More Tasmanians are now able to access preventative dental services, thanks to St Lukes’ new network which provides preventative oral healthcare – with no out-of-pocket. Dentists statewide are signing up to the St Lukes Dental Network, calling it a gamechanger in improving the state’s lagging health outcomes.
Tasmanians face some of the nation’s biggest oral health challenges, and private dental care – especially for major procedures – can impose a significant cost on family budgets.
To encourage people to take action on their oral health, Tasmanian not-for-profit St Lukes has created the St Lukes Dental Network, where members with eligible extras pay no out-of-pocket for preventative procedures such as examinations, x-rays, scale and clean, and fissure sealing.
St Lukes Chief Operating Officer Darren Harris said patients at clinics outside of the dental network typically pay a gap between what their fund covers and fees charged by the clinic, even if they have private health insurance.
“St Lukes Dental Network gives members peace of mind that they can go for a check-up with no out-of-pocket costs, meaning there’s one less reason to put off a visit to the dentist,” he said.
“Unlike some of the major insurers, we don’t just provide gap-free treatment at our own St Lukes Dental clinics – any practice can be part of the network, and we’ve been thrilled by the uptake.
“Dentists are supporting our commitment to preventative care and want to join forces with St Lukes as a local not-for-profit fund investing back into the state, with a mission of making Tasmania the healthiest island of the planet.”
Dr Brandon Krapf at Trusted Smiles in Westbury joined the Network because it makes regular preventative dental affordable for his largely rural patient base.
“Our goal is to keep patients coming in for regular checkups, catching minor issues early before they become a dental emergency,” he said.
“If funds only remunerate for major dental, it’s a disincentive for dentists to prioritise preventative services. We’ve signed up to St Lukes Dental Network because it actively encourages preventative treatment, which is absolutely aligned with our ethos.
“It’s a win-win, because St Lukes has a genuine commitment to do what’s best for patients and improve Tasmanians’ oral health, while they compensate dentists at the market rate for preventative work, ensuring the viability of our business.”
Dr Krapf was born and raised in America, studied dentistry at the University of Melbourne, and moved to Tasmania in 2016 because his young family loved the lifestyle.
“Of course, in a regional community, the ultimate benefit is seeing more of our neighbours and friends with healthy teeth and gums, and confident smiles,” he said.
With a shortage of dentists in Tasmania, St Lukes hopes the network will attract more clinicians like Dr Krapf to the state, where they can make a real difference in their communities.
“Helping treat more patients in the private system will have a big impact for Tasmanians by reducing pressure on the public dental waitlist, which is currently around four years for non- emergency procedures,” said Mr Harris.
Members can find their closest St Lukes Dental Network dentist at stlukes.com.au/dental/providers.