Residential Aged Care Emergency (RACE) Dental Service

SA Dental Service will be implementing a new emergency dental service for residents living in South Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) commencing 1 October 2020.

The Residential Aged Care Emergency (RACE) Dental Service will provide emergency dental care for residents who are unable to attend a public dental clinic due to severe physical, functional and/or cognitive impairment.

RACE defines two designated emergency dental referral pathways for senior RACF staff (such as RNs, Care Managers, Care Coordinators) and/or GPs to follow:

1. RACE 1 is for high risk oral conditions requiring immediate public hospital-based emergency care. All residents are eligible for this care as covered by Medicare.
2. RACE 2 is for emergency oral conditions that can be treated on-site by a visiting SA Dental Service RACE dental team and/or in country areas via an Emergency Dental Scheme (EDS) authorising a private dentist to undertake dental care on behalf of SA Dental Service.

To be eligible for public dental care, residents must have a current pensioner concession card or a health care card. Ineligible residents should be referred to a private dental provider (private fees apply).

For more information please refer to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/RACEdental