Residents in Devonport and surrounding areas will soon have another option for dental care, with St Lukes set to open its first north-west dental practice next month.
The not-for-profit health organisation will open the clinic on the corner of Steele and Wenvoe streets in September, with bookings now open.
St Lukes said more than 100 people had already expressed interest in appointments at the new practice.
Chief Health Officer Luke Cameron said the clinic was intended to help address access to dental care in the region.
“Those workforce challenges are particularly felt in regional areas like the north-west,” he said.
“That can mean longer wait times or the need to travel for care.”
Tasmania has been identified as having the lowest dental practitioner-to-population ratio in Australia, according to research cited by St Lukes.
Cameron said delayed dental check-ups could affect people’s oral health and lead to more complex problems.
The Devonport practice will offer preventative dental care, with eligible St Lukes members able to access the service without out-of-pocket costs for preventative treatment.
St Lukes is also working with Oral Health Tasmania to support public patients through the Tasmanian Government’s dental voucher program.
The Devonport clinic will be the second new St Lukes Dental site to open this year.
The organisation now has four dental clinics across Tasmania, with sites in Launceston, Howrah and Kingston.
The new practice is also part of St Lukes’ broader expansion in Devonport.
A wellness hub is being developed in partnership with Devonport City Council at the Devonport Oval Sports Complex, with an expected opening date of mid-2027.
St Lukes has also expanded its customer care operations in Devonport, including a new call centre.
