Answers to frequently asked questions are below.
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE CHILDREN’S DENTAL BENEFITS SCHEDULE (CDBS)?
Yes, DBay Dental care for patients aged 2 to 17 years under the Children’s Dental Benefit Schedule. When you request an appointment with the clinic please advise the receptionist that this is a CDBS patient at the first opportunity, as the child’s eligibility will need to be confirmed by the clinic before scheduling the appointment. For more information on the CDBS please ‘click here’.
DO YOU HAVE HICAPS?
Yes DBay Dental has HICAPS on site. You can use HICAPS to lodge your health fund claims on the spot. After the consultation, your health fund card is simply swiped into the HICAPS terminal. Your claim details are entered and in seconds the whole transaction is processed. The whole process is quick and easy, with no queuing or claim forms to complete. Once your claim is authorised by the health fund, you simply pay the gap amount – the difference between the full fee for the treatment and the amount claimed from your health fund.
WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDS ORTHODONTICS?
DBay Dental can offer a referral to an orthodontist.
DO I NEED X-RAYS?
The need for dental x-rays is determined by what treatment needs to be done and how long it has been since the last x-rays were taken. If you are only having a filling an x-ray may not be necessary if the cavity is plainly visible. However, if the extent of the decay is not plainly visible and/or you require additional treatment an x-ray may be necessary. If you are having a check up the need for x-rays is determined by several factors which the dentist will need to take into account at the time (e.g. time since last x-rays, number and size of existing fillings, ease of access between teeth to check for cavities, caries history of the patient, etc.). If you are having a tooth extracted it is almost certain that you will require an x-ray.
IS FLUORIDE SAFE?
The fluoride being added to Queensland’s water supply is at a very low concentration of 0.6 parts per million (600ml per million litres). Fluoride has been in Canberra, Hobart and Townsville’s water supply since 1964, Sydney’s and Perth’s water since 1968, Adelaide since 1971 and Melbourne’s since 1977. There is no reputable evidence of any detrimental health effects of adding this concentration of fluoride to the water supply. There is, however, a great deal of evidence of the benefits to children’s teeth as they are growing.
For more information ‘click here’
DO YOU TREAT CHILDREN?
DBay Dental is a family practice and the dentists working out of the clinic and dental assistants have a great deal of experience treating children of all ages. The dentist will always aim to minimise any potential distress to patients as they understand this may lead to a reluctance to seek dental treatment as an adult. If your child has a good experience at the dentist now, this will lead to better oral health outcomes for them in the future. If a child is particularly anxious about treatment we have a range of sedation options that can be discussed with your dentist. However, in an extreme case a dentist will refer a child to a specialist Paediatric Dentist.
DO YOU USE MERCURY FILLINGS?
DBay Dental does not place Amalgam fillings. ‘Tooth-Coloured’ restorations are standard practice now in the Dental Industry.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The cost of treatment is determined by what needs to be done and the complexity of that treatment. DBay Dental endeavour to keep fees as reasonable as possible without compromising the quality of the work provided to you. DBay Dental offer Eftpos facilities, and if you are a member of a health fund you can claim your fund portion using HICAPS so that you only pay the gap at the time of treatment.
WILL IT HURT? DO YOU USE GAS?
No dentist wants their patients to feel pain. DBay Dental make every effort possible to keep your treatment pain free. The dentists working out of DBay Dental use topical anaesthetic (“numbing gel/paste”) before injections and if you need, or want, more anaesthetic they are happy to provide it. DBay Dental also have a range of sedation options that can be discussed with your dentist. The DBay Dental philosophy is to solve your dental issues in a painless manner while ensuring you remain as comfortable and relaxed as possible throughout the process.