Update: 13 November 2020

From Term 4, Smile Squad services will be progressively restarting in schools across Victoria.

The return of Smile Squad will occur in a staged manner, with an emphasis on student and staff safety. Services will commence in schools across the areas of Greater Bendigo, Latrobe and Wodonga during Term 4, working towards a broader rollout across the state from Term 1, 2021.

Smile Squad is the Victorian Government's only school dental program, offering free end-to-end care from initial examinations to all necessary treatment, excluding cosmetics. The Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with the Department of Education and Training and Dental Health Services Victoria to ensure Smile Squad can be delivered safely to primary, secondary and specialist government schools.

Smile Squad is committed to the same high standards of safety and quality required of all public dental services. Smile Squad must be accredited to all relevant National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. These standards provide a nationally consistent statement of the level of care consumers can expect from health service organisations.

For emergency and urgent dental services:

Emergency and urgent dental services can be accessed at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and many community-based dental services across the state.

If you have a dental emergency or require oral health advice, please contact the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne on 9341 1000 (outside Melbourne metro call: 1800 833 039) or use the online community dental clinics search for a list of dental clinics in your area. You may also visit www.dhsv.org.au if you require any further information.

For information about Smile Squad:

If you would like further information about the Victorian Government’s school dental program, please see:

• The DET Dental Services policy
• email: smilesquad@dhhs.vic.gov.au