Media Release

Labor Will Expand Weekend Emergency Dental Care

02 November 2026

Labor will deliver 20 free dental clinics to support everyday dental care like fillings and extractions.

But dental emergencies – like severe pain and broken teeth – don’t keep business hours.

Right now, if you need emergency public dental care on a weekend, there’s only one place open: the Royal Dental Hospital in Melbourne.

That’s why a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will open 10 existing public dental clinics on weekends for emergency care.

Weekend emergency dental care across Victoria

Too many Victorians, especially in the regions, are waiting until Monday for emergency care – or need to wait in a hospital ED.

Currently, about 30 per cent of all treatments in the public dental system are emergencies.

Labor will expand the opening hours for 10 existing public dental clinics on weekends for emergencies:

• Ringwood East – Each

• Box Hill – Healthability

• Sunbury – Sunbury Cobaw Community Health Centre

• Berwick – Monash Health

• Springvale – Monash Health

• Hoppers Crossing – IPC

• Bairnsdale – Bairnsdale Regional Health

• Wangaratta – Northeast Health

• Seymour – Seymour Health

• Horsham – Grampians Health

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This $26.9 million investment will support more than 50,000 Victorians.

20 free dental clinics

A re-elected Carroll Labor will deliver 20 free dental clinics – 14 clinics across Melbourne and six in regional Victoria.

Victorians will be able to walk in for free check-ups, fillings, root canals and extractions.

Labor will also deliver sign-on bonuses to bring more dentists into the public system.

Labor has already delivered free dental care for kids through Smile Squad.

Now we’ll deliver free dental care for every Victorian.

Only Labor fights for working people

Labor is delivering real, structural cost of living support for working Victorians.

But under Jess Wilson and a Liberal-One Nation Coalition, this is all at risk.

Their plan? $40 billion slashed from the frontline services Victorians rely on, health included.

And an Americanised health system where your bank balance decides your care.

Forget free dental – under the Liberals, even a visit to hospital could come with a bill.

“A dental emergency shouldn’t mean a long drive or a long wait.”

“We’ll open our existing public dental clinics on weekends for emergencies, so Victorians can get urgent care.”

“Labor will deliver more free dental care. Jess Wilson will deliver $40 billion in cuts.”