NSW Emergency Dental Voucher Scheme

At St Ives Dental Group, we welcome eligible patients who have been issued an NSW Health Oral Health Fee for Service Scheme (OHFFSS) voucher for approved dental treatment.

The Emergency Dental Voucher Scheme helps eligible patients access approved dental treatment through participating private dental practices. It provides an alternative pathway for patients who have been assessed by the NSW public dental service and issued a voucher for treatment.

If you have received an NSW Health dental voucher, our team can help explain how to arrange an appointment, what information to provide and what to bring to your visit.

What Is an NSW Emergency Dental Voucher?

The NSW Health Oral Health Fee for Service Scheme (OHFFSS) allows eligible patients to receive authorised dental treatment through registered private dental practitioners.

Before receiving a voucher, patients must contact the NSW public dental service and undergo an assessment of their dental needs. Following this assessment, the public dental service may issue a voucher for treatment at a participating private practice.

There are three main voucher types:

  • Urgent Care Voucher: Covers authorised treatment for a specific urgent dental problem. Valid for one month.
  • General Care Voucher: Covers approved general dental treatment. Valid for three months.
  • Denture Care Voucher: Covers authorised full or partial denture treatment. Valid for three months.

The type of voucher you receive will depend on your dental needs and the outcome of your public dental assessment. Your voucher will outline the authorised treatment and its expiry date.

Who Is Eligible for an NSW Health Dental Voucher?

NSW emergency dental vouchers are issued through the public dental service following an assessment and triage process. Eligibility for public dental services generally depends on your age, residency, Medicare status and concession card.

Adults generally need to:

  • Be a resident of NSW
  • Be eligible for Medicare
  • Hold, or be listed as a dependent on, a valid Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

Children aged 0–17 generally need to:

  • Be a resident of NSW
  • Be eligible for Medicare
  • Have a parent or guardian complete the required Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) Bulk Billing Patient Consent Form

Meeting these eligibility requirements does not automatically mean you will receive a voucher. The public dental service will assess your dental concerns and determine the appropriate care pathway.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible, contact NSW public dental services to discuss your circumstances.

How Do I Get an NSW Emergency Dental Voucher?

You must first contact the NSW public dental service to be assessed for eligibility and treatment.

The process generally involves:

  1. Contact NSW public dental services: Call 1800 679 336 to discuss your dental concerns and eligibility for public dental care.
  2. Complete an assessment: You will be asked about your dental symptoms and treatment needs so your situation can be assessed and prioritised.
  3. Receive a voucher, if approved: If you are eligible and a voucher is considered appropriate, the public dental service will issue one outlining the authorised treatment.
  4. Arrange your dental appointment: Follow the instructions provided with your voucher to arrange treatment with a participating private dental practice.

A voucher cannot be requested directly from a private dental practice. You must first be assessed by the NSW public dental service and issued the appropriate voucher.

Accessing Dental Care Through an NSW Health Voucher

If you have received an OHFFSS voucher, you can contact our team at [Practice Name] to enquire about arranging an appointment.

When booking, let our team know that you have an NSW Health dental voucher and confirm whether it is an Urgent Care, General Care or Denture Care Voucher.

Please ensure you bring your voucher to your appointment so our can confirm the authorised before proceeding.

What Dental Treatment Does the Voucher Cover?

The treatment covered depends on the type of voucher issued and the services authorised by the NSW public dental service.

Your dentist will review your voucher and assess your dental needs to confirm the treatment that can be provided under the scheme.

If you require additional treatment outside the scope of your voucher, this cannot automatically be added to the authorised services. You may need to contact the NSW public dental service for further assessment and advice.

You will not be charged for treatment authorised and covered under your voucher. Any treatment outside the scheme must be discussed separately before proceeding.

How Long Is an NSW Health Dental Voucher Valid?

Each voucher has a set validity period, depending on the type issued:

  • Urgent Care Voucher: One month
  • General Care Voucher: Three months
  • Denture Care Voucher: Three months

Your voucher will include its expiry date, so it is important to arrange your appointment within the valid period.

NSW Emergency Dental Vouchers at St Ives Dental Group

At St Ives Dental Group, we welcome eligible patients with NSW Health dental vouchers, subject to our participation in the OHFFSS and the treatment authorised.

If you have received an Urgent Care, General Care or Denture Care Voucher, contact our team to arrange your appointment.

Please let us know which type of voucher you hold so we can confirm whether it can be accepted at our practice and explain how to arrange your treatment.

Our team can help you understand the next steps and make the process of accessing your authorised dental care as straightforward as possible.