Are you eligible?
Check your eligibility
Answer some basic questions and find out your eligibility for treatment in the public dental system.
Dental Health Service Victoria is committed to providing high quality dental care services. DHSV provides routine, emergency and specialist dental care to eligible Victorians.
Who is eligible for public dental care?
To access dental care through the public dental system, you need to be eligible. Extra eligibility criteria may apply for dental specialist dental services.
Adults
You are eligible for public dental services if you:
- live in Victoria and
- hold a Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or
- hold a Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or
- hold a Veteran Pensioner Concession card issued by the Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA) or
- are a refugee or asylum seeker or
- are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Children and young people
You are eligible for public dental services if you:
- live in Victoria and
- are aged 0-12 years of age, irrespective of family income or
- are aged between 0–17 and are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule or
- are aged between 13-17 with a Health Care card or Pension Card or whose parents hold a Health Care card or Pension Card or
- are a youth justice client in custodial care, regardless of age, or
- are aged up to 18 years of age and are in out-of-home care, provided by the Children Youth and Families Division of the Department of Human Services
Priority access
If you are eligible for public dental services, you may also have priority access. You will be offered the next available appointment for general dental care. You are not placed on a general care waitlist.
If you need dentures, you will be offered the next available appointment for denture care. You may be added to a priority denture list.
The following groups have priority access to public dental services:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- children (0-12 years) and young people
- homeless people and people at risk of homelessness
- pregnant people
- refugees and asylum seekers
- people registered with mental health or disability services, who have a letter of recommendation from their case manager or a special developmental school.
