NSW Public Dental Services

Tips to care for your teeth

Eat Well• Enjoyawidevarietyofhealthyfoods• Avoidsnackingonsugaryandstickyfoods

Drink Well• Tapwaterisbesttodrink• Avoidacidicorsugarydrinks

Clean Well• Brushteethtwiceadaywithfluoride

toothpaste,especiallybeforebed

Play Well• Protectyourteethwithamouthguardor

full-facehelmetwhenplayingsport

Stay Well• Haveregulardentalcheck-ups• Avoidsmoking• Limitalcohol• Exerciseregularly

What is a dental emergency?• Bleedinginthemouththatwillnotstop.

• Swellingofthefacefromatoothinfection.

• Recentinjurytoyourteeth.

What should I do?• Afterhoursyoushouldgotoyourlocal

hospital’semergencydepartment.

• DuringworkinghoursyoushouldcallyourLocalHealthDistrictpublicdentalcallcentre.

Further copies can be downloaded from NSW Health website:

www.health.nsw.gov.au/cohs/resources.asp

Hard copies available from theBetter Health Centre Publications Warehouse

(02) 9887 5450

SHPN (COHs) 130257 August 2017

what you need to know

caring for your health and wellbeing

Local Health

DistrictPhone Number

Sydney

South Western Sydney(02) 9293 3333

South Eastern Sydney 1300 134 226

1300 369 651

Northern NSW

Mid North Coast

Hunter New England

1300 651 625

Central Coast 1300 789 404

Murrumbidgee

Southern NSW1800 450 046

Western Sydney (02) 8890 6766

Nepean Blue Mountains

Far West

Western NSW

Illawarra Shoalhaven

Northern Sydney 1300 732 503

NSW Public Dental ServicePhone Numbers

(02) 4734 2387

or 1300 769 221

(02) 6809 9200

or 1300 552 626

play well stay well

What do I need to know?You need to bring your current concessionandMedicarecardstoreceivetreatment.

Yourfirstvisitwillusuallyinvolveacheckofyourdentalneeds.Youmayreceivesomedentalcare,butyoushouldnotexpectyourteethtobefullyfixedatyourfirstvisit.

Ifyourequirefurtherdentalcare,youwillbeeither: given an appointment, placed onawaiting list, or givena voucher to seeaprivate dentist, depending on your dentalneeds.

Generally,publicdental servicesareunableto provide crowns, implants or root canaltherapyonbackteeth.

What should I do if I cannot get to my appointment?You must ring your Local Health Districtdentalcallcentretochangeorcancelyourappointment.

Ifyoufail toattendyourappointment,ordonotcalltochangeit,yourtreatmentmightbecancelledbytheLocalHealthDistrict.

You should let the Local Health District public dental call centre know if you change your address or phone number.

drink well

eat well

clean well

Who can get free dental care?FreedentalcareisavailableatNSWpublicdentalclinicsfor:

• allchildrenunder18yearsofage.

• adultswhoholdanyofthefollowingCentrelinkconcessioncards

• anyonelistedonyourcardisalsoeligibleforfreepublicoralhealthcare.

All patients must be eligible for Medicare and should have a valid Medicare card. For Medicare information call 13 20 11.

How do I make a dental appointment?RingyourLocalHealthDistrictpublicdentalcallcentrenumber,listedontheback.

What happens when I ring?Thecallcentrestaffwillask:• foryourconcessionandMedicarecard

numbers

• questionsaboutyourteethsotheycangiveyouanappointmentorplaceyouonawaitinglist,dependingonyourdentalneed.

Theappointmentofferedmaynotbeatyourclosestclinicbutitmaygiveyoutheearliestappointment.

Youcanchoosetogotoyourclosestclinicbutyoumayneedtowaitforanappointment.

What should I do if I need an Interpreter or Aboriginal Liaison Officer?Ask the call centre staff to arrange anInterpreterorAboriginalLiaisonOfficer/HealthWorkertobepresentatyourappointment.

YoucanalsousetheNationalInterpreterServiceon13 14 50.