Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral ?
No referral is necessary for your child to attend.
However, your general dentist may have referred you to come and see us regarding a specific concern. The more information we have the better.
How much will treatment cost ?
It is difficult to give a cost prior to seeing your child. An individual treatment plan will be made for your child at the first appointment and costs quoted for you. The cost of the initial visit will depend on what treatment is required and whether x-rays are necessary to formulate your child’s treatment plan.
I have private health insurance. Can I claim at your clinic ?
HICAPS is available if you have private health insurance and wish to claim for treatment provided on the day of service. Alternatively, invoices can be paid upfront and you can then lodge your claims with your private health fund either in person or online.
Can I use CDBS at your clinic ?
Medicare currently has a scheme that will subsidise dental treatment for some children up to $1000 over 2 years. This is called the Child Dental Benefit Scheme. Our receptionists can check if you are eligible to use this scheme. If eligible, you can use this scheme for treatment in our clinic, however we do not bulk bill. You can claim either in person or online with Medicare. The whole cost of your child’s treatment may not be covered under the scheme.
Unfortunately, due to Medicare rules, this scheme cannot be used for treatment under general anaesthetic provided at hospital.
You can find further information on CDBS from the following link:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/childdental
When should I bring my child ?
The recommendation from both the Australian and American Academies of Paediatric Dentistry is that a child should first see a dentist by 12 months old or when their first tooth erupts, whichever is first. At this appointment, our Paediatric Dentists will mainly give advice to the child’s caregiver and provide a brief examination of the oral cavity. Recall visits are then scheduled to individual patient needs and requirements. If you have not seen a dentist and your child is much older, do not panic! It is never too late to bring your child. It is however better to bring a child without a problem if possible. This allows us to introduce dentistry with prevention rather than treatment.