Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

How much is a first appointment?

A new-patient examination, scale and clean, fluoride and two x-rays is $199. If you are coming in because something hurts, the emergency examination is $145 and includes an x-ray and a written plan. Any treatment beyond that is quoted before it starts — we do not begin work you have not seen a price for.

Which health funds do you accept, and can I claim on the spot?

All Australian funds, through HICAPS at the front desk: you pay the gap rather than the full amount, and there is no claim form for you to lodge. We also hold no-gap preventive arrangements with several of the larger funds, which usually covers a twice-yearly check-up and clean in full. Bring your card, or your fund number if the card is on your phone.

What happens at my first visit?

Forty-five minutes, most of it spent looking and talking. We take a short medical and dental history, examine your teeth, gums and soft tissues, take two small x-rays, and clean and polish. You then see what we found on the screen and get a written plan with priorities and costs — what needs doing now, what can be watched, and what is genuinely optional.

Is there parking near the practice?

Yes. There is metered one-hour parking directly on Bridge Road and two-hour parking on the residential side streets behind us, which is usually easier mid-morning. East Richmond station is a four-minute walk, and the 48 and 75 trams stop outside the door. If you are being sedated or have had an extraction, arrange a lift rather than driving yourself home.

Can I be seen today if I am in pain?

Usually. We keep same-day slots free every weekday and on Saturday morning for urgent problems, so ring before 4pm and describe what has happened. If the day is genuinely full we will say so rather than book you a week out, and we will tell you how to manage until we can see you. Spreading facial swelling or difficulty swallowing is a hospital matter — call 000.

I have avoided the dentist for years. Where do I start?

With an appointment where nothing is done. We will look, take x-rays, and tell you what is there — and that is the whole visit if you want it to be. From there, treatment gets sequenced into short appointments in the order that matters, starting with whatever is likely to cause pain. Tell the front desk when you book that it has been a long time; it changes how we run the appointment, and nobody here is going to lecture you.

Can I pay for larger treatment in instalments?

Yes. Longer courses of work such as implants or crowns are staged over months anyway, so payments fall due stage by stage rather than all at once. We also accept the common interest-free payment plans for dental treatment, and for a planned course we will write out the schedule of what falls due when before you commit to anything.

Do you treat children, and do you take the Medicare dental scheme?

We see children from around age two, and we bulk bill the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible families, which means no payment on the day and no claim for you to lodge. We check your entitlement and remaining balance with Medicare at the front desk. If you would like the whole family seen in one trip, ask for consecutive appointments when you book.