One patient in need of dental care is paired with a volunteer dentist. Your Practice will ‘adopt’ the patient over several appointments to complete a course of treatment.
The ADA Dental Health Foundation (ADA DHF) is a registered Australian charity that coordinates the provision of dental treatment to disadvantaged Australian people genuinely in need of dental care. Our StateCoordinators liaise with local registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, to identify clients requiring oral care and advice. Volunteer dentists and their staff donate their time and skills to provide treatment at no cost to these clients in private dental surgeries across Australia.
The aim of the volunteer dental programs is to assist clients to access dental health services that they may otherwise not have had access to. Access to dental treatment and oral care advice enables patients to improve their dental health, speech, presentation and self-esteem and helps them move forward and achieve their goals.
Guidelines for Participation
Client referrals
The ADA DHF accepts referrals to the volunteer dental programs for adults aged between 18-65 years who are being supported by a registered charity or not for profit organisation. They must be in genuine need and have a desire to receive help with their oral health but have no ready access to the private or public dental system.
Only one course of treatment is offered on this program, your client must be placed on the public dental clinic for ongoing oral health support.
Clients may be supported by one of the following programs:
Domestic & Family Violence support/accommodation services
Drug and/or Alcohol rehabilitation
Those affected by mental health conditions
Near homeless or homeless support/accommodation services
Support services for those from low socioeconomic areas/circumstances
Please contact your ADA DHF State Coordinator for any referral that falls outside of these guidelines.
Programs
The ADA DHF coordinates several volunteer programs for patients to access free dental treatment. Our State Coordinators will discuss with you which program is most suitable for your practice prior to allocating patients and arranging appointments.
Under this program, a Practice commits to seeing a group of patients on one day. The State Coordinator will organise and coordinate your appointment book in consultation with your Practice. Patients will be allocated appointments of 45 to 60 minutes by the State Coordinator to allow all patients to receive a comprehensive initial examination and essential treatment.
This program currently focuses on the provision of dental services to people who have experienced domestic and family violence. While some patients may have experienced dental trauma, patients typically have ongoing oral health conditions related to a lack of dental treatment over time. A patient attends a practice for a comprehensive initial examination and once a treatment plan is agreed, will continue to attend the practice to achieve good functionality and improved oral health.
Prioritising clients
Appointments will be made available to clients depending on several factors, including their current dental health, location and availability of volunteers in the area. Client referrals will be prioritised according to the following classifications:
Treatments provided
Check-up
Relief of discomfort and pain
Extractions
Fillings
Oral health instruction
Treatments that may be provided
Dentures
Crown and bridge
Further treatment planning
Treatments not provided
Veneers
Orthodontic treatment
Cosmetic procedures
Teeth whitening
Conditions that prevent or limit treatment
Please note the following conditions that will influence what treatment is provided to your client.
No treatment
Intoxication with alcohol or drugs
Fever
Poorly controlled diabetes
Dental phobias
No treatment Fillings but no extractions
Blood thinners or bleeding disorders
Radiation treatment to head or neck
Swelling
Osteoporosis medication
Arranging appointments for clients
Our volunteer dentists and their staff have kindly volunteered their time to provide free dental treatment to selected clients. Please respect their commitment by observing the following guidelines:
Ensure all clients genuinely cannot afford dental treatment and have no access to government health benefit schemes in your state.
Ensure all clients have a genuine need for treatment.
Ensure that a Referral Form is digitally completed and returned to your State Coordinator prior to the appointment.
Ensure all clients attend their designated appointment by arriving on or before time. Failing to attend appointments will result in removal from our programs.
Whilst attending the dental surgery, ensure that your clients are respectful of the volunteer staff, other patients attending on the day as well as the property of the dental practice.
It is expected that patients will be accompanied to appointments by a charity representative. If you are unable to provide support, please discuss this directly with the State Coordinator.
Privacy
By registering with the ADA DHF, you consent to the publication of your organisation’s name on our website, Facebook page and in other publications to enable the Foundation to report on and promote its activities.
The ADA DHF will not publish any personal information, such as individual case manager and staff member names, or patient names, unless express consent is given. If you have any concerns regarding privacy, please contact the State Coordinator.
Access to public dental services
Your client may be eligible for public dental services. Public clinics around Australia provide dental treatment free of charge, or at low cost, to eligible patients. It is important that your clients register with their local clinic for ongoing oral health maintenance. For more information on eligibility to your State public dental services, please refer to the Department of Health website at http://health.gov.au/dental
Forms
At the end of this page, you will find a Registration Form, which you should complete, have signed by an authorised signatory for your organisation and return to the State Coordinator.
To refer your clients to the volunteer dental program, please complete a Referral and Medical History Form with your client and return to the State Coordinator. This form will be made available to registered organisations only and must be filled in digitally, no handwritten or scanned forms can be accepted.
State Coordinator Contact Detail
SA State Coordinator
Ruth Wyszynski
E: [email protected]
WA State Coordinator
Andrea Paterson
E: [email protected]
NSW State Coordinator
Karen Smith
E: [email protected]
VIC/TAS State Coordinator
Tori Carter
E: [email protected]
QLD State Coordinator
Natasha Dagley
E: [email protected]
A registered charity
The ADA Dental Health Foundation is endorsed as a Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) Status with the Australian Taxation Office.
ABN 43 486 533 047
