FAQ

Is it still ok to attend my appointment?

Yes, our practice cross-infection control meets the highest Australian standards. Originally implemented to prevent the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C, it also meets the requirements for COVID 19. This includes:
• wiping down surgeries thoroughly between every patient with a high grade disinfectant
• processing instruments with latest sterilization protocols

In response to the Coronavirus threat:
• we have increased our cleaning of the front desk and provided patients with access to hand sanitizer.
• our staff will take sick leave at the first hint of illness even if they are not experiencing coronavirus symptoms
• we are asking patients who are unwell to reschedule appointments a few weeks later so they do not bring any potential bugs into our practice.

What if you have to close down between my appointments?

This will be ok. We regularly start treatment on patients before they go away on long holidays and sometimes even prefer to leave teeth for 3-6 months between appointments. Our temporary restorations are made to last this length of time. And your risk of further toothaches is greatly reduced once treatment is commenced as opposed to leaving your tooth as is.

How can I be assured that other patients I am exposed to in your practice are not likely to infect me with COVID-19?

We are strictly screening all patients before they present to our practice and will not allow patients or staff who have had exposure to or are at risk of exposure, to attend our practice. We are also asking all patients and staff with any flu-like symptoms not to attend their appointments or come to work.

We have implemented social distancing practices in our waiting room and ask all patients to respect this situation.

Yes, your general dentist will refer you to us when they feel that specialist treatment is required. Please ensure that you bring your referral with you on your first visit or have your general dentist email it to us.

We understand that sometimes you may have to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If this is the case, we ask that you provide us with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice by contacting our friendly reception team. Unfortunately if adequate notice is not given, a fee may be charged.

Once an initial consultation appointment has been scheduled, we will provide you with your own login details including user ID and password, to enable you to login to the PATIENT LOGIN area of our website and process your registration. This registration process includes your medical history and current medications. When done online this allows you the time to complete these details at a convenient time without having to rush. On arrival we only need you to allow about 5 minutes to confirm details with our friendly reception staff, amend anything if required and provide a digital signature. If you are unable to complete your patient registration online prior to your appointment, please arrive 15 minutes early so that we can complete this with you.

Your initial consultation appointment may cost up to $300 which includes X-Rays and 3D imaging if required. After your consultation, your endodontist will be better able to give you an idea of what your treatment will entail, including the number of appointments. Prior to commencement of treatment, you will be sent a quote so you are fully aware of expected costs. If you have private health insurance extras cover, you may be able to claim a rebate from your insurer. Our friendly reception staff can assist with providing you the item numbers so that you can check your available rebate with your private health insurer. If you would like to better understand how private health funds determine rebates, you can do so on the Australian Dental Association’s website.

After endodontic therapy a review of healing is required which may occur 6 to 12 months after the procedure was finished. In some circumstances this is not required however your endodontist will advise you of this at the time of treatment. Our office will send a reminder notice to you when you are due for a recall appointment.

We will take every measure to ensure that your procedure is in no way uncomfortable or painful. If treatment is needed, we will inject a small amount of anaesthetic to gently numb a concentrated area of your mouth. For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.

Patients often report having had teeth extracted after endodontic therapy is performed and hence are pessimistic about the potential outcome of treatment. As endodontic specialists, we often see patients who need treatment of failing root canals however these failures are often the result of problems in the original treatment and once corrected, the tooth goes on to heal successfully. Our expectations for long term healing of diseased teeth are high and your individual expectation will be assessed and discussed with you prior to any treatment being commenced.