Dental services

Eligibility for free dental services

You can get free public dental services in the Northern Territory if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • under 18 years old, still in school and don't work full time
  • part of the Australian Government's cleft lip and cleft palate scheme, for more information go to Services Australia website
  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card
  • live more than 100 km away from the nearest dental service in a remote area, and you need emergency dental care but don't have access to private dental services, you can receive care from the visiting dental team.

To receive free 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 the Oral Health Services in Alice Springs 08 8951 6713 or Darwin 08 8922 6466.

If your eligibility status changes

If your eligibility status changes during a short course of care, such as routine fillings, your entitlement to treatment won't change.

If your eligibility status changes during a long course of care, such as during orthodontics, root canal treatment, prosthetics or periodontics, you will be referred to the private health sector after immediate treatment is completed.

Residents of the NT for more than six monthsEmergency servicesGeneral services
School aged childrenYesYes
Below school agedYesYes 
Residents living in the NT for less than six monthsEmergency servicesGeneral services
School aged childrenYesNo
Below school aged childrenYesNo
Cleft lip/palate scheme membersYesYes
Non-Australian residentsEmergency servicesGeneral services
Tourist visa (676)NoNo
Dependants of holders of temporary/ interim Medicare cardsYesYes
457 visa (employer/visa holder responsible for healthcare costs)NoNo
Refugees within six months of arrivalYesYes
Trauma and/or torture victimYesYes
Overseas students (570 - 576)NoNo
Temporary residence (non business) 406 - 423NoNo
Employer sponsored (176/886 or 475/487)NoNo

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