Important
NSW Health is improving access to public dental services by streamlining processes, including combining the current assessment and treatment waiting lists into a single waiting list. As a result, the way the NSW public dental service data is reported will change from the December 2024 quarter. Due to these changes, the waiting list data will not be comparable to previous years. Historical data will continue to be available.
Public dental service activity
NSW Health provides access to public dental care for children under 18 years of age with a Medicare card, and adults who have or are listed as dependent on an Australian Government Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, or Pensioner Concession Card.
Patients accessing the public dental system receive care from public dental clinics or participating private dental clinics. Patients may receive a voucher from a public dental clinic to receive specific treatment from participating private dental clinics offering treatment described by the NSW Health Oral Health Fee for Service Scheme.
The information below describes the activity, or Dental Weighted Activity Units (DWAUs), completed by NSW Public Dental Services. During an appointment, dental practitioners provide care which is measured using item numbers. The Australian Dental Association set The Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary which contains item numbers used consistently throughout Australia. These item numbers have weightings (DWAUs), based on the complexity of the care provided.
Figure 1: NSW Public Dental Services activity data by quarter, December 2021 to December 2024
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Public dental waiting lists
NSW Health aims to see all patients within the benchmarks for public dental services, this is the recommended maximum waiting time for certain types of dental care. Patients are prioritised through a triage process based on the urgency of their needs, ensuring that those with urgent dental issues receive treatment in a timely manner.
NSW Health has improved access to public dental services by streamlining processes, including combining the current assessment and treatment waiting lists. This enables patients to be seen for urgent dental treatment whilst awaiting usual routine care. As a result of this streamlined process, the way the NSW public dental service data is reported by necessity changed on 28 October 2024. Due to these changes, the waiting list data from the December 2024 quarter is not comparable to previous quarters.
For more information about recommended maximum waiting times and information on how patients are prioritised to receive care in the new waiting list policy, please refer to the
Oral Health Access Policy Directive.
On 31 December 2024, 93% of the people on the waitlist had been waiting less than recommended maximum waiting time which is an increase from 58% on 31 December 2021.
Figure 2: Percentage of patients who had been waiting less than the recommended maximum waiting time for NSW public dental services, December 2021 to December 2024
Waiting lists by local health district
The proportion of people waiting for dental care less than the recommended maximum waiting time as of 31 December 2024, ranged from 59% in Far West Local Health District (LHD) to 100% in South Western Sydney and Southern NSW LHDs.
Table 1:
NSW public dental service waiting list by Local Health District, as of 31 December 2024
| Sydney | 97% |
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| Western Sydney | 95% |
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| Nepean Blue Mountains | 87% |
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| Northern Sydney | 98% |
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| South Eastern Sydney | 87% |
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| South Western Sydney | 100% |
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| Central Coast | 82% |
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| Illawarra Shoalhaven | 99% |
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| Hunter New England | 91% |
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| Mid North Coast | 84% |
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| Northern NSW | 94% |
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| Western NSW | 98% |
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| Murrumbidgee | 98% |
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| Southern NSW | 100% |
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| Far West | 59% |
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| Justice Health | 66% |
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Source: NSW Health Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks
Notes: Figures represent the local health district where service was provided. Patients waiting for specialist dental services are not included.