As Dental Reflections is a private clinic, most patients are unable to claim Medicare benefits for procedures provided from this clinic. However The Child Dental Benefits Schedule aims to assist families with the cost of basic dental services for children aged 2 – 17 years of age. This Schedule commenced on 1st January 2014 and the total benefit entitlement is capped at $1,000 per child over a two calendar year period.
The Child Dental Benefit Schedule is means tested, which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB-A) or a relevant Australian Government payment.
For further information and to check your eligibility please visit the Department of Human Services website.
Yes we can offer support to Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Afrikaans and Dutch speaking customers. An interpreter can be organised to help patients that speak other languages.
Payment is required on the day of treatment. For your convenience we accept cash, cheque, Visa, MasterCard and Debit Card. For patients with private health insurance, HICAPS is also available. Under certain circumstances, we can provide interest free payment plans. GE Credit or MAC credit facilities can be arranged.
No we do not. Thanks to technological advances, dentists and patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to restore a tooth. Among the choices are natural tooth-coloured materials such as resin-based composite fillings and more traditional dental fillings such as those made of metal amalgam. The advent of new materials for fillings has been beneficial, especially in terms of aesthetics.
Absolutely. There are a number of methods you can choose here at Dental Reflections to improve patient comfort and acceptance of dental procedures. This can range from oral, inhalational (nitrous oxide), intravenous and general anaesthesia, depending on patient treatment requirements.
A crown is often the best way to save a tooth and strengthen it. Although the outside of each tooth is made of strong enamel, teeth can be weakened due to tooth decay, large fillings, root canal therapy or age related wear and tear. The crown fits over the prepared existing tooth like a thimble and replaces the natural ‘crown’ of the tooth. A crown strengthens a weakened tooth to help give it the best long term strength and prognosis. At Dental Reflections we use both CAD-CAM technology for crown fabrication and we use local laboratories. We do not send our work overseas to China or Japan.
Here at Dental Reflections we believe in making every child’s visit to the Dentist as enjoyable as possible. We encourage you to bring your children in with you to your check-up appointments from very early on. This introduces them to the dental environment and the Dentist in a non-threatening way and allows your child to have confidence when it is their turn. Most children will have all of their baby teeth between 2-3 years of age. It is during this time that they should have their first ‘official’ check-up. After meeting the team here at Dental Reflections we find most children look forward to their dental visits!
Here at Dental Reflections we recommend our patients visit our practice every 6 months for their thorough examination and professional scale and clean. This way we can ensure little problems do not become major dental issues that can be costly to rectify and require more complicated procedures.
We routinely take dental radiographs (x-rays) every 2-3 years to check for decay. Radiographs show the structure of your teeth and mouth that cannot be seen visually. Using radiographs, your dentist can detect problems during your clinical examination and sometimes before symptoms appear. With early detection, a problem can often be treated before it becomes serious.
From time to time there are other more specific reasons to take an x-ray, for example, before procedures such as tooth extraction, Root canal treatment, possible infection or to check on wisdom teeth.
The radiation you receive from one digital radiograph is less than you receive on any given day from back ground radiation from the atmosphere, the sun and the stars.
The simple answer is ‘Yes’. There have been no major health problems attributed to tooth whitening products when used as directed. While whitening products have a very good safety record, it is possible to injure your teeth if you over use them or use one of poor quality. Just remember over the counter kits are cheaper than professional whitening, but any damage they cause may be expensive to repair, as some of these whitening products contain acid that can dissolve tooth enamel. We recommend here at Dental Reflections to always consult a Dentist before you commence any whitening products.
Tooth decay can be caused by a number of factors. A diet high in sugar and acid, together with plaque left on teeth, will create an environment where decay can develop. Another factor of importance is the amount of saliva present. Many medications as well as caffeine and alcohol dry the mouth leaving the teeth susceptible to decay.
Why am I seeing a hygienist/Oral health therapist for my scale and clean?
Here at Dental Reflections we place a heavy emphasis on the prevention of gum disease and tooth decay. Dental hygienists and Oral Health therapists are trained in the cleaning and maintenance of your teeth and gums. At your appointment our team will give you an evaluation and assessment of your gum condition, professionally scale and polish your teeth, deliver individual oral hygiene instruction and, if needed, apply fluoride solutions to help prevent tooth decay. Our Oral Hygiene Department works closely with our dentists to offer you an individually tailored preventive program to help you keep your teeth for life.
In recent years some health funds have introduced “contracted dentist” schemes which claim to decrease your out-of-pocket costs. These schemes do not decrease your premiums or increase your annual limits, you may get lower gap payments with a contracted dentist, but you will be entitled to fewer claimable services in the same calendar year as that compared with a non-contracted dentist.
Health Fund rebates have not only failed to keep pace with costs associated with the provision of dental care, but the range of services claimable in a calendar year have also become increasingly more restricted.
By becoming a contracted dentist, the dentist concerned agrees to accept the terms and fees as set down by the respective health fund. This effectively guarantees the customer a fixed and predictable treatment gap. There are, however, problems with “managed care”. Like most things, you get what you pay for. Such schemes assume all dental providers are the same and that the only factor influencing choice is “cost”. This is a limited viewpoint of a very complex dentist-patient relationship, with other factors such as Trust, Quality and Care playing equal if not more important roles when choosing a dentist. In summary, standards may drop whilst treatment failure and patient dissatisfaction increase.
Remember, the health fund is just a business and the contracted dentist scheme is a business decision.
An interesting link to read: http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-30/dentists-say-targets-bonuses-leading-to-unnecessary-procedures/8665038?pfmredir=sm&sf94235976=1
Contracted dentists schemes remove patient rights to having their treatment performed by a clinician of their own choosing. Here at DENTAL REFLECTIONS we strongly believe contracted dentists schemes are not in the best interest of our patients. We believe it should be your choice to see whichever dentist you please not be dictated to by an insurance company. Ultimately it is your decision, and remember there are health funds out there doing the right thing by their customers and the dental profession. For further information just ask one of our friendly office staff members.