Top image: AI-generated illustration.
If a letter from Dental Health Services has just arrived with a voucher in it, or you have been on the public dental waiting list for a while and need new dentures, you are probably wondering one thing: will the subsidy actually help pay for them, and what will you still owe? It is a fair question, and the paperwork does not always make it obvious.
The short answer is yes, it can. The Dental Health Services voucher letter says the voucher lets you see a private dentist for a check-up, treatment, and dentures if you need them. The rules are a little different for dentures than for fillings or cleans, though, and the details printed on your own General Treatment Authority form decide what you pay. Ashburton Dental Centre in Gosnells lists the Metropolitan Patients Dental Subsidy Scheme among its payment options, so this guide walks you through what to check before your first appointment.
Summary of the Content:
- The Metropolitan Patients Dental Subsidy Scheme (MPDSS) is a WA Government scheme that lets some people on the public dental waiting list see a participating private dentist instead.
- You need a current Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and to be registered with a government dental clinic. The voucher is offered when funding and waiting times allow.
- Dentures can be included, but your form shows whether denture (prosthodontic) care is available, and DHS needs to approve it.
- Full subsidy for denture items is only available once every 6 years per patient. Otherwise the subsidy is worked out on a pro rata basis.
- Your subsidy level (50% or 75%) is printed on your form. You pay the rest of the government-scheduled fee, plus 100% of anything you choose to have above your limit.
- Before any treatment starts, the private clinic has to tell you the total value, the subsidy, anything not covered and what you will pay.
What Is the Metropolitan Patients Dental Subsidy Scheme?
The MPDSS is a WA Government scheme run by Dental Health Services (DHS) that lets eligible people in the Perth metropolitan area get public-subsidised dental care at a participating private practice. It exists because public dental clinics have waiting lists, and when funding permits, DHS can move some people off that list and into a private clinic instead.
The DHS guidelines for dental practitioners describe it this way: the MPDSS “enables patients to be referred from DHS General Dental Clinics (DHS Clinics) to participating private dental practitioners (MPDSS clinics).” DHS then reimburses the private clinic for the subsidised part of your care, and you pay your share directly to the clinic.
- Who runs it:
Dental Health Services, part of the Government of Western Australia. You can call DHS on (08) 9313 0555. - How fees are set:
DHS uses the Department of Veterans’ Affairs schedule of dental fees to value treatment, and the fees are the same as at the government dental clinic. - How much is subsidised:
Treatment is subsidised by the WA Government up to a maximum of 75% of the cost, depending on your Centrelink income, which DHS assesses.
Am I Eligible for MPDSS Dentures in Gosnells?
You may be eligible if you are a Western Australian with a current Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, you are registered with a DHS clinic, and DHS has issued you a General Treatment Authority form. Gosnells is in the Perth metropolitan area, which is why this guide covers the metropolitan scheme.
A few points catch people out:
- You cannot book straight in with a private clinic:
The MPDSS guidelines say patients who arrive at a private clinic without the right authority form should be directed to a DHS clinic. The voucher comes from DHS first. - It depends on funding and waiting times:
The guidelines say forms are issued “Subject to MPDSS funding and DHS clinic waiting times”. If you are not on the waiting list yet, the first step is to contact your nearest public dental clinic. - Dependants can be covered:
The guidelines include a dependant of a card holder in the eligibility rules. - School-age children follow a different path:
Children aged 5 to 16 attending a recognised school are directed to the School Dental Service instead.
Does the Voucher Cover Dentures?
It can. The DHS voucher FAQ answers this directly: “Yes, you can with this General Treatment Authority. Denture care is not limited like general dental care.” That means dentures sit outside the general treatment limit printed on your form, but they have their own rules.
- Look for the denture tick on your form:
The MPDSS guidelines say your General Treatment Authority form “will indicate if prosthodontic care is available.” Prosthodontic care is the formal name for dentures and similar work. - DHS approval comes first:
Denture care under the MPDSS is available on approval by DHS. The guidelines say DHS will not reimburse a clinic for denture treatment done without that approval, and the cost then becomes a matter between you and the clinic. - The 6-year rule:
Full subsidy for denture items will only be available once every 6 years per patient. If you had subsidised dentures more recently than that, the subsidy is paid on a pro rata (proportional) basis instead. - Metal-framed dentures:
Cast-metal dentures may be made, but they are only subsidised to the value of the equivalent acrylic denture. You would pay the difference. - Implants are not included:
DHS says dental implants are not available with private dentist offers or at government dental clinics, so implant-retained dentures are outside the scheme.
Not sure which type of denture you might need? healthdirect describes three main types: a full denture that replaces all the teeth on the upper or lower jaw, a partial denture held by clasps around your remaining teeth, and an implant-retained denture. Our pages on complete dentures and removable partial dentures explain the options we offer. Your dentist will talk through which is suitable for your mouth.
What Will I Pay With an MPDSS Voucher?
You pay a share of the government-scheduled fee, and that share depends on the subsidy level printed in the box near the top right of your General Treatment Authority form. Your Centrelink benefits decide that level. You pay for treatment when you get it.
Your Share of the Cost — At a Glance
| What your form or situation shows | What DHS says you pay |
|---|---|
| Subsidy level 75% | 25% of the government-scheduled fee |
| Subsidy level 50% | 50% of the government-scheduled fee |
| Treatment you choose above your limit with the private dentist | 100% of the cost over your limit |
| Denture items within 6 years of a fully subsidised set | Subsidy is paid pro rata, so your share is larger |
| Cast-metal denture | Subsidy covers only the value of an equivalent acrylic denture |
If your treatment needs more than your form allows, DHS says you can ask the private dentist to send you back to the government dental clinic to finish it, rather than paying the excess yourself. If you have private health insurance with dental cover, you might be able to get some money back on your share. Your health fund can tell you what applies to your policy.
Our MPDSS page gives a general overview of the scheme. For your own costs, the subsidy level on your form and DHS’s current terms are what count, so bring the form and ask us to go through it with you.
What the Clinic Must Tell You Before Treatment Starts
Costs should be explained before treatment, not after. The MPDSS guidelines say that before any treatment starts, the private clinic is responsible for telling each patient four things:
- The total value of your treatment, because the scheme’s limits are based on it.
- The amount of subsidy that will be paid by DHS.
- Any treatment items that DHS will not subsidise, either because they are not in the scheme or because they go over a limit.
- The remaining amount you will have to pay the clinic.
If anything on that list is unclear, ask before you agree to start. It is completely reasonable to take the estimate home and think about it.
Your Voucher Checklist Before You Book
Run through this list with your letter and form in front of you:
- Expiry date:
Find the date your offer is valid until in the box near the top right of the front of your form. DHS says you cannot use the voucher after it expires, and each form has a fixed expiry date by which treatment needs to be completed. - Subsidy level:
Check whether your form shows 75% or 50%. - Denture care:
Check whether the form shows that prosthodontic (denture) care is available. - Your treatment limit:
Note the limit shown in the box on your form. The MPDSS guidelines set general care at a total treatment value of $2,000, and dentures are not counted in that limit. - Last subsidised dentures:
Work out roughly when you last had dentures through a public scheme, because of the 6-year rule. - Paperwork to bring:
Bring the paper copy of the letter and the General Treatment Authority form to your appointment. - Interpreter:
If English is your second language, tell the clinic when you book. DHS says the dentist can arrange an interpreter when you attend, and DHS pays for it.
One more thing to know: if you decide not to use the voucher, DHS says you can ask the government dental clinic to put you back on the waiting list, but your wait time will start over.
What Happens at a Denture Appointment?
Getting dentures made usually takes several visits rather than one. healthdirect explains that each set of dentures is custom made, and making and fitting dentures often takes several appointments.
- Bring your voucher and form. Call us first so we can check the details on your form with you.
- Examination and discussion. Your dentist looks at your mouth, explains the denture options that suit you, and talks through the risks, the cost and your share before anything starts.
- Approval where needed. Denture care under the MPDSS needs DHS approval, so this step happens before the denture work begins.
- Measuring and fitting. healthdirect notes your dentist or dental prosthetist will measure and fit the denture for you.
- Follow-up adjustments. You might need follow-up appointments so the dentures can be adjusted.
If you are having teeth removed, healthdirect says your dentist might suggest waiting a few months for your gums to heal before getting dentures, or you might have an immediate denture fitted on the same day that may need adjusting as your gums heal. Our article on how long it takes to get dentures goes into the timing in more detail.
New dentures can take some getting used to. healthdirect says most people take a few months, and that new dentures might feel awkward or loose, cause irritation or soreness, or cause more saliva than normal. See your dentist if your mouth is sore, or you notice bleeding gums, swelling or ulcers. Once you are used to them, healthdirect recommends a check at least yearly to make sure they still fit.
What If My Denture Breaks While I’m Waiting?
DHS lists a broken denture among the problems that can be a dental emergency, and eligible card holders can always get emergency care. For urgent care, DHS asks you to telephone your local public dental clinic and make an appointment rather than turning up without one.
It is worth knowing that the MPDSS guidelines say emergency dental care for prosthodontic issues is not available through the metropolitan scheme. So if your denture breaks, your first call is to the public dental clinic, not to a voucher booking at a private practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I go straight to a private dentist and ask for an MPDSS denture?
No. You need a General Treatment Authority form from DHS first. If you do not have one, contact your nearest public dental clinic to get on the waiting list.
Will my denture be fully covered?
Not in full. The DHS voucher information says you pay a share at both subsidy levels: 25% of the government-scheduled fee at the 75% level, and 50% at the 50% level. You also pay the full cost of anything you choose above your limit.
Can I use the voucher for dental implants?
No. DHS says dental implants are not available with private dentist offers or at government dental clinics.
What if my voucher is about to expire?
Book as soon as you can. The MPDSS guidelines allow DHS to approve an extension to the expiry date in extenuating circumstances, but the request has to be made before the expiry date, so ask the clinic about it early.
Final Thoughts
The MPDSS voucher can help with the cost of dentures, but the details on your own form matter: the subsidy level, the expiry date, whether denture care is shown, and when you last had subsidised dentures. Metal-framed dentures and anything above your limit add to your share, and implants are outside the scheme.
If you have a voucher and live in or around Gosnells, you are welcome to call Ashburton Dental Centre on (08) 9490-8777. You could say: “Hi, I have an MPDSS voucher and I think I need dentures. Can you check my form with me before I book?” Bring the paper letter, your General Treatment Authority form and your concession card. At the first visit, the dentist examines your mouth and explains your options, the cost and your share before anything starts. We are in the Ashburton Village Shopping Centre at 9/62 Ashburton Drive, Gosnells, next to Ashburton Primary School, open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. You can also contact us online.
Author Name: Dr Kav Bhinder, General Dentist, Ashburton Dental Centre
Sources (checked 29 October 2026):
- Dental Health Services, Government of Western Australia: Subsidised Private Dental Services (voucher letter and FAQ)
- Dental Health Services: Metropolitan Patients’ Dental Subsidy Scheme, Information for Dental Practitioners, effective 12 July 2023
- Dental Health Services: Quick Guide to Dental Health Services
- Dental Health Services: General Dental Service
- Dental Health Services: Emergency?
- healthdirect: Dentures (last reviewed February 2025)
This article is general information based on the published sources above, not personal advice. Scheme rules can change, so the details on your own form and DHS’s current terms apply. Photos in this article are AI-generated illustrations, not photos of Ashburton Dental Centre, its staff or patients.
