Dental
Orbost Regional Health Dental department aims to provide the best possible service for the community in line with ‘Improving Victoria’s Oral Health four year strategic plan. The dental team is committed to offering excellent treatment in a caring environment to ensure your oral health needs are met.
Orbost Regional Health have a single chair Dental Clinic on-site in Boundary Rd, Orbost. The clinic operates Mon to Friday providing general oral health services both public and private, school dental services and denture services. Orbost Regional Health have a Public Dentist, Visiting Private Dentist, Visiting Dental Therapist, Qualified Dental Assistants and reception/administration staff.
For an appointment please phone 51546625
Non Attendance policy
Orbost Regional Health has a Non Attendance Policy that ensure clients/patients are aware of the importance to attend dental appointments. This ensures our resources are utilised and waiting lists are kept as short as possible. Should a client/patient miss an appointment without providing 24 hours notice on two occasions, they will be placed on the end of the waitlist and this could potentially be a 12 month or more waiting period. Patients may submit in writing a reason for missed appointment which will be taken into consideration for emergency care.
Government Policy
It is important to note these systems of recall and reminders are established protocols as provided by Dental Health Services Victoria and Orbost Regional Health are required to apply them under our service delivery agreement. Orbost Regional Health attempts to provide flexibility to accommodate our local communities needs but may be bound by legislation.
Dental Surgery under General Anesthetics
Orbost Regional provides limited General Dental Surgery under anesthetics in our Theatre. A referral for this is required by the dentist and strict criteria applies.
Oral Health Program 0-6
Preventing tooth decay
Early detection of minor dental problems of young children prevents them from becoming major ones. It is also important to familiarize children with the dental environment so that the first visit can be fun.
Here are some helpful tips for those early childhood visits.
Make appointment early in the day
Avoid negative words such as drill, hurt or needle
Answer your Childs questions honestly, and don’t make a fuss.
Eligibility
All children from 0 -6 yrs
Concession card holders/non card holders
Cost
For Concession card holder this service is at no cost.
For non concession card holders there will be a cost of $28.00 per child per course of care.
Frequency
All children are eligible to use this service every two years. Once they have completed their course of care they will placed on a recall list which will be prioritized by our dentist, depending on level of care required.
However if your child has a toothache they will be seen on the next available emergency appointment.
Should you wish to bring your child for more regular checkups you are free to do so as a private patient (this service will be charged at the current private rate as set by the dentist).
To register your child you must contact the dental service on;
03 5154 6625
School dental service (SDS)
The school dental service is available for all primary school children between the ages of 5-13 years
Eligibility
All primary school children and children in years 7 and 8 whose parents have a current Health care card or pension concession card.
Cost
For concession card holders this service is at no cost. For non concession card holders there will be a cost of $28.00 per child per course of care.
Frequency
The SDS offers care to all children on a recall system every 1-2 years. After your child attends the first appointment and associated course of care is completed you will be contacted and offered further treatment in two years. Children who are assessed as high risk will be seen more regularly, every 12 months.
However if your child has a toothache they will be seen on the next available emergency appointment.
Children can be seen as private patients outside these re-calls (this service will be charged at the current private rate as set by the dentist).
To register your child you must contact the dental service on
0351546625
Youth dental program
The Youth dental services are available through the youth dental program (YDP).
Who can use the service
Students in secondary schools (years 9, 10, 11 and 12 who are 14 to 17 years of age) and those who have left formal schooling can use this service if they or their parents hold a current health care card or pension concession card.
Cost
For health care card holder and pension concession cards this service is at no cost. Students in this age bracket where parents are not concession care holders are required to access the Private Dentist.
Frequency
The youth dental program offers care to all children every 1-2 years. After your Childs first course of care is completed you will be contacted and offered further treatment in two years time. Children who are assessed as high risk will be seen every 12 months. However if your child has a toothache they will be seen on the next available emergency appointment.
Adults 18 years or older
This service is available to all adults that hold a current health care card or pension concession card. In order to obtain general treatment a patient needs to register their names on the general waitlist. Upon completion of their course of care patients can re-reregister in 12 months to go back on the waitlist. Orbost Regional Health waitlist can vary from 6-12months depending on availability of dentists and demand.
General course of care
This course of care will cover general dental treatment including checkups, advice, fillings, extractions & cleaning.
Cost per visit is $23 up to $92 for the full course of care. Some specialised treatment may result in an extra cost.
Emergency treatment
Emergency appointments are made for patients that are experiencing pain and/or discomfort as a result of dental related issues. All patients will be triaged under the dental health services Victoria current triage system. If you qualify under this system you will be placed on an emergency list and an appointment will be made as soon as a vacancy becomes available. Orbost Regional Health will attempt to reduce a patients discomfort by attempting to provide appointments as soon as possible provided we have a dentist on site and the required dental work is within our scope of practice. Alternatively, support will be provided to access an alternative dental services or support. For pain management we can make a referral to your local General Practitioner.
Cost per visit is $23 (this amount may differ if specialist treatment is required).
Dentures
To access general, denture or specialist care through the public dental system, you need to be eligible.
All patients that are edentulous (have no teeth) that are requesting new dentures will be placed on a waiting list, you will be contacted either by phone or by mail when you are eligible to receive treatment.
The cost of dentures will vary according to what treatment is required.
