Oral Health (Dental)
Award winning dental and oral health services, provided in a friendly, modern environment.
North Richmond Community Health provides award-winning oral health services in Richmond, North Fitzroy, interstate and internationally. Rather than taking a ‘drill and fill’ approach, we focus on preventative and holistic care to give you the best possible value and long-lasting improvements in your health.
Our services are:
- available to public (eligibility criteria applicable for both priority and non-priority groups)
- private (full fee) paying patients
- non-judgmental
- culturally sensitive
- available in languages other than English.
What we provide:
- Preventative Dental Care – dental examinations and teeth cleaning
- Fillings, fissure sealants
- Children’s oral health care including Hall Technique crowns
- Root Canal Treatment
- Crowns
- Extractions
- Dentures with our Dental Prosthetists.
Eligibility
Priority access to dental care
If you are eligible for public dental services, you can receive priority access to our dental care.
The following groups have priority access to care*:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Children (0-17 years) and young people
- Homeless people and people at risk of homelessness
- Pregnant women who are healthcare or pension card holders
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Registered clients of mental health and disability services.
If you meet the above criteria, please tell the intake team when you call to make an appointment. An application and letter of support from the appropriate professional may be required. A co-payment or no fees may apply for some priority access groups.
Our Fees
Public dental services
Public dental patients eligible for subsidised care, the following fees* apply as of 1 Septmeber 2023:
- Emergency care: Flat fee of $31.50 per course of care.
- General care: Fee of $31.50 per visit per course of care, to a maximum fee of $126.00 per course of care.
- Denture Care: $76.00 per denture, capped at $152.00 for a full upper and lower denture.
- Children 0 – 12 years not dependants or holders of concession cards or do not attend a Government school, e.g. not eligible for Smile Squad: Flat fee of $38.00 per child for a general course of care. Fees per family will not exceed $152.00.
Specialist dental services: if you require specialist dental care that we do not offer, you will be referred to the Dental Hospital in Carlton.
Denture care
Dentures can be made and fitted for people who no longer have any natural teeth, under the public dental scheme. If you still have natural teeth, you will need to access general dental care first. You may be put on a waiting list to receive dentures.
*Fees are subject to change (usually taking effect once a year).
Private dental services
A guideline of fees are listed below and your treatment needs may vary:
- New patient examination and teeth cleaning: $146 (excluding fluoride and x-rays).
- Pain assessment, including tooth-specific exam, x-ray, and diagnostic testing: approximately $70.
- Fillings range from $126 to $264 each.
We offer convenient on-the-spot health insurance claims through Hicaps, and gap payments can be made by card or cash (excluding Amex).
If your dental requirements call for specialised attention, we will be more than happy to arrange a referral letter to a specialist.
Our private practice currently only operates on:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm – 6:30pm
- Wednesdays from 9 am – 12:30 pm
Child Dental Benefit Schedule
We welcome inquiries about the Government’s Child Dental Benefit Schedule (or CDBS). This is a government initiative providing assistance for basic dental care to promote healthy smiles in children.
Your child may be able to access up to $1,000 of dental services over a 2 year period with no out of pocket expense. The services are simply bulk billed through Medicare.
Eligibility for CDBS
Children who are 2-17 years of age who currently receive Family Tax Benefit A or other relevant Australian Government payments such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment Special Benefit, Carer Payment, Double Orphan Pension, Veteran’s Children Education Scheme, if the child is 16 or over Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (if the child is 16 or over).
Eligible families receive a letter to confirm eligibility from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services in January of each year.
If you’d like to know more about the CDBS, please refer to the CDBS FAQ page HERE.
Cancellations
If you can’t make your appointment, please contact us within 24 hours of your scheduled time. There is a fee of up to $50 for cancellations and no show. The fee must be paid before we can arrange any further appointments.
Interpreters
Telephone and on-site interpreters can be arranged in any language at no cost to public clients.
Key information
Make an appointment
Contact
Phone: (03) 9418 9873
Fax: (03) 9428 2269
Email: receptiondental@nrch.com.au
Visit us:
North Richmond Community Health
Level 1, 23 Lennox St Richmond, VIC 3121
Appointment hours
|
Monday |
9am – 4pm |
|
Tuesday |
9am – 6.30pm |
|
Wednesday |
9am – 4pm |
|
Thursday |
9am – 6.30pm |
|
Friday |
9am – 4pm |
|
Saturday |
Closed |
|
Sunday |
Closed |
Other Oral Health Projects
Chompers
Chompers is a free outreach school dental program developed by North Richmond Community Health. Through Chompers, we provide oral health assessments and oral health and nutrition education to our local schools and early learning centres in the City of Yarra.
Chompers’ overall aim is to increase access to dental care to families in the City of Yarra and improve the oral health of children and young adolescents by working collaboratively with the community. The Chompers team consists of Oral Health Therapists and Dental Assistants. Together, we provide individual oral health assessments for all consenting children and oral health and nutrition education. We cover topics like healthy eating, dental disease, tooth brushing and understanding plaque.
Since the program began in 2014, the Chompers team has worked with 15 primary schools and 20 early learning centres within the City of Yarra – having provided more than 12,000 oral examinations, averaging to about 1,300 individual examinations yearly.
To learn more, contact our oral health team:
E-mail: teeth@nrch.com.au
Smile Squad
Smile Squad is the Victorian Government’s free school dental program providing free dental care to Victorian government primary, secondary and specialist schools.
Since the program rolled out in 2021, the Smile Squad team has worked with 10 primary schools and 4 secondary schools within the City of Yarra – having provided more than 3,200 oral examinations, averaging to about 1,500 individual examinations yearly.
Smile Squad saves parents time and money as examinations and any required treatment will be carried out on school grounds, during school hours. Regular dental checks can prevent or address dental health issues before they become serious. Smile Squad ensures that students receive free dental care regularly, helping to improve dental health and to prevent or address dental health issues before they become serious.
Smile Squad services include:
- Examination (check-up) and x-rays when required
- Dental health and dietary advice
- Application of fluoride varnish
- Fissure sealants
- Scale and clean
- Restorations and simple extractions
- Take-home dental packs
Your friendly Smile Squad staff include oral health therapists, dental therapists, oral health educators, dental assistants, dentists and specialists.
Smile Squad is being led by the Department of Health and Dental Health Services Victoria, with input from the Department of Education and is delivered by North Richmond Community Health to the local school catchment.
To learn more, contact our oral health team:
Email: teeth@nrch.com.au
Or visit: Smile Squad | health.vic.gov.au
Pearly Whites Aged Care Dental Program
Pearly Whites is an outreach dental program providing individual oral health assessments and preventive-based care and information to Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) residents.
Pearly Whites program aims to:
- improve the oral health of residents
- achieve comfort and function
- increase oral health knowledge
- establish referral pathways
- support facilities to meet aged care oral health accreditation requirements.
How do we deliver the Pearly Whites program?
- An information pack is provided to the RACF
- Residents consenting to oral health care will have assessments booked in advance
- Oral health practitioners conduct individual dental assessments for residents
- A report is provided for each resident and a summary report for the facility.
How do we support RACF staff and residents?
- Our oral health educator will provide facility staff education sessions or alternatively an online oral health training module may be provided.
Follow-up visits:
- Follow-up sessions will be undertaken annually, or as required by the facility and/or individual resident needs
- Assistance will be provided with referrals should further dental treatment be recommended
- Preventative care and advice will be provided to residents at each visit.
For more information about our Pearly Whites aged care dental program please email us at teeth@nrch.com.au .
Murray Valley Aborginal Co-operative (MVAC)
The Oral Health Program has been providing oral health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative (MVAC), Robinvale since 2005.
The dental team visits MVAC on a monthly basis to provide preventative and restorative dental care in the Robinvale clinic as well as in the local preschool, primary and secondary school settings.
Access to dental care in Mildura is limited due to a reduced workforce in the dental industry and only to those who can afford to travel and pay for private dental care. NRCH facilitates access to culturally safe and free oral health care in two purpose built dental rooms.
To learn more, contact our oral health team at teeth@nrch.com.au .
Diabetes and Oral Health Research
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has recorded 1 million Australians diagnosed with diabetes in 2017 and 2018. Periodontal diseases have been associated with approximately 20-50% of people with diabetes, with the condition leading to tooth loss, reduced or loss of oral function, poor nutrition, and poor quality of life.
Our oral health program is well underway with their Diabetes and Oral Health Research project. The research project aims to improve diabetes and oral health management through interprofessional collaboration between general medical and oral health practitioners. The current focus of the Diabetes and Oral Health Research project is on the validation of the Periodontal Risk Assessment tool.
Our Diabetes Educator and Primary Health Care Nurses will complete the screening tool on their patients to ascertain if the tool determines risk to periodontitis. The same patient will undergo a dental assessment by an Oral Health Practitioner using the community periodontal index treatment needs (CPITN) index to record the condition of the gums and periodontal tissues in six different sites inside the mouth.
To learn more, contact our oral health team:
E-mail: teeth@nrch.com.au
Our Team
Angie Sabra
Program Manager – Oral Health
Angie has spent more than 20 years in the private sector of the dental industry, working alongside dentists clinically and in Leadership roles. In 2021 she obtained an Masters in Business Administration which ultimately led her to pursue working in the public sector.
As a child growing up in a low socio-economic area, Angie has firsthand experience of the limitations that clients at NRCH experience and is working towards bridging the gap by reducing our waitlists and increasing access to care.
The ability to chew food confidently and be pain free should be an expectation not an exception in our Country. Angie’s core values of equity and compassion drive her to build better systems within our dental program to support oral health education of our youth and adult population, supporting our aging population through the redevelopment of our Pearly Whites Program and ensuring comfort and function for all of NRCH’s clients.
Outside of her work Angie enjoys spending time with family, friends, travelling the world, and most importantly experiencing all of the great food and coffee that Melbourne has to offer.
Kavitha Sivasithamparam
Senior Dentist
Dr Kavitha Sivasithamparam is a senior dentist at Oral Health Program at North Richmond Community Health. Kavitha graduated in 2003 with Honours from University of Queensland.
Kavitha has been working at NRCH since 2004, joined as a new graduate dentist and made her way into senior dentistry. NRCH gave her a strong platform for professional development and research.
Kavitha has a strong view about preventive based care for the geriatric population.
Outside of dentistry Kavitha creates art!
Contributions to Research:
- Protocol for the Hall Technique study: A trial to measure clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of stainless steel crowns for dental caries restoration in primary molars in young children.
- Endodontic sequelae of Dental erosion Published in Australian Dental Journal 2003;48(2):97-101
- Dental erosion in Asthma: a case control study from South East Queensland.
Published in Australian Dental Journal 2002;47(4): 298-303. - Diet Analysis and Advice for Oral Health in Asthmatic Children
(Submitted for publication)
Muzna Kashif
Reception Team Leader
Muzna joined the Oral Health Program as the Dental Reception Team Leader in 2023. With over a decade of experience as a dentist in Pakistan, Muzna and her family moved to Australia 12 years ago. Muzna brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role alongside her professional pursuits, Muzna runs a successful home-based baking business, showcasing her passion for culinary delights.
As the Dental Reception Team Leader, Muzna is committed to ensuring a seamless and pleasant experience for all patients. Her primary focus is on reducing wait times and optimising patient flow, ensuring that each individual receives timely and efficient care. Muzna also manages relationships with Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative (MVAC) clients, striving to meet their specific needs while maintaining strong partnerships.
Outside of work, Muzna loves to embark on adventures and explore new places. She believes that experiencing different cultures and environments enriches her perspective and helps her grow both personally and professionally. Above all, Muzna cherishes quality time spent with her family, fostering a loving and supportive environment.
With her dental background, dedication to patient satisfaction, and entrepreneurial spirit in her baking business, Muzna is an asset to the Oral Health Program team. She brings a unique blend of expertise and creativity to her role, ensuring that patients receive exceptional care while maintaining a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Thanh Bui
Youth Outreach Program Lead
Thanh graduated as an Oral Health Therapist in 2018 and has experience across both public and private health. She came to NRCH during her student placement and fell in love with the team and the amazing accomplishments of the centre so she has been with NRCH ever since. She absolutely loves the variation of seeing patients in the clinic as well as completing oral health check-ups at schools and aged care facilities.
Furthermore, Thanh enjoys coordinating the Smile Squad and Chompers school dental programs as well as the Smiles4Miles program at NRCH. She is recognised for her quality of care and great communication skills.
Outside of dentistry, she loves indulging in different cuisines. Thanh comes from a big family so quality time with family and friends is important to her. Thanh believes life should be lived to the fullest through experiences, adventures and hopes to travel the world.
North Richmond Community Health’s Oral Health service is supported by the Victorian Government.