School Dental – Noarlunga

[Leeds Lass]

Does anybody use the school Dental Services at Noarlunga? Just wanted to know what they were like and if any good?

 

Thanks.

[Guest ozlander]

Yes we use them, they are brilliant. Picked up on something that was totally ignored in uk and could have had bad consequences. Cost $41 for the year or free if you hold a health care card.

The staff are brill.

well worth every dollar

[Guest Pop]

Used the same facility in prospect with Medicare card. Paid 42 dollars for an year 2014

[Leeds Lass]

Thanks guys, it's good to know these things before you attend. I know dental is alot better here than the UK having had quite a lot of treatment myself here.

 

Have a good day!

[Blossom]

I've never heard of this. Very interesting.

[Blossom]

Can anyone use these services? It isn't totally clear from their websites.

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

The dental services at Noarlunga health village used to be old and antiquated.

They also had a dental clinic at Christies Beach primary school which served all primary and high school pupils. This clinic has now moved to the upgraded Noarlunga health village.

The Noarlunga dental clinic does have a long waiting list / period before you can get to see a dentist. (around 3 months) However if you are in pain you are a priority case and they will deal with you straight away even if they send you to the Marion clinic or Adelaide clinic. An adult needs to be on a health care card (low income earner or family benefit recipient for example).

You can enquire for details.

The staff are so helpful and the service is great. I know so many people who have moved here and use the service especially for the children.

My own grandchildren go there and I take them to their appointments.

 

Tamara

[Guest jorose]

There is no requirement to be a Pension Concession Card (PCC) or a Healthcare Card (HCC) holder to use the School Dental Service which is for under 18s. If children don't have a PCC or HCC in their name and the family receives Family Tax Benefit A, under the new Medicare Child Dental Benefit Scheme (CDBS) then there are no fees to pay at the school clinics.. CDBS allocates $1000 per child to be used over a two year calendar period. This money can be used privately or publicly (School Dental) but does exclude some services such as orthodontics, general anaesthetics. There will be no co-payments incurred for the child under this scheme when using the School Dental Service as all fees are bulk billed to Medicare. Additionally, once the $1000 is exhausted the service will continue to bulk bill. Some private practices may charge a gap payment and may also charge full price once the fee is exhausted. For those children who fall into the category of a non-card holder and not in receipt of Family Tax Benefit A there is a "per course of care" payment of $42. Complex orthodontics needing specialised treatment are not included in this fee.

Now to the adult service, otherwise known as Community Dental Service. Patients do need to be PCC or HCC holders. To receive general care patients are placed on a waiting list (times vary from clinic to clinic) or if they have a complex medical history are placed on an annual recall. Most patients are not guaranteed emergency care; only those with complex medical histories and some other minorities. Most patients are triaged for emergency appointment and are then booked according to priority. If it is not deemed to be a priority then the patient has to wait on the waiting list but has the option of being re-triaged if the problem worsens or seek care privately if they do not want to wait. A one off emergency appointment is $54 (if not at the top of the waiting list yet) but if further appointments are needed to complete a root treatment or to add a tooth on a denture after an extraction then there would be further charges. A general course of care would incur a maximum cost of $152 but again this has some exclusions such as crowns and dentures.

Hope that helps.