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) at public or private practices.

Benefits apply over two consecutive calendar years. It does not cover orthodontic or cosmetic work. Services Australia writes to families whose children are eligible.

Emergency dental care in Victoria

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

If you are eligible for public dental care, emergency dental care is available at your local community dental clinic and at the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne. Oral Health Victoria recommends calling before you go, so your problem can be triaged. For health advice at any hour, NURSE-ON-CALL (healthdirect) is on 1800 022 222.

If you are not eligible, contact a private practice as early as possible and explain that it is urgent. Our search can look for practices that list emergency or same-day appointments.

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 worth asking a new practice

• Can you explain my treatment options before we start?
• Do you see children, and from what age?
• Do you offer longer appointments or breaks for anxious patients?
• Do you accept public dental vouchers (VEDS, VGDS or VDS) if I have one?
• How do I reach you if something goes wrong after a procedure?