NSW Dental Vouchers Explained: How to Use One at a Private Dentist in Prestons
- Star Light Dental
- September 18, 2026
- [email protected]
If you hold a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card, you may be able to have dental treatment paid for by NSW Health. In many cases that treatment can happen at a private dentist close to home rather than at a public clinic. It works through a voucher system called the Oral Health Fee for Service Scheme, or OHFFSS.
The vouchers confuse a lot of people: who gets one, what it pays for, how long it lasts and where it can be used. Star Light Dental in Prestons accepts NSW government dental vouchers, so here is a plain-English guide for patients in Prestons, Liverpool, Casula, Hoxton Park and the surrounding suburbs.
1. What Is an NSW Dental Voucher?
NSW public dental clinics cannot always see everyone who needs care quickly. To shorten the wait, the public dental service can issue a voucher that lets you have a specific course of treatment at a private dentist who is registered with the scheme. NSW Health pays the dentist directly.
You do not pay for treatment that has been authorised on the voucher. NSW Health puts it plainly: you will not have to pay for the dental care that has been authorised by the public dental clinic.
2. Who Is Eligible for Public Dental Care in NSW?
To use public dental services, and so to be considered for a voucher, you must live in NSW, be eligible for Medicare and meet one of the following:
- Adults: hold a Health Care Card, a Pensioner Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
- Children and teenagers under 18: all are eligible, with no concession card needed.
Families who receive Family Tax Benefit Part A may also be able to use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which works differently and can be used directly at our clinic. See our guide to the CDBS.
3. How Do You Get a Voucher?
You cannot ask a private dentist for a voucher, and we cannot request one for you. The process starts with the public dental service:
- Call the NSW public dental contact centre on 1800 679 336.
- A staff member asks a set of questions about your teeth and general health. This phone assessment decides how urgently you need to be seen.
- Depending on your needs and local waiting times, you are offered an appointment at a public clinic, placed on a waiting list, or issued a voucher for a private dentist.
If you are in pain, say so clearly on the call. Urgent problems are prioritised.
4. The Three Types of Voucher and How Long They Last
- Urgent care vouchers cover relief of pain and other urgent problems. They are valid for one month.
- General care vouchers cover a course of routine treatment, such as an examination, X-rays, cleaning, fillings and extractions. They are valid for three months.
- Denture vouchers cover new dentures or denture repairs. They are valid for three months.
The expiry date is printed on the voucher, and an expired voucher cannot be used. Book as soon as it arrives. If something stops you from attending in time, call the public dental service before it expires and ask whether the date can be extended.
5. Using Your Voucher at Star Light Dental
Call us on (02) 9432 2833 and tell reception you have an NSW Health dental voucher and which type it is. Bring to your appointment:
- the original voucher
- your Medicare card
- your concession card
- a list of any medications you take
We carry out the treatment the voucher authorises. When it is complete you sign the voucher and we return it to the public dental service, which pays us directly. For urgent problems, same-day appointments are available most days. There is on-site parking and the clinic has disabled access.
6. What a Voucher Does Not Cover
A voucher only pays for the treatment listed on it. If we find something else that needs attention there are two paths: we refer you back to the public clinic for that treatment, or you can choose to have it done privately. We always explain the cost first, and Medipay and Afterpay are available if you would like to spread it out.
Vouchers generally do not cover cosmetic treatment, implants or bridgework. For denture vouchers, you will be looked after by Dr Maher Farag, who holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Prosthodontics, the branch of dentistry that deals with dentures and replacing teeth. You can read more on our dentures page.
Do Not Let a Voucher Expire
A dental voucher is worth real money, and the clock starts the day it is issued. If you have one, call (02) 9432 2833 today and we will find you a time before it runs out. If you think you might be eligible but have not been assessed yet, start with the public dental contact centre on 1800 679 336.
This guide is general information based on the rules NSW Health had published at the time of writing. Eligibility, voucher types and validity periods are set by NSW Health and can change. See NSW Health for current details.