ORTHODONTICS - Interest-Free Payment Plan
ORTHODONTICS - Interest-Free Payment Plan
A. Each new patient will have their medical/dental history reviewed to ensure we are aware of important considerations such as drugs you are allergic to, medications you are taking, medical/dental conditions, and concerns you may have about your oral health. You complete a medical/dental history form when you arrive and the dentist will review this with you in the surgery; following which you will be provided with a thorough dental examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, tongue, lips, and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). Dental xrays are frequently taken at this visit. The current condition of your teeth will be documented (charted) so we have a record of the existing dental treatments in your mouth. This will help determine your current state of oral health. If you require further dental treatment, this will be fully explained to you and you will be advised of the number of visits that will be required to complete the treatment. Where necessary (e.g. complex or ongoing treatments), a detailed estimate and treatment plan will also be provided to you.
A. We pride ourselves on providing quality dentistry at an economical cost. Our costs are based on the Australian Dental Association fee scale which details average treatment costs in NSW. Hence, we are known for our reasonable costs. In addition to our general economical treatment costs, we also provide savings to patients in the following ways:
- Discounts: e.g. treatments for aged pensioners;
- Multiples: multiple treatments (e.g. 4 veneers, 4 extractions, 6 fillings, etc);
- Promotions: special advertisements (e.g. take home teeth whitening).
A. We operate our own interest-free payment plan for some treatments (e.g. orthodontics).
A. Yes we do – all patients are welcome at our practice.
A. As we have your best interests in mind, we will always recommend treatment that we consider necessary. Not accepting our advice may lead to more significant problems in the future. However, ultimately, it is your decision on whether or not to proceed. We understand there may be other factors influencing a patient’s decision and will endeavour to try to work with each individual to do the best that we can for them under the circumstances.
A. For all genuine emergencies, it is our policy to try to see patients on the day that they contact the surgery. However, this can often be difficult when our day is already booked out in advance. Therefore, as long as you are prepared to sit and wait, we will endeavour to find an appropriate opportunity to fit you in around other patients. Under these circumstances we are unable to give patients any indication of waiting times.
A. Yes, of course, all patients are always welcome at our practice.
A. The dentists that work in our practice typically have in excess of 10 years post-graduate experience. The principal dentist, Dr Rice, has over 28 years experience in general dentistry and orthodontics, and has performed approximately 150,000 procedures in her career.
Similarly, our dental surgery assistants also have many years of experience looking after, and tending to the needs of our patients.
A. There are a number of factors. Our practice décor is not typical of a true clinical environment and this helps patients feel at home from the moment they arrive. Our experienced and pleasant staff will welcome and look after you and ensure you feel at ease. Our dentists use their gentle touch and use special techniques and take their time in administering treatments - by doing so, we provide every possibility of ensuring your visit with us is a gentle dental experience!
A. Our dental practice adopts and practices the highest standards of hygiene and cross-infection control procedures. We pride ourselves on setting and exceeding standards of cleanliness. We use contemporary autoclaves to ensure all instruments are completely sterilised, and we have stringent practice guidelines for instrument and equipment wrapping. We also employ modern techniques and cleaning down procedures to ensure hygiene is better than it can be. Dental surgeries in NSW have their practice routines and standards randomly inspected by the Dental Board of NSW. Our practice has previously been found to be practising the highest standards of cross-infection control procedures.
A. Our primary focus is always on the best interests of the patient and their care. Accordingly, we will occasionally recommend the use of a specialist for certain treatments. A good example would be dental implants. We believe the surgical aspect of this treatment is best provided by an oral and maxillo-facial surgeon who is a specialist in this field. We will subsequently fit the crown or bridgework following the implant surgery.
We always try to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. We have built up strong alliances with many dental specialists in the Hawkesbury and other areas so our patients can access all services and have the best possible care as part of their treatment planning options.
A. We recommend two visits per year to your dentist as being ideal. This frequency provides us with the best opportunity to pick up and diagnose problems and, thus, the best chance of preventing problems from arising or becoming progressively worse. Needless to say, this is also the most cost-effective option in the long term because problems can be averted and remedial treatments are normally easier and cheaper to resolve early on.
A. A consultation is the time you talk (consult) with your dentist about specific concerns or advice you may need about your teeth – this tends to be one-off advice not associated with any treatment plan you may be undergoing. For example, you may want to know about the cosmetic treatment options available to you to close a gap between two teeth, or the options for treating a missing tooth.
An examination, on the other hand, is a thorough check of the condition of your mouth, gums, teeth, and joints (jaw) and will include discussion of treatment planning options for the necessary work arising out of the examination.