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

Public dental services

The following routine and emergency dental services are covered by the Northern Territory's free public dental system.

Your dentist will tell you which services are suitable for you. Not all treatments are appropriate for all patients.

  • pain and trauma management
  • emergency care
  • restorative fillings and repairs
  • endodontics
  • extractions
  • oral hygiene
  • oral health promotion
  • denture services
  • dental check ups.

Specialist services include:

  • orthodontics
  • oral surgery
  • dental treatment in hospital under general anaesthetic
  • special needs dentistry.

Dental prosthetists:

  • education, assessment, treatment, management and provision of removable dentures and mouthguards
  • ensure proper fitting and maintenance of dental prostheses.

Dental/Oral health therapists:

  • dental examinations
  • radiographs
  • restoration
  • preventive treatments
  • hygiene
  • tooth extraction
  • oral health promotion and education
  • specialist referrals to eligible clients.

Oral health promotion planning and evaluation officer:

  • planning, development, implementation and evaluation of oral health promotion programs and resources.

Complain about a public dental service

Dental patients have the same healthcare rights as other patients.

Find out about how to make a complaint on the Department of Health website.

Private dentists

You can pay to access private dental care across the Northern Territory.

If you have private health insurance check with your provider to see what you can claim.

Contact

For more information contact your community dental clinic.


How to make an appointment

If you live in Central Australia you can make a dental appointment by calling Oral Health Services on (08) 8951 6713. 

If you live in the Top End you can make a dental appointment by calling Oral Health Services on (08) 8922 6466. 

You can also go to one of the community dental clinics to make an appointment.

When you make your appointment

You must provide all of the following information: 

  • name
  • date of birth
  • Indigenous status
  • address
  • country of birth
  • language spoken.

When you call, you must give the reason for your call and your Medicare number and expiry date. If you are an adult, you will also be asked for either:

  • your healthcare card number and expiry date
  • or your pension concession card number and expiry date.

You must bring your card to your appointment.

Staff will discuss the options, benefits and risks with you before they start any treatment.

Waiting list

Demand for adult dental services is high so you may need to join a waiting list. Patients with the most urgent problems are seen first.

Cancelling or missing your appointment

If you do not turn up for your appointment you may have to wait longer for a new one. 

If you need to cancel your appointment you should give reasonable notice so your appointment can be given to another patient.


Dental clinic contacts

Children can visit any of the school-based dental clinics from age 0 to until they finish primary school (year 6).

Once your child starts year 7, they must be seen at one of the community dental clinics.

School dental clinics

Find school dental clinics in central Australia and Top End below.

Central Australia

Call 08 8951 6713 to make an appointment at one of the following school dental clinics in central Australia.

SchoolAddressMap
Braitling Primary School 80 Head Street
Braitling NT 0870
View in Google Maps
Gillen Primary School 55 Milner Road
Gillen NT 0870
View in Google Maps
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College (Bath Street campus)9 Bath Street
Alice Springs NT 0870        
View in Google Maps
Sadadeen Primary School Spearwood Road
Sadadeen NT 0870 
View in Google Maps
Tennant Creek Primary School 31 Paterson Street
Tennant Creek NT 0860
View in Google Maps

Top End

Call 08 8922 6466 to make an appointment at one of the following school dental clinics in the Top End.

SchoolAddressMap
Anula Primary School 73 Yanyula Drive
Anula NT 0812
View in Google Maps
Bakewell Primary School Forrest Parade
Bakewell NT 0832
View in Google Maps
Driver Primary School 37 Driver Avenue
Driver NT 0830
View in Google Maps
Karama Primary School 37 Livistona Road
Karama NT 0812
View in Google Maps
Manunda Terrace Primary School 31 Manunda Terrace
Karama NT 0812
View in Google Maps
Moulden Park Primary School 103 Bonson Crescent
Moulden NT 0830
View in Google Maps
Nightcliff Primary School Cunjevoi Crescent 
Nightcliff NT 0810
View in Google Maps
Parap Primary School Urquhart Street
Parap NT 0820
View in Google Maps
Stuart Park Primary School Nudl Street
Stuart Park NT 0820
View in Google Maps
Wagaman Primary School 35 Wagaman Terrace
Wagaman NT 0812
View in Google Maps
Wanguri Primary School 46 Gsell Street
Wanguri NT 0810
View in Google Maps

Community dental clinics

Families and children who have finished primary school can visit a community dental clinic below.

Clinic

Address

Phone

Map
Alice Springs - Flynn Drive Community Health Centre10 Flynn Drive
Gillen NT 0870
08 89516 713View in Google Maps
Darwin - Oral Health Services9 Scaturchio Street
Casuarina NT 0810
08 8922 6466View in Google Maps
Gove Dental ClinicEndeavour Square
Nhulunbuy NT 0880
08 8922 6466View in Google Maps
Katherine Dental ClinicBig Rivers Government Centre
5 First Street
Katherine NT 0850
08 8922 6466View in Google Maps
Palmerston Dental Clinic3 Gurd Street
Farrar NT 0830
08 8922 6466View in Google Maps
Tennant Creek visiting dental serviceTennant Creek Hospital
45 Schmidt Street
Tennant Creek NT 0860
08 8951 6713View in Google Maps

Visiting dental services in remote towns

If you live in a remote town you can access dental services from visiting and mobile dental clinics. To find out when dentists are visiting your town, contact your local remote health clinic

Remote towns with visiting dental services

  • Alcoota
  • Ali Curung
  • Alyangula
  • Ampilatwatja
  • Angurugu
  • Areyonga
  • Barunga
  • Beswick
  • Bonya
  • Borroloola
  • Bulman
  • Canteen Creek
  • Daly River
  • Docker River
  • Elliott
  • Engawala
  • Epenarra
  • Finke
  • Galiwinku
  • Gapuwiyak
  • Haasts Bluff
  • Harts Range
  • Hermannsberg
  • Imanpa
  • Jabiru
  • Jilkminggan
  • Kalkarindji
  • Kings Canyon
  • Kintore
  • Lajamanu
  • Lake Nash
  • Laramba
  • Maningrida
  • Mataranka
  • Milikapiti
  • Milingimbi
  • Minjilang
  • Minyerri
  • Mt Liebig
  • Mutitjulu
  • Nguiu
  • Ngukurr
  • Nhulunbuy
  • Numbulwar
  • Nyrippi
  • Oenpelli
  • Palumpa
  • Papunya
  • Peppimenarti
  • Pigeon Hole
  • Pirlangimpi
  • Ramingining
  • Santa Teresa
  • Tara
  • Tennant Creek
  • Timber Creek
  • Ti Tree
  • Titjikala
  • Utopia
  • Wadeye
  • Wallace Rockhole
  • Warruwi
  • Willowra
  • Wilora
  • Yarralin
  • Yirrkala
  • Yuelamu
  • Yuendumu
  • Yulara

Get a free mouthguard for your child

A mouthguard can help prevent damage or loss of teeth and broken jaws when playing a contact sport.

It should be worn during training and while playing.

A custom-made mouthguard is recommended because it is designed to fit your mouth, providing better protection.

Your child can get a custom-mouthguard from a private dentist or from Oral Health Services.

Eligibility

To qualify for a free mouthguard, your child must have:

  • a medicare card
  • a recent oral health examination and any dental decay treated
  • 4 upper front fully grown permanent teeth
  • a letter from their sports coach or registration receipt from a sporting club.

Oral Health Services provides a maximum of 2 mouthguards per child.

If your child does not quality, you can use a store bought self-moulding mouthguard or make an appointment with a private dental clinic.

Make an appointment

Make an appointment with Oral Health Services, call Darwin, Katherine and Gove 08 8922 6466 or Alice Springs 08 8951 6713.

At your appointment a mold of your child's teeth will be taken and sent to a laboratory.

The mouthguard will be ready for collection in a couple of weeks.

You can purchase store bought varieties to use in between fittings.

If your child has braces, appliances or any upcoming orthodontic treatment, talk to your orthodontist about mouthguard options.