 Dental Health
General and specialist dental care is provided mainly by private dentists and dental specialists who can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Dental health insurance cover is available from private health insurers.
Public dental services for school children and eligible adults are delivered through school dental clinics, mobile dental vans, community clinics and, in many rural centres, by private dental practices.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
Free basic dental care is provided to all school children from pre-primary to year 11 (year 12 in remote localities).
There is strong emphasis on prevention, oral health education and early intervention to fix dental problems.
Where required, referrals are made to private dental specialists, or for children eligible for subsidised care, to a public dental clinic.
PUBLIC COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICES
Emergency, general, and some specialised dental care is available to eligible people including most pensioners, or recipients of benefits from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs, and dependent children of Health Care Card holders.
Services are provided through the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (OHCWA) and public dental clinics throughout the metropolitan area and in many country locations.
Dental care is also available for housebound patients, other special groups and people in long term care facilities.
COUNTRY PATIENTS DENTAL SUBSIDY SCHEME
Financial assistance is provided to eligible people in country locations where there are participating private dental practices and no public dental clinic.
Fees and subsidies depend on the level of eligibility.
Information about the location of services and eligibility under the scheme is available from the centres listed or from the Dental Health Services Administration.
EMERGENCY AND AFTER HOURS DENTAL TELEPHONE SERVICE
An after-hours emergency telephone service is provided 7 days a week between the hours of 6.30pm - 8.00am and can be reached on 9325 3452. This service is to be used only for immediate and urgent dental attention.
Urgent serious cases are referred to a clinic in Royal Perth Hospital.
The Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (OHCWA) operates an emergency clinic for eligible people on weekends and public holidays. |
