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| FAQs |
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Q. What age should children come to the dentist?
A. We encourage parents to bring young children in as early as possible when attending for their own treatment. That way they get used to the dental clinic. Often we give them a ride in the chair on Mum or Dad's lap for fun. We encourage regular preventive care from an early age after the baby teeth first come through. This way we can avoid problems from occurring later on.
Q. What is preventive care? How often should I have it?
A. Preventive care is the philosophy of preventing dental disease before it even starts with regular cleaning, fluoride (or fluoride alternative) and check ups. We at Duncraig Dental Care strongly encourage regular 6 monthly preventive care visits. During pregnancy or sometimes for specific problems such as periodontal disease we may recommend more frequent 3 monthly visits. This involves having your teeth cleaned by our dental therapist and having your mouth (both soft and hard tissues) thoroughly examined by the dentist. Once the teeth are clean the dental therapist will toughen the tooth enamel by applying a fluoride gel treatment which is also good if any teeth are sensitive. For those not keen on having fluoride we have Tooth Mousse (a non fluoride alternative) which does a similar job.
Q. I have just had my teeth whitened. How long will it last?
A. That will depend on many dietary factors or lifestyle choices such as smoking. For example red wine, coffee, green tea and smoking will all accelerate the return of staining. We provided you with take home tooth whitening trays which you can use yourself to do any touching up. This may be required every 12 to 18 months.
Q. Will this hurt?
A. Once your tooth is numb there is no reason to feel anything. Sometimes extra anaesthetic may be given if a tooth has an extra nerve or if it has been very sore beforehand. The dentist and nursing staff are all very experienced at anaesthesia and will constantly monitor your numbness during your visit.
Q Do I need an injection? Will it hurt?
A. Everybody is different when it comes to this. For simple treatment like fissure sealants no local anaesthetic (LA) injection is necessary. For more involved treatment normally we would numb you up with a LA injection. This is done in a very careful, controlled manner by skilled professionals using surface numbing gel beforehand. In this way very often patients are unaware when the injection has been given. For those patients really afraid of injections we sometimes use various forms of sedation (see Sedation Dentistry). A rare few patients appear to have a very high tolerance to pain and can have virtually any treatment done without any injections at all.
Q. When can I eat and drink?
A. If you are numb you will need to wait until it wears off so you don't accidentally bite your lip, cheek or tongue or burn yourself with a hot drink. This usually takes anywhere from 1 - 3 hours. back to top
Q. How much does a check up cost? How much is my treatment going to cost?
A. This will depend on what you want done. At a minimum it will include a thorough examination of all the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth. Usually xray films are necessary for the dentist to see what is going on below the gums or inside the teeth where he cannot see visually. Some patients might have an urgent problem requiring immediate treatment at that first appointment. Please ring the surgery on 9448 3111 and discuss your needs we can give you an estimate of the cost. Once the dentist has examined your teeth and seen the necessary films a detailed treatment plan will be made to suit your requirements. The treatment plan will detail the number and length of appointments, the treatment item details and the anticipated cost.
Q. Why do I need xray films? Are they safe? How often should they be done?
A. Dental films (xrays) are necessary for the dentist to see what is going on below the gums or inside the teeth where he cannot see visually. Dental films are very small and pose no significant radiation risk. At Duncraig Dental Care we use advanced digital imaging which reduces the already minimal radiation dosage even more. As a general rule, we recommend routine films every two years. However, some patients with specific problems may need more frequent films to monitor their progress.
Q. How may I pay my account?
A. Duncraig Dental Care requires payment at the time of treatment. We accept cash, EFTPOS, cheque, Visa and MasterCard. We now also offer GE Money CareCredit which allows you to start treatment today and pay for it interest free up to 6 months. Using our Hicaps machine we can also process EFTPOS (electronic fund transfers) and you can claim your health insurance rebate on the spot.
Q. Which health insurance schemes do you recommend?
A. We recommend SGIO, Grand United (GU) and Manchester Unity as having the best dental cover and the convenience of Hicaps claims processing on the spot at Duncraig Dental Care. We recommend however that you conduct your own research of all healthfunds taking into consideration all your health requirements before joining a health fund.
Q. Why aren't you a preferred provider for a health fund?
A. "Preferred" or "Participating" providers are dentists that have contracted with a health insurance company to practice under their set of rules usually for a set fee to the patient. Duncraig Dental Care will never become a preferred provider as we believe no third parties should ever come between the dentist - patient relationship. It is not for the insurance company to dictate what dental treatment can and cannot be done. We feel that this may not be in the best interest of our patients and will not compromise our standards in dentistry to accomodate a health fund.
Q. Should I have all my black amalgams replaced?
A. There has been a lot of media debate about the safety of the mercury amalgam fillings and a lot of the claims flying about are unscientifically proven. If you have amalgam fillings in your mouth in GOOD condition then there is no reason to have them removed. However after 8 - 10 years amalgams tend to start corroding around the edges resulting in leakage which lets plaque and decay causing bacteria to get underneath. For this and other reasons we at Duncraig Dental Care have not used amalgam fillings for over 10 years. Other more cosmetic tooth coloured fillings are available which do not leak and can be bonded to the tooth improving the adhesive strength.
Q. Is it OK to have treatment during pregnancy?
A. There is no contraindications for having local anaesthetics or dental treatment during pregnancy. If you have other concerns speak to your obstetrician or medical GP.
Q. Can I have my amalgam fillings removed while pregnant or breast feeding?
A. It has been suggested that removing amalgam fillings with the dental drill creates a health risk while pregnant. This can be done quite safely with the use of the high volume suction which catches and removes all the amalgam debris as it is removed. It is also possible to remove amalgams under rubber dam (a rubber barrier attached to the tooth being worked on to prevent any debris from entering the mouth) if so desired. Please fell free to discuss any concerns you have with your dentist.
Q. How often should I have my teeth cleaned while pregnant?
A. During pregnancy the hormonal changes tend to increase the sensitivity of the gums to gingivitis and gum disease. Meticulous brushing and flossing is essential and 3 monthly preventive care cleaning is recommended to avoid problems.
Q. How long will my new crown last?
A. The average lifespan of a crown is usually around 10 years, sometimes longer sometimes shorter. The crown itself is strong but the tooth underneath can still decay if it is not properly brushed or flossed just like any other tooth.
Q. Is my dental work guaranteed?
A. Any work you receive at Duncraig Dental Care is conditionally guaranteed for up to 12 months against material failure. Conditions excluded are those outside our control such as decay due to poor oral hygiene or failure to follow instructions such as wearing a bitesplint if you are a tooth bruxer (severe grinding or clenching)
Q. What is Sedation Dentistry?
A. Sedation Dentistry is a fantastic option for people who are extremely nervous or have a phobias of dentists. It is also an option for patients who are haveing more complex treatment such as removal of wisdom teeth. At Duncraig Dental Care we offer three types of sedation.
Duncraig Dental Care doesn ot use any unsafe sedation practices such as 'Pentrox". For more information please contact the surgery on 9448 3111.
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