Dental services

Aim

To guide staff regarding dental services at Perth Children’s Hospital.

Dental Service at Perth Children’s Hospital

• The dental clinic is located on the Ground level, Clinic C and provides dental treatment for medically compromised children
• Visiting staff include: sessional dentists, paediatric dentists, periodontists, orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons
• Children are eligible for continuing dental care at PCH if they suffer from a chronic medical condition which would put them at risk if treated outside a tertiary hospital
• Consider referral to Keeping Kids in No Distress (KKIND) they can assess and provide support to children prior to admission to PCH for Dental Services including surgery. An e-referral is required.
• Treatment at the Perth Children's Hospital Dental department is prioritised according to the degree to which a child’s medical condition places them at increased risk of adverse outcome if they are treated outside of a teaching hospital, and the degree to which their medical condition has associated dental pathology
• Being seen in another PCH medical clinic or having a named medical condition does not guarantee eligibility.
  • Financial status does not influence decisions on eligibility to access tertiary dental services at PCH.
  • The dental clinic staff will provide assessment and basic emergency management of any orodental emergency for any child presenting to PCH Emergency Department.
• The dental clinic staff, however, are available for management of any orodental emergency for any child presenting to PCH
• Dental department clinicians are available at all times for consultation on request.
• During clinic hours (0800 ‐ 1600, Monday to Friday) patients may be sent to the Dental clinic after first contacting 6456 3727 to ascertain that a Dentist is on duty at that time
  • If a dentist is unavailable, a request should be made to speak with the Oral Health Therapist who will then advise what action should be taken.
• An emergency roster of on‐call dentists is available at the switchboard. This is a 24‐hour, 365 day a year service. A dental opinion should be sought if significant emergencies arise out of hours.

Referrals

• Clinical matters can be discussed with the duty Paediatric Dental Registrar on 6456 4147 or via PCH switchboard or fax on 6456 2048.
• Email PCH Outpatients – Dental.
•  Referrals via eReferrals, or via email to PCH Referrals.

Alternative dental services for ineligible children (non‐emergency dental management)

• Any family may seek dental treatment for their child with a general practitioner Dentist, or with a Specialist Paediatric Dentist (specialist children’s dentist). Refer to the Dental Services External to PCH document for further information.
• Children aged 5 years of age or older and enrolled in a government or private school are eligible for treatment via the School Dental Service (SDS).
  • Dental Therapy Centres are distributed on the campuses of public schools across the metropolitan area and regional centres.
  • All treatment provided by the SDS is at no charge.
• Children who have a Healthcare Card can access specialist paediatric dental care at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (OHCWA).
  • Treatment at OHCWA is subsidised on a means‐tested basis.
  • In some cases, treatment may be provided at no charge.
• Derbarl Yerrigan provides a free dental service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children over the age of 13 years at the East Perth Clinic. 

This document can be made available in alternative formats on request for a person with a disability.