FAQ - Clare Valley Family Dental

How much will my appointment cost?

Total fees vary from patient to patient depending on how simple or complex your needs are and what treatment is required. All options and costs will be discussed at your initial consult and a printed treatment plan detailing prices will be provided. Please contact us if requiring prices of examinations, x-rays, and hygiene appointments, ‘emergency’ appointments, etc.

We offer a 20% discount for all children and a gap-free (bulk-billed) service for eligible children under the federal government’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

Payment and Pricing

At Clare Valley Family Dental, we pride ourselves on providing our patients with the best treatments tailored to their individual needs. In some instances, there may be various treatment options and your dentist will clearly explain the costs involved for each scenario so that patients can make an informed decision. It is our policy that our patients are aware of the price of all proposed treatment prior to the treatment being started. A printed treatment plan will be provided which clearly states all costs involved. The fees on the treatment plan are valid for 6 months from the date the treatment plan is created.

We accept the following payment methods

HICAPS
EFTPOS
Visa, MasterCard or American Express (no surcharge)
Cash
Cheque

We offer a 20% discount to children seen at the clinic and gap-free (bulk-billed) service to children eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (see below).

Payment Plans

We understand that some people may find it difficult to pay for their dental treatment all at once. We are happy to arrange for regular deposits to be made prior to your appointment so that the cost is not such a burden. Please ask our friendly staff if you would like to arrange for pre-payment.

Department of Veteran Affairs

We are thrilled to be able to provide a gap-free service to DVA gold card holders. Gold card holders are required to bring their card to every appointment. For further information on whether you are eligible please contact the Department of Veterans' Affairs on 133 254 or visit the DVA Website.

Child Dental Benefits Scheme

Clare Valley Family Dental offers a gap-free (bulk-billed) service for those children eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule was introduced by the Australian Government to provide financial assistance to families to access preventative dental care for children and teenagers. The scheme aims to encourage young people to care for their oral health by providing access to regular preventative dentistry in their higher risk years. This education will encourage maintenance of good oral health habits as they grow older and become more independent.

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule provides dental benefits up to $1000 every two years per eligible child to help families with the cost of an oral examination, radiographs, preventative services and treatment. It is a means-tested plan and eligible families will automatically receive a letter in the post from Medicare if children are eligible. We encourage parents to call Medicare to find out about their children’s eligibility before attending their appointments. For more information, see the guide to CDBS.

Will it hurt?

Modern dentistry is relatively pain-free due to advances in materials and anaesthetic techniques. Our dentist and oral health therapist will talk you through every step of the way so there are no surprises.

Do I need a referral?

No, you do not need a referral to see the dentist or oral health therapist.

Can I use my private health insurance?

Yes! We accept all private health funds. Just make sure you bring your card with you on the day so that we can complete an on-the-spot claim with HICAPS.

What brands and products do you stock?

We stock a wide range of oral hygiene products including whitening kits, manual and electric toothbrushes, toothpastes, interdental brushes, floss, mouth rinses, Tooth Mousse, and other specialist oral hygiene items. Brands include Colgate, Oral B, GC, Curaprox, Piksters, SDI and Reach.

At what age should I start bringing my child to the dentist?

It’s a good idea to bring your children with you to your dental appointments from a young age (even in infancy) so they become familiar with the sounds, smells and sights of the dental clinic. The Australian Dental Association recommend children have dental check-ups from the time their first tooth erupts or twelve months of age (whichever occurs first). We certainly recommend from age two your child can start having regular dental check-ups. We make this as fun as possible for them; they go for a ride in the chair, we show them the instruments that will be used, and they are given a “goodie bag” to take home with a new toothbrush, toothpaste, a colouring in sheet, and a sticker to show to their friends and family.

What does my first appointment involve?

At your first dental appointment, your dentist will look closely at all of your teeth and make a ‘chart’ of what they see.
You are likely to have an x-ray or x-rays taken so the dentist can get a complete picture of what is going on with your teeth.
After a thorough examination of your teeth and gums, the dentist will discuss if any treatment is required, and about preventative techniques for the future.

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