ACC & Under 18 Dental

At Colombo Street Dental, we are proud to be an approved provider for the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). We offer comprehensive dental support for patients who have sustained dental injuries covered by ACC.

What is ACC and When Can I Use Them?

ACC is a government agency that provides financial compensation and support to residents and visitors who suffer injuries as the result of an accident. If you have experienced a dental injury in New Zealand due to an accident, ACC may cover the cost of your dental treatment.

Injuries may be covered by ACC if caused;

• By an accident
• By a sporting injury
• As a result of medical or dental treatment

ACC will not cover:

• Damage to your teeth or dentures due to wear and tear or decay and gum disease
• If treatment was carried out by a dental technician rather than a registered dentist.
• If damage occurred to your dentures while you were not wearing them.

You can learn more about the conditions of cover here: www.acc.co.nz/dental

What Will ACC Pay?

In most cases, ACC will pay part of the cost as they can only pay a regulation amount towards your treatment and any extra cost must be paid by you.

The regulation amount contributed may be affected by:

• The type of dental treatment requested for the injury
• The condition of your mouth, dentures and teeth before the injury happened.

It is important to discuss costs and payment arrangements with us before starting treatment as ACC require that prior approval is needed before commencing with and treatment plans.

What do I Need to Know?

There are a few key things to know that will help you get started with your treatment and recovery.

• It is important to discuss costs, outstanding amounts or co-payment arrangements with us before starting treatment. In most cases, an ACC consult at Colombo Street Dental is $75. In this appointment, we would take x-rays of the impacted area, assess damage & treatment required, and fill out the necessary forms to submit to ACC.
  
• Prior approval is needed when you want to know if ACC is able to contribute towards your treatment. The ACC dental team will look at the best possible options at this stage to ensure your recovery in a timely manner. They aim to let you know the outcome of contribution requests within 10 working days
• All root canal treatment, crowns and bridges require prior approval.
• If you progress your treatment without prior approval you might not be able to get contribution from ACC towards costs if it isn’t clear the treatment is required due to the accident.
• Specialist treatment may be required after initial consult dentist or if you require Implants, Orthodontics or have Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) injuries. All specialist treatment must be prior approved before treatment begins.
• ACC may seek an expert clinical opinion from a dental advisor about treatment plans or accident related injuries.
• They may reduce the amount contributed towards treatment for a tooth due to non-accident restorations, for instance when you’ve had prior treatment on a tooth. Please discuss this with us or call ACC for more information.
• If you have a pre-existing condition such as decay or bone and gum loss before your injury, treatment may relate to this and not the accident. This will affect whether you will qualify for ACC covered treatment.
• You are able to seek a second opinion from another ACC registered dentist on treatment and pricing.

If you have suffered a dental injury and believe you may be eligible for ACC coverage, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our amazing team are experienced in working with ACC claims and can guide you through the process to ensure you receive the necessary care.

 Glossary of terms

• Co-payment: The amount you will need to pay after ACC’s regulation amount has been paid. This will vary from dentist to dentist as each dental clinic sets their own prices.
• Cover: ACC acknowledges that you have suffered a personal injury as a result of an accident. This does not guarantee your eligibility to entitlements.
• Dental Advisor: An independent third party who may provide clinical advice on the proposed treatment plan. This is at a cost to ACC.
• Dental Technician: Someone who can make or repair dentures. They are not ACC registered.
• Entitlements: Support and services you can access from us for your rehabilitation, for example contribution towards dental treatment.
• Prior approval: Confirmation of the ACC contribution (if any) before treatment begins.
• Prior treatment [on a tooth]: This is where your tooth/teeth have had treatment before your accident such as restorations, crowns or bridges.
• Regulation amounts: These are the maximum amount ACC can contribute towards treatment and are determined based on dental treatment costs throughout New Zealand. The amounts can be found on the ACC website, by searching ACC1522 or calling on 0800 101 996.

Colombo Street Dental is one of the providers contracted with the District Health Board offering free dental care for New Zealand Youth.

Eligibility/Qualification Criteria:

All students in New Zealand from Year 9 until their 18th birthday can receive free basic dental care through private dentists contracted by District Health Boards (DHBs). This includes children from birth to 17 years who qualify for publicly funded health services. 

Children are entitled to one free check-up per calendar year, with additional free appointments if issues like toothaches arise. They must be enrolled to one of the participating dentist or oral health therapist. The services covered include:

• Routine examinations for decay and gum issues
• X-rays for hidden dental problems
• Preventative treatments like fluoride applications and fissure sealants
• Cleanings to remove plaque, stains, and tartar
• Fillings for teeth affected by decay
• Extractions for severely decayed teeth (excluding orthodontic extractions)

Note: Orthodontic treatments like braces are not covered unless for special medical needs, such as cleft palates. Any dental related accident will be covered by ACC.