Medicare Teen Dental Program

On 1 July 2008, the Australian Government introduced the Medicare Teen Dental Plan to provide financial assistance to eligible families to help assess the health of their teenagers’ teeth, and to introduce preventative strategies to encourage lifetime good oral health habits.

The Medicare Teen Dental Plan provides dental benefits of up to $153.45 per eligible teenager per calendar year, to help with the cost of a ‘preventive dental check’.

The term ‘preventive dental check’ refers to a preventive dental program for each patient comprising an oral examination and, where clinically required, x-rays, scaling, cleaning, and/or other preventive services. These clinical services are to be billed under item number 88000 in the Dental Benefits Schedule.

The program will be administered by Medicare Australia using a voucher system. Eligible teenagers aged 12-17 years will be sent their preventive dental check voucher usually in January or February.

Once the voucher has been received, an appointment for the teenager can be made with a private dental practice or a public dental clinic (including school-based clinics). The voucher can only be used during the calendar year in which it is issued. It must be presented at the time of the service and accompany all claims to Medicare Australia.

Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS)

This scheme may be discontinued by the Federal Government in 2012).

The CDDS Program provides for just over $4000 of Federal Government funding over 4 years to eligible patients. General Medical Practitioners determine the eligibility or otherwise of patients who are sufferers of Chronic Disease. If the GP determines a patient is eligible under the terms of the scheme, they refer the patient to the dentist of the patient’s choice. The dentist is able to treat the patient and be paid by Medicare provided he/she meets particular conditions. Prior to the commencement of treatment, the dentist must report the treatment plan to the referring Medical Practioner and also provide the patient with a written quote. The General Dentist has the option to charge above the Medicare rebated figure.

CDDS patients are welcome at Robert Duhig Dental.

Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)

Holders of DVA Gold Cards are welcome patients at. DVA patients are not obligated to pay a gap between DVA fees and practice fees. DVA patients are able to access most dental services, although there are restrictions on the frequency of particular items such as Dentures. More complicated Crown and Bridge procedures are allowed within a particular dollar limit per year.

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