Do You Need a Referral to See an Orthodontist in Australia?

No. In Australia you can book directly with a registered specialist orthodontist, without a referral from your dentist or GP. Liverpool Orthodontics takes bookings straight from patients and parents. A referral can still help, because it brings your dentist’s notes and X-rays with you, but it is not a condition of being seen.

Can you book an orthodontist without seeing a dentist first?

Yes. An orthodontist is a dentist who has gone on to complete specialist training in orthodontics and holds specialist registration with the Dental Board of Australia. Private orthodontic practices can see you directly, and at Liverpool Orthodontics no referral is required to book a consultation or to start treatment.

That surprises some people, and for an understandable reason. Many of us are used to the medical system, where seeing a specialist usually starts with a letter from a GP. Orthodontics sits within dentistry instead, and a private orthodontic consultation is something you can arrange yourself.

If you are not sure whether you need an orthodontist or your regular dentist, our guide to the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist explains who does what.

Why do people think they need a referral?

There are three common reasons.

• Habit from the medical system. Specialist doctors generally expect a GP referral, so it is natural to assume dental specialists work the same way.
• Your dentist suggested it. Dentists often notice crowding, a bite problem or a baby tooth that has not made way for the adult tooth, and recommend an orthodontic assessment. That recommendation is advice, not a required step.
• Health fund questions. People sometimes assume a fund will only pay if a referral exists. Fund rules are set by each policy, so the reliable way to find out is to ask your fund. Liverpool Orthodontics can give you the item numbers for your treatment so you can check what your policy covers.

For more on the insurance side, see our guide to using private health insurance for orthodontics.

When is a referral from your dentist still useful?

A referral is optional, but it can make the first appointment more efficient.

• Records travel with you. Recent X-rays, clinical notes and details of past treatment give the orthodontist a fuller picture from the start.
• Your dentist’s observations are on record. If your dentist has been watching a particular tooth or a change in your bite, a short note passes that on.
• Complex treatment is coordinated from day one. Some adults need orthodontic treatment before crowns, bridges or implants. In those cases the practice works with your dentist and, where needed, other specialists such as prosthodontists, periodontists and oral surgeons, so a referral helps everyone start from the same plan.

Dentists can send patient details through the practice’s referral form for dentists. If you are booking yourself and your dentist has taken X-rays recently, it is worth asking whether they can send copies across. The orthodontist will tell you at the consultation whether any further records are needed.

Do you still need a dentist during orthodontic treatment?

Yes. Orthodontic treatment does not replace your regular dental care. Keep up routine check-ups and cleans with your own dentist, roughly every six months, for the whole of treatment. Braces and aligners make cleaning harder, and keeping teeth and gums healthy reduces the chance of complications along the way.

Liverpool Orthodontics stays in contact with your dentist during treatment. If you do not currently have a dentist, the practice can refer you to one.

How does the public system in NSW work?

The public dental system is the one place where a referral is part of the process. In NSW, specialist orthodontic care in the public system is limited, and it is not offered for cosmetic reasons alone.

Sydney Local Health District’s orthodontic service, for example, sets out the steps like this. The patient is first seen at their local community oral health clinic, which writes a referral to the specialist service. An assessment appointment then decides whether the patient meets the criteria for public treatment, which cover moderate to severe problems. Patients who are accepted join a treatment waiting list, and those who are not eligible are directed to private orthodontists.

Eligibility for public dental services in NSW is set by NSW Health policy, with separate criteria for specialist services. To check whether you or your child is eligible, call the NSW public dental line on 1800 679 336.

One more point that often comes up: the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, the Medicare dental program for eligible children, does not cover orthodontic work. Services Australia lists orthodontic, cosmetic and hospital dental services as outside the scheme.

How can you check that an orthodontist is a registered specialist?

A referral letter does not confirm anyone’s qualifications, but the national register does. Orthodontics is one of 13 dental specialties recognised in Australia, and specialist titles are protected under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. Only a practitioner with specialist registration in orthodontics can present themselves as a specialist orthodontist.

You can look up any registered practitioner on the Ahpra register of practitioners at ahpra.gov.au. Search by name, and the entry shows whether the person holds specialist registration and in which specialty.

The clinicians at Liverpool Orthodontics are registered specialist orthodontists and specialist members of the Australian Society of Orthodontists.

What happens when you book directly?

Booking directly works the same way as arriving with a referral. You call or use the online form, choose a time, and come in for a consultation.

At that first appointment the orthodontist examines your teeth, bite and jaws, and talks through what you have noticed and what you would like to change. Clinical photographs, X-rays or a digital scan may be taken if they are needed. The consultation is there to answer four questions:

• Is there a problem that orthodontic treatment can address?
• Is treatment needed now, or is it better to wait for further growth or for adult teeth to come through?
• Which treatment options are suitable?
• What will the professional fees be?

If treatment is recommended, you receive a written quote before anything starts. Our guide to what happens at your first orthodontic consultation goes through the appointment step by step.

Should parents book for their child, or wait for the dentist?

Parents can book directly. You do not need to wait for your child’s dentist to raise it. Liverpool Orthodontics suggests a first check around the age of seven, when adult teeth are starting to come through, and sooner if you have noticed a specific concern.

An early assessment does not mean braces straight away. Many children only need monitoring with regular reviews until the right time to start. Read more about when to book a child’s first orthodontic check-up.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral to book at Liverpool Orthodontics?

No. You can book a consultation and start treatment without a referral from a dentist or GP.

Will my health fund ask for a referral?

It depends on your policy, so check with your fund. Liverpool Orthodontics can provide the item numbers for your proposed treatment, which lets your fund tell you what it will pay.

Does Medicare cover braces?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule does not cover orthodontic work. In NSW, publicly funded orthodontic treatment is provided through the public dental system, by referral, for eligible patients whose problem meets NSW Health criteria.

Can my dentist refer me anyway?

Yes. Dentists are welcome to refer patients using the practice’s referral form, and a referral helps by sending your records ahead of the appointment.

Will Liverpool Orthodontics keep my dentist informed?

Yes. The practice stays in contact with your dentist during treatment, and you should keep seeing your dentist for routine check-ups.

Book a consultation

You can book with Liverpool Orthodontics without a referral. Call 02 9601 7655 or use the online booking form, and let the team know if your dentist has records they can send across. The practice is at Unit 2, 90 Bathurst Street, Liverpool.