General dental care

Your local Community dental clinic and the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne provide general dental care, which includes:

  • routine dental examination
  • check-ups
  • oral health advice
  • scale and cleaning
  • extractions
  • fillings
  • X-rays
  • fissure Sealants
  • root canal treatments

Adults

Adults are eligible for public dental services if they:

Children and young people

General dental care for children and young people can include:

  • check-ups,
  • advice every 1-2 years
  • dental sealants to prevent decay
  • cleaning
  • fillings
  • extractions x-rays

Children and young people are eligible for public dental services if they:

  • 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 Find out more about In and out of home care.

Remember: Take your child to see a dentist no later than 2 years of age.

Will I need to go on a wait list?

There is a wait list for general dental care as there is a high demand for dental services. Patients who miss more than two appointments may need to go back on the wait list. People who have priority access are offered the next available appointment.

You may prefer to get treatment at a public dental teaching clinic. There are no fees and often shorter waiting times at the Public Dental Teaching Clinics. Visit our Dental Teaching clinics page to find out more information

find your nearest dental clinic

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