Dental FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
At High Road Dental And Implant Centre, we make it a particular point to ensure that you understand each dental treatment decision that is being made and talk you through every procedure that is being done.
We also believe in giving you ample time to consider your options, and we understand that you might have many questions that you did not think to ask while on the dental chair. The following are answers to some frequently asked questions. We are more than happy to answer any other queries you have. Please feel to email us or give us a ring.
Financial FAQ
Tailored payment plans to eligible patients are available interest free. We are not with any third-party payment plan providers because paying assorted extra fees do not align with our philosophy. Most of our complex treatments like implants and Invisalign are paid for in stages. Speak directly with us, we can work something out for you. We welcome you to email us or reach out via the web-chat.
We are preferred providers for Bupa, HBF, HCF, Medibank which means you will receive free checks and cleans, x-rays, and maximum rebates available for all other treatment, compared with a non-preferred provider.
We are not paid by the insurance companies nor do we pay any fees to them. Rather, we agree to keep to a maximum treatment cost so that all private health fund members can have peace of mind knowing their dental treatment costs are capped. In order to become a preferred provider, we keep to rigorously strict standards. For example, Medibank awards Members’ Choice Advantage status only to clinics who are QIP accredited. At Members’ Choice Advantage clinics, you can earn 1000 Live Better points for every dental checks which you can then redeem for cash rewards.
We also accept ALL OTHER private health funds like AHM, HIF, NIB, and can process your rebates on-the-spot with the HICAPS claims system.
There is a lot of navigation involved with private health funds. We strive to help and we provide advice to the best of our knowledge. However, insurance plans can differ from person to person, we do not have authority to check on your plan details, nor do we have any control over how much rebate you receive. We welcome you to drop by with your health fund card, no appointments required, just approach our friendly receptionists who will gladly provide obligation-free quotes. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is best to contact your health fund directly.
The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme is a means-tested scheme supported by the government to provide dental care to eligible families. It is available for 2-17 year olds and can range from $1000 per year to $1000 over two calendar years, depending on your family income. You will receive notification from Centrelink if you are eligible. You can check on your eligibility by logging onto your Medicare account via MyGov.
Alternatively please call 132 011 which brings you to an automated options menu for you to check on your eligibility and your account balance. At High Road Dental, we provide care for children under this scheme. You just need to bring along your Medicare card on the appointment day and we will be able to process the bulk billing for you. Orthodontic treatment and mouthguard not covered under this scheme but for most treatment like routine cleans, fillings, x-rays, root canal treatments and extractions, you will not need to pay any out-of-pocket.
The price of treatment differs from patient to patient, depending on the complexity of treatment required. For example, our cleanings range from $80-$220, because some patients have been faithfully coming for six-month cleans while some patients present, never having had a single cleaning done in their entire lives! A filling can cost from $120-$250 depending on the number of tooth surfaces and the position of the tooth. Root canal treatments are from $450-$1500. Extractions can cost $150 for a simple extraction while it can go to $380 for a surgical removal of an impacted wisdom tooth. Our dental crowns cost $1200-$1700. Implants cost from $4500. Invisalign treatment range from $3500-$8900 inclusive of all x-rays, diagnostic scans and retainers. These prices are all BEFORE any insurance rebates.
At High Road Dental, we believe in transparency over treatment costs. At your initial consultation, we will be able to provide you with a personalised quote based on the treatment you need. We also will provide the treatment item code, so that you can check directly with your private health fund if needed. Please also feel free to drop by our clinic, at your convenience, no appointment needed, with your health fund card and speak with our friendly receptionists who will gladly provide you with no-obligation quotes.
Many of our patients have commented that the costs were not as bad as they imagined and they wished they had seen us sooner. Our entire team are committed to providing the highest quality at the best value to our patients. Join the family! We look forward to welcoming you.
Treatment FAQ
A very warm welcome to you! All new patients are requested to fill in a medical questionnaire form. Settle back in our comfy reception to fill that up or we can also email the form to you to fill up beforehand. Please note especially all medications you are currently taking and also any allergies. All information is kept in strict confidentiality. Please ask to see our privacy policy.
Please let us know if you have any spoken language preference. We are fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien and Korean.
We will take time to get to know your concerns and reasons for the visit before performing a comprehensive examination. This usually include two small digital x-rays which enables us to diagnose hidden decay, and we might take photographic records so that we can track and monitor changes in your dental health. Armed with information, we formulate treatment plans that are custom tailored to your needs, be it just a simple clean or more complex work like implants and Invisalign. Our ultimate goal is for you to be able to be in control of your dental health, and to able to function effectively, eating and speaking well while smiling confidently, for long-term dental wellness.
First dental visits can be nerve-wracking for both child and parents. Here are some things you can do to help prepare your child for a successful happy first visit to the dentist. YouTube is very helpful, there are videos of popular cartoon characters going to the dentist and they all reinforce positive messages like the importance of caring for your teeth. Also practice having your child open his mouth for you to have a look and say, “Wow, you’ve got such great teeth! Let’s count them…great job!” We encourage our parents to bring their children along when they come for their own routine checks or when the elder siblings get their checks done, so that the young child can see for himself exactly what will occur and that usually reduces some of the fear of the unknown. We also prepare “prizes” for little ones who did well during their dental checks, (no lollies, this is the dentist here folks!) little toys, bouncy balls, stamps, stickers which are very popular and well-received.
First dental visits can be nerve-wracking for both child and parents. Here are some things you can do to help prepare your child for a successful happy first visit to the dentist. YouTube is very helpful, there are videos of popular cartoon characters going to the dentist and they all reinforce positive messages like the importance of caring for your teeth. Also practise having your child open his mouth for you to have a look and say, “Wow, you’ve got such great teeth! Let’s count them…great job!” We encourage our parents to bring their children along when they come for their own routine checks or when the elder siblings get their checks done, so that the young child can see for himself exactly what will occur and that usually reduces some of the fear of the unknown. We also prepare “prizes” for little ones who did well during their dental checks, (no lollies, this is the dentist here folks!) little toys, bouncy balls, stamps, stickers which are very popular and well-received.
Orthodontics
The two main treatments are fixed metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners. Early treatment intervention options include removable plates. Our dentists will be able to advise you on the treatment options after a consultation. We can also provide advice during your routine dental checks and cleans, please let the receptionists know when you make your bookings or just let the dentist know on the appointment itself.
The duration of your treatment is determined by many factors, including the specific orthodontic procedure you need to undergo. It can range from as short as three months to as long as 5 years! But most people average a year to 18 months. With Invisalign, we can achieve very good results from 3 to 6 months.
For the majority of the cases we treat, the time when all the baby teeth have been replaced by adult teeth is the most suitable, around 12 years old. This is so for patients with pure crowding issues, which means the teeth size is too big for their jaw sizes resulting in insufficient space to fit all the teeth in and the teeth go crooked. For patients with skeletal issues, for example, where the lower jaw protrudes in front of the upper jaw, the age of 8 to 9 years is a good time to get a referral to see the specialist to start treatment planning.
From our routine six-monthly checks, we can identify likely issues and have helped kids from as young as 5 years old to lower the risk of future need for complex orthodontics, just by wearing a night guard like the MyoTrainer.
Problems like deep bites or cross-bites can be treated with simple removable plates from 9 years old. We usually start treatment like these if the patients are motivated and compliant, because these treatment rely on the patient wearing the plate all the time, removing them for meals only. Alternatively, there are fixed options where the patient is not able to remove the treatment appliance, but this can be much more uncomfortable and more costly. We have had very good results with patients who are cooperative and compliant. Otherwise, we can decide to wait until the patient is older and he can undergo full orthodontic treatment.
These are general scenarios and our dentists will be able to provide advice specific to your need.
We welcome email enquiries if you have any queries, we are always happy to help. Please feel free to email us at contact@highroaddental.com.au.
