Question 1

Do I need a referral to see a dentist?

Accepted Answer

No. Ring the practice and book directly, whether or not you have been to us before.

Question 2

Are you taking new patients?

Accepted Answer

Yes. New patients of all ages are welcome.

Question 3

How long is a first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Allow around 45 minutes. That covers your medical history, a thorough examination, X-rays where they are clinically indicated, and usually a scale and clean.

Question 4

What should I bring?

Accepted Answer

Your Medicare card, your health fund card if you have one, and a list of any medications you take. Bring your child’s Medicare details if they may be eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

Question 5

I have not been to a dentist in years. Is that a problem?

Accepted Answer

No, and it is more common than people assume. Mention it when you book so we can allow enough time.

Question 6

Can my family be booked together?

Accepted Answer

Ring and ask. Consecutive appointments can usually be arranged so you are not making separate trips.

Question 7

How much will my treatment cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what is found at the examination. You will receive a written itemised quote with ADA item numbers before any treatment is booked, so there are no surprises.

Question 8

Can you quote me over the phone?

Accepted Answer

We can tell you the cost of an examination. Beyond that, quoting without looking would be guesswork — a filling can be small and simple or large and complicated.

Question 9

Do you have HICAPS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on site. Your health fund is claimed at the appointment and you pay only the gap.

Question 10

How do I find out what my fund will pay?

Accepted Answer

Ring your fund with the ADA item numbers from your written quote. They can tell you the rebate for each item and what limits you have remaining.

Question 11

Is dental covered by Medicare?

Accepted Answer

General adult dental treatment is not. Eligible children may be covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, a separate Commonwealth scheme.

Question 12

What if I cannot afford everything at once?

Accepted Answer

Say so. Treatment can usually be staged so the clinically urgent work happens first, and there is often a less expensive alternative worth discussing.

Question 13

How often should I have a check-up?

Accepted Answer

Six-monthly suits most adults. People with a history of gum disease or a high decay risk are often better seen more frequently. We will recommend an interval based on what we actually find.

Question 14

I am anxious about dental treatment. What can you do?

Accepted Answer

Tell us when you book. We allow longer appointments, explain each step before it happens, agree a stop signal, and stop whenever you ask. A first appointment can be a conversation with no examination at all.

Question 15

Do you offer sedation or sleep dentistry?

Accepted Answer

No. We provide treatment under local anaesthetic. Where sedation or a general anaesthetic is appropriate, we refer you to a practitioner qualified to provide it.

Question 16

Will it hurt?

Accepted Answer

Pain thresholds vary between people, so nobody can honestly promise you will feel nothing. We use topical anaesthetic before injections, take care over the local anaesthetic, check you are numb before starting, and stop when asked.

Question 17

Do you take X-rays at every visit?

Accepted Answer

No. We take radiographs when there is a clinical reason, because they involve a small radiation dose. Bitewings show decay between teeth and bone levels that cannot be seen by eye.

Question 18

What do I do if I am in pain outside your hours?

Accepted Answer

Contact the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne in Carlton on 1300 360 054. Go to an emergency department or ring 000 for facial swelling that is spreading, a fever with dental pain, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Question 19

When should my child first see a dentist?

Accepted Answer

By their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. The visit is short and is mainly about making the place familiar.

Question 20

Do baby teeth need treating?

Accepted Answer

Often yes. They hold space for the adult teeth, they are needed for eating and speech, and infection in a baby tooth can affect the adult tooth forming underneath.

Question 21

Is my child eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility is set by Services Australia based on age and family payments. Ring us with your Medicare details and we can check the current balance.

Question 22

My child is frightened. What happens?

Accepted Answer

Tell us when you book and we allow extra time. We explain everything before it happens and will not push on if your child has had enough.

Questions people ask before booking

Appointments and getting started