Queensland Health Oral Health Services provide a wide range of dental services to eligible patients within the Townsville Hospital and Health Service and to visiting eligible Queensland residents.

Oral Health Services across the Townsville Hospital and Health Service are provided from community/hospital-based clinics in Townsville, Palm Island, Ayr, Charters Towers, Hughenden, Richmond, Cardwell, and Ingham

• Townsville Correctional Centres & Cleveland Youth Detention Centre
• Fixed School clinics in some locations
• Mobile clinics based in Townsville, Ayr, Home Hill, Charters Towers, and Ingham, servicing schools within the boundaries of the Townsville Hospital and Health Service
• Nursing Homes
• The Townsville Hospital Clinic ELIGIBILITY – Adults:  Public funded Oral Health Services are available to Queensland residents who are in receipt of benefits from either a:
  • Health Care Card (HCC)
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) issued by Centrelink
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) issued by Department of Veteran’s Affairs
  • Queensland Seniors’ Card (QDC)
  • Commonwealth Senior Health Card (QSC)

For residents issued with these cards and currently receiving benefits, eligibility is extended to their dependants named on the card.  A current card showing your name and Queensland residential address must be presented to reception staff upon arrival for your appointment.  Identification may also be required.  Colour-coded Veterans’ Cards and Medicare Cards are not accepted.

ALL ADULT EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS including denture problems for eligible adults are to be made through the Oral Health Call cenre – phone 1300300850  Appointments will be given according to priority of care (NB the call centre is staffed Mon; Tues; Thurs & Fri 7.30am – 4.00pm & Wed 7.30am – 3.00pm (*excluding public holidays)

ELIGIBILITY – Children:  For children to be eligible to receive Queensland Health publicly funded oral health services they must meet the following criteria

• Queensland resident children four years of age or older who have not completed Year 10 of secondary school are universally eligible for publicly funded oral health care
• Children younger than four years of age and those who have completed Year 10 of secondary school are eligible if they are dependants of current concession care holders or hold a concession card themselves.

EXTENDED ELIGIBILITY – MEDICARE CHILD DENTAL BENEFITS SCHEDULE (CDBS) Further information about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule 1 can be found via the Australian Government Department of Human Services site:  www.humanservices.qov.au/customer/services/medicare/child-dental-benefits-schedule

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ORAL HEALTH SERVICES (previously referred to as the School Dental Service/Program) is provided to school children from four years of age to Year 10, using a number of mobile dental vans and fixed clinics at schools throughout the Townsville Hospital and Health Service area

COMPLEX DENTAL SERVICES including certain types of dentures and crowns and treatment under general anaesthesia are provided in specific cases with the specific approval of the Director of Oral Health Services/Principal Dental Officer Referral centre for orthodontic and oral surgical specialists also provided.

GENERAL TREATMENT – by appointment system (waitlists) for general treatment, if eligible (please contact the Oral Health Call Centre phone: 1300 300 850) REFERRAL PROCEDURE – If immediate treatment is required, telephone 1300 300 850 (during call centre opening hours as above).  The clinics are not open on weekends or on public holidays.

AFTER HOURS – If a dental problem develops outside clinic hours please phone the Townsville Hospital on 07 44331111 for advice or contact your GP.

Transport to and from dental clinics is the responsibility of each individual client.