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Children and Adolescents
Changes to oral health services
Oral Health Services have resumed all dental services including the School Dental Service Program.
The Child Dental Benefit Schedule has changed its eligibility to 0-17 years.
Good oral health begins when children are young. The Townsville HHS oral health team is passionate about teaching our children the very best oral health tips from a young age to help encourage proper oral hygiene into adulthood.
Children are eligible for publicly funded oral-health services if they are hold a Medicare card and are one of the following:
- aged 4 years through to year 10
- students in years 11 or 12 who have a current Centrelink, Healthcare or Pension Card
- aged 0–3 years whose parents have a current Pension Concession Card (Centrelink and Department of Veterans Affairs issued) or a Health Care Card
- 0 – 17-year olds who are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS)
- have no fixed address and residing in Queensland (homeless children)
- under the guardianship of the Director-General, Child Care Services, Department of Communities
- foster children where their carer holds a foster child Health Care Card
- children of skilled workers holding temporary visa 444
- eligible patients under the Commonwealth cleft lip and cleft palate scheme
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule provides access to basic dental services to eligible children aged 0-17 years in Australia up to $1000 per patient over two consecutive calendar years. Benefits cover a range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital. Family members cannot share entitlements. There are no out-of-pocket expenses for using CDBS at a public oral health clinic or school dental van service.
CDBS eligibility
Children and adolescents are eligible for CDBS if they are:
- aged 0-17 years
- eligible for Medicare; and
- part of a family receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A or other Australian Government payments.
If your child is not eligible for the CDBS, dental care will be provided as per the following:
- aged 4 through to students in year 10
- students in years 11 or 12 who have a current Centrelink, Healthcare or Pension Card
- aged 0–3 whose parents have a current Centrelink, Healthcare or Pension Card
Appointments
What do I need to bring to the appointment?
- Medicare card on which this child is listed
- Details of any medications/medical conditions for the child
- Children and adolescent consent medical history form
A parent or legal guardian is required to attend every operative dental appointment with their children. Examinations and preventative work can be done without parents.
If the patient is CDBS elibigle and you have available funds, the cost of your child's care will be bulk-billed to Medicare with no out-of-pocket expenses. Otherwise, this is covered by State funding.
What will happen at the appointment?
A dental examination (check-up) including x-rays (if necessary) will be conducted for your child. Any treatment required will be discussed and your consent will be required before any further treatment is provided.
School Dental Van Services
The Townsville HHS operates mobile and fixed mobile dental vans at schools throughout the health service. Information will be sent out through your child’s school and is available via the THHS Facebook page.
Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies include accidents involving your teeth or mouth, toothache, bleeding, infections and swelling. Always seek dental treatment when a dental emergency occurs to improve the chance of saving the tooth or teeth and preventing infections occurring or becoming more serious.
The following provides information on what to if a dental emergency occurs:
- toothache
- knocked-out tooth
- chips, fractures and cracks
- bitten lips or cheeks
- abscesses and swelling
- soft-tissue trauma and bleeding
- jaw pain
If a child or adolescent patient requires emergency treatment they should telephone the Kirwan or North Ward Dental Clinic on 07 4433 9900 or 07 4433 9300 (Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm excluding public holidays).
Reception staff will take patient details and ask a series of questions regarding the patient’s emergent oral health needs and allocate an appointment time and advise the patient which clinic to attend. Patients are requested to present at that clinic 10 minutes prior to their appointment time.
NOTE: The number of emergency patients who can be seen on any day depends upon the number of dentists available.
Referrals
Please contact the Kirwan or North Ward Dental Clinic on 07 4433 9900 or 07 4433 9300 Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm (excluding public holidays).
Medical and Allied Health Practitioners - For urgent referrals please contact the Kirwan Health Campus Dental Clinic on 07 4433 9900. Non-urgent patient information and referrals can be faxed to 07 4433 9901.
If immediate treatment is required, please phone the Kirwan or North Ward Dental Clinic on 07 4433 9900 or 07 4433 9300 Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm. The clinics are not open on weekends or on public holidays. For emergencies outside these hours please contact a private dentist, your GP, after hours medical centre or Townsville University Hospital Emergency Department on 07 4433 1111