Adult Oral Health Care

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.

For adults to be eligible for publicly funded oral health care, you must be a Queensland resident with a Medicare Card and have one or more of the following:

• Pensioner Concession Card (issued by the Department of Veteran's Affairs or Centrelink)
• Health Care Card
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Queensland Seniors Card

For residents issued with these cards and currently receiving benefits, eligibility is extended to their dependants named on the card.

A current card showing your name and Queensland residential address must be presented to reception staff upon arrival for your appointment. Identification may also be required. Colour-coded Veterans’ Cards and Medicare Cards are not accepted.

People who are not eligible for publicly funded oral health care should seek dental treatment from a private dentist.

View more information about eligibility visit eligibility of public dental services.

In certain cases, people on a waiting list for public dental treatment may be offered a voucher for treatment in a private dental practice.

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 do 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 an eligible patient requires emergency treatment they should telephone the Oral Health Call Centre on 1300 300 850 (Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm excluding public holidays).

The call centre operator will take patient details and ask a series of questions regarding the patient’s emergent oral health needs. The operator will then 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 and to ensure they bring their eligibility card for verification. Eligible patients with a denture problem should also contact the Oral Health Call Centre on 1300 300 850 in the first instance.

NOTE: The number of emergency patients who can be seen on any day depends upon the number of dentists available.

If immediate treatment is required outside operating hours please contact a private dentist, your GP, after-hours medical centre or Townsville University Hospital Emergency Department on (07) 4433 1111.

Sango speakers can access language-specific material on Oral Health emergencies here.

Referrals

If eligible, you are able to self-refer by contacting the Oral Health Call Centre on 1300 300 850 (Monday – Friday 7.30am – 4.00pm) to book an appointment. Please note that waiting lists do apply.

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, telephone 1300 300 850 between 7.30am and 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.

Locate your nearest dentist, hospital or clinic

View our local Oral Health Services list
Look under Queensland Health, Dental (Oral) Health Services in the white pages.

Townsville HHS Dental Clinic Locations

Ayr:
Ayr Hospital
Chippendale Street, Ayr, QLD 4807
Ph: (07) 4783 0880
Fax: (07) 4783 0896

Cardwell
Dr RF Warnock Centre
266 Victoria St, Cardwell QLD 4819
Ph: (07) 4720 3050
Fax: (07) 4720 3051

Charters Towers
137 - 139 Gill Street, Charters Towers, QLD 4820
Ph: (07) 4787 0345
Fax: (07) 4787 3255

Hughenden
12 Richmond Hill Drive, Hughenden, QLD, 4821
Ph: (07) 4741 2800
Fax: (07) 4741 1617

Ingham
2 - 16 McIlwraith Street, Ingham QLD, 4850
Ph: (07) 4720 3050
Fax: (07) 4720 3051

Richmond
Gallagher's Drive, Richmond QLD 4822
Ph: (07) 4741 6100
Fax: (07) 4741 3332

Townsville

Kirwan Health Campus
138 Thuringowa Drive Kirwan, QLD 4817
Ph: (07) 4433 9900
Fax: (07) 4433 9901

North Ward Health Campus
35 - 38 Gregory Street, North Ward, QLD 4810
Ph: (07) 4433 9300
Fax: (07) 4433 9302