|
North Richmond Community Health Centre offers dental care through an organised oral health program. The goal of this program is to improve and maintain the oral health status of the community. To achieve this goal equitable access to high quality and appropriate dental care is provided, both through individual dental care and health promoting interventions within the community.
The dental team consists of dentists, dental therapist, dental prosthetist, specialist in-training and dental assistants. The receptionist coordinated the dental team through an appointment system, and all enquiries should be directed to the dental reception on 9420 1302 between 9.00am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4.30pm.
Due to long waiting lists, punctuality is important with non-attendance attracting a late fee and late attendees rescheduled. Where possible longer appointments will be confirmed the day before.
Clinic hours are 9.00am to 8.00pm Mon - Wed with some after-hours (non-emergency) appointment available.
Thu - Fri 9.00am - 4.30pm . Dental staff or Centre interpreters speak most community languages.
The oral health program provides services through various sub programs:
Community Dental Program (CDP)
This program provides concession cardholders (Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card) with general dental care on a waiting list basis and emergency care for clients in pain. Emergency care is triaged so that the most urgent cases are seen first, this will usually be on the same day and less urgent cases within two weeks. Co-payments between $22 and $88 apply to cardholders who are 18 years and over.
Dentures are also provided on a waiting list basis unless client is assessed as an urgent case and then dentures will be provided within 3 months. Co-payments also apply and will be explained during the initial visit.
Youth Dental Program (YDP)
This program provides dental care for high school children in years 9-12 and youth up to the age of 18 years of age, who are concession cardholders, eligible for Commonwealth Youth Allowance or have confirmed Education Maintenance allowance (EMA) status. Other children at school should be referred to the School Dental Service (9341 1167).
Youth are entitled to priority access and therefore are given an early appointment and free treatment unless specialist services are provided on referral to the Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital. High-risk youth will be place on a 12-month recall on the completion of treatment.
Early Childhood Oral Health program (ECOHP)
All preschool children (0-5 years) will be provided with dental care. Eligible children who are dependants of a concession cardholder will receive care for free and others (non-concession cardholders) will pay $27 for a full course of care. Referral pathways will be preschools and primary health care workers. Oral health workers are available to visit preschools for oral health promotion and screening.
Special Needs Oral Health Program
Clients with intellectual disability or serious mental health issues (confirmed by a caseworker or psychiatrist) are eligible for priority dental care without contribution of co-payments. Information for mental health workers on oral health for clients with mental health issues is available on this website.
Victorian Denture Scheme
This scheme uses vouchers which allow clients to access private dental providers (dentist or dental prosthetist) for the construction of dentures. Clients may be offered this scheme once off the waiting list.
Specialist Services
The Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital (RMDH) provides a range of specialist services on referral from a dentist. There are strict eligibility criteria, higher co-payments and waiting times for these services. Clients also need to demonstrate high levels of self-care and motivation to access these specialist services.
NB: Clients with drug and/or alcohol dependency can be seen at North Yarra CHC on a priority basis and with out co-payment (9411 3505).
Limited Full Fee Paying Service
Dental care is provided on a limited basis for clients who are non-concession cardholders or cardholders who choose not to go onto waiting lists. In this case private fees are charged for all dental services and quotations are provided after a general examination.
|
