Booking an appointment at the nearest public dental clinic
General dental care and emergency dental care is available free of charge to all eligible children and young people in Queensland. This includes appointments for check-ups, preventive care, fillings and toothaches or accidents and emergencies.
Free dental care is available for children and adolescents who are Queensland residents and who are:
- in Prep (aged over 4 years) through to year 10
- years 11 and 12 with a current Centrelink Card, Healthcare or Pension Card
- aged 0–4 years whose parents have a current Centrelink Card, Healthcare or Pension Card
- Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule eligible patients
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Commonwealth-funded scheme that covers part or the full cost of certain dental services for children. To check whether you or your child is eligible to be able to claim benefits, visit the Child Dental Benefits Schedule website. You can use your CDBS benefit at a private dental practice or a Queensland Health dental clinic. The treating clinician will explain the recommended treatment plan and ask you to complete a Bulk Billing Consent Form before starting care.
Yes, a parent or legal guardian must be present for the child’s initial appointment where a medical history and consent form is required to be completed. You may print and fill this form prior to your appointment if you wish. https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/parental-consent-med-dental-medical.pdf After the first appointment the oral health team will let you know if you need to attend with your child. A legal guardian may be required to provide appropriate paperwork before the appointment can be started.
Dental care is provided at oral health facilities or on-site at schools at a fixed dental clinic or mobile dental clinic.
You can find information for other local community dental clinics by contacting the Oral Health Call Centre on 1300 300 850.
Your child’s dental care will be provided by experienced Queensland Health registered dental practitioners (oral health therapists, dental therapists or dental officers) and qualified dental assistants.
Interpreters can be arranged to attend dental appointments if required. A parent or guardian should indicate on their child’s consent form whether this service is required.
There are no costs for children who receive care through public dental services in QLD. If your child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), you will be asked to sign a form allowing us to bulk-bill care provided to your child. All children seen by public dental services receive the same high-quality care regardless of their eligibility for CDBS and no fees are charged, even if CDBS benefits have been fully used up.
If your child requires emergency dental treatment contact the Oral Health Call Centre on 1300 300 850. If your child is experiencing facial swelling, please seek emergency care at a hospital.