From today, more than 30,000 eligible patients in the Fremantle catchment area will be able to access free general dental care from the newly expanded Fremantle General Dental Clinic.
Now located at Fremantle Hospital, the clinic will provide vital general dental care to eligible patients including Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card holders aged 17 and over, and children under the age of four. The new purpose-built clinic is expected to receive more than 8,000 visits each year.
The new clinic has nine treatment rooms, a dental laboratory, sterilisation areas and staff support rooms. It will offer patients:
- Dental examinations and assessments;
- Radiographic examinations and interpretation;
- Preventive and prophylactic services;
- Periodontics;
- Extractions and minor oral surgery procedures; and
- Fillings, dentures and some crown and bridge services.
The Fremantle General Dental Clinic is part of the North Metropolitan Health Service Dental Health Service, and is one of 28 public dental services in Western Australia.
Dental services for the disadvantaged commenced in Fremantle in 1936, with a further two upgrades of the Fremantle public dental clinic taking place in 1954 and 1995.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"This new clinic offers greatly improved facilities and services for the eligible residents of Fremantle and the surrounding suburbs. The newly refurbished unit features nine treatment rooms, a dental laboratory, sterilisation areas and staff support rooms.
"This new dental clinic is part of the McGowan Government's commitment to put patients first. It delivers an important health service to local residents who need it most."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"Relocating public dental services to Fremantle Hospital is good news.
"It shows the McGowan Government's commitment to investing in Fremantle Hospital and the health care needs of people living in the area.
"Dental health plays an important role in our overall wellbeing so it makes sense to co-locate important health services in a central location."
