Oral Health Program
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Who Can Access the ServiceThe North Coast Area Health Service provides free dental care to all children/young people up to 18 years of age who are engaged in full time study and persons who are eligible Health Care Card/Pensioner Concession cardholders. All people requesting oral health care must be assessed and registered through the Information System for Oral Health (ISOH). The Priority Oral Health Care Program ensures that people requiring care are seen in order of need as well as socio-economic and other risk factors. Clinics are in Tweed Heads, East Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Ballina, Goonellabah, Nimbin, Casino, Maclean, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Wauchope, and Camden Haven. All preschool and school age children up to the age of 18 years of age, and adults who hold a current Health Care Card or Pension Card are eligible for public oral health care. How do I access the service?Please phone 1300 651 625 to register. You must have a current Medicare Card before proceeding, and Child Oral Health ServicesThe CHILD service provides routine dental examinations and general dental treatment to children 0-16 years of age, and students up to 18 years if they are still at school or TAFE. Child oral health services are primarily provided by dental therapists, and clinics operate in a range of settings including Community Health Centres, Hospitals and Health Campuses. Adult Oral Health ServicesThe ADULT service offers general dental care, emergency relief of pain and assessment for dentures under the Pensioner Denture Scheme. Adult dental services provide emergency and general treatment services as well as supplying prosthetics (dentures) for eligible adults and their dependents. The Priority Oral Health Program has been introduced to ensure that people with the greatest oral health need receive the earliest attention rather than treatment being given on a “first come, first serve basis”. Indeed the new Priority Oral Health Program provides a more equitable system that assists in assessing patients on the basis of medical and dental need as well as socio-economic and other risk factors. Patients reporting less urgent needs are then prioritised following a standardised procedure and registered to have their oral health condition assessed, the same as when people seek a medical appointment. |
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