Smile Squad offers the following services to all Victorian government school students:
- free oral health promotion
- free dental health check-ups
- free follow-up treatment as needed.
All Smile Squad services comply with the highest safety and quality requirements.
Oral health promotion
Smile Squad starts with oral health promotion and a free oral health pack. Oral health packs include a toothbrush, toothpaste and oral health brochure.
Schools also have access to the Smile Squad oral health promotion guide, A guide to supporting good oral health in . It offers friendly opt-in ideas for schools to support and encourage healthy environments and behaviours.
Dental health check-ups
After consent has been provided, at the first appointment (the check-up), Smile Squad will check the student’s teeth and mouth and provide preventive care if required.
Dental health check-ups will usually be delivered in a room on the school site using portable dental equipment (portable chair, portable tools, for example).
Services may include:
- teeth cleaning
- x-rays of teeth
- fluoride varnish application
- fissure sealants
- advice about dental health and diet.
For best results, fluoride varnish needs to be applied at least twice a year. Schools will tell parents and carers when Smile Squad is returning for the fluoride varnish visit.
Follow-up treatment
If a student needs follow-up treatment, Smile Squad will seek consent from parents or carers, and make another appointment. The treatment appointment may take place in a treatment van on the school site or at the local Smile Squad community dental agency. The dental van has a full dental clinic set-up.
More complex treatments will occur at the community dental agency. These extra treatments are also completely free of charge.
Depending on the student’s needs, treatment services may include:
- fillings
- root canals
- extractions
- all other general treatment required.
The program does not include orthodontics or cosmetic treatment.
Specialised care
Smile Squad provides specialist dental care to children who need it. This includes in regional areas of Victoria, where access to these services may be limited.
Referrals to Smile Squad specialist hubs are made by clinicians delivering Smile Squad services in schools and at local dental clinics.
Specialist hubs
There will be three specialist paediatric hubs in regional Victoria. They will offer a range of specialist services that not all general dentists are able to provide. These include treatment under nitrous sedation and general anaesthetic where needed.
The first specialist hub launched in Bendigo in September 2023. A second hub opened in Geelong in May 2024 and a final hub in Latrobe Valley is still to come.
These hubs mean children in regional areas will no longer have to travel long distances to Melbourne to receive treatment through the public health system. Families will save hours of travel time and more kids will get the specialist dental care they need, closer to home.
Specialised care does not include orthodontics or cosmetic treatment.
All services are provided free of charge. There are no out of pocket costs for parents and carers.
Reviewed 04 June 2024