Eligibility for public dental services
You are eligible if you meet one or more of the following criterias below.
Age and school attendance
- Under 18 years old.
- Over 18 years old but attending full-time primary or secondary school.
Card holders
Hold or are listed as a dependent on:
- pensioner concession card
- health care card
- seniors health card
- gold or white repatriation health care card.
Remote locations and emergency situations
- Aboriginal people living in a remote community.
- Anyone in a remote location with an emergency dental situation - as determined by a dental practitioner or referring health practitioner.
- Residents of remote communities in adjacent states to NT - may be granted temporary eligibility and limited urgent care as determined by the relevant oral health Clinical Manager.
People with additional needs
- Listed on NT Health Rheumatic Heart Disease Register.
- Undergoing cancer therapy and require supportive oral care.
- Requiring transplant surgery.
- Undergoing renal dialysis.
- With serious mental health issues.
- With a disability that requires supportive oral care.
- Actively enrolled in a program for substance misuse treatment.
- Living in a full-time residential aged care facility.
- Experiencing or at risk of domestic or sexual violence.
- Experiencing homelessness.
- Refugees and asylum seekers.
- Public hospital inpatients.
- Housed in a correctional facility.
Orthodontic services
To receive orthodontic services, in addition to the above, you must also meet all of the following:
- holder or dependant of a Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card
- meet strict clinical criteria based on clinical assessment of a public orthodontist or dentist
- your orthodontic treatment will be completed by the age of 18.
For more information contact Oral Health Services.
Change of eligibility
If your eligibility status changes while you are receiving dental care, you will remain eligible until your dentist completes the necessary treatment.
Private dentists
If you are not eligible, you can pay to access private dental care. If you have private health insurance check with your provider to see what you can claim.
To find a private provider, go to the Health Direct website.