Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry | Frequently Asked Questions | Call: 08 8213 1821

FAQs

Please click on each category below to view FAQs for that topic.

General FAQ

Q: How much will the treatment cost?

A: Fees vary for each treatment and for each patient. It is almost impossible to let you know roughly how much procedures cost without actually seeing your teeth. With any procedure the best thing to do is come in and see either Dr Amrein or Dr Reddy for a consultation. At this appointment you will find out all of your treatment options, have any questions answered and gain an estimated quote and treatment plan. Please contact our rooms (08) 8213 1821 to make a time.

Q: Will my private health insurance cover the cost of treatment?

A: Depending on your level of dental (extras) coverage will determine what and how much treatment is covered. Most treatment is claimable through your insurance but rebates do vary. At your consultation appointment – which you are able to claim as long as you have a minimum of basic extras cover – you will receive a treatment plan and quote that will contain item numbers you can take back to your private health insurance. They will let you know what and how much you are covered for.

Q: How long is the treatment going to take?

A: Treatment times can vary. Please refer to the specific treatment you are interested in for more in depth information regarding treatment times.

Laser Teeth Whitening

Q: Is the whitening permanent?

A:No tooth whitening is permanent. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee how long the whitening will last as it depends on diet. If you are a smoker, coffee drinker or red wine drinker, the results will not last as long as if you weren’t. The basic rule to apply when doing any kind of tooth whitening is: Anything that will stain a white shirt will stain your teeth.

Q: How effective is laser teeth whitening?

A: We guarantee at least 2 shades whiter than what you have. As everyone is different, so are his or her teeth. We can never predict exactly how your teeth are going to respond. Some people go beyond the 2 shades whiter than predicted.

Q: Will my teeth go paper white?

A: Teeth do not generally go paper white. The end result is determined by your starting shade and by each individual’s teeth and how they respond to the whitening.

Q: Is it painful? Will I experience sensitivity?

A: Sensitivity can occur in a small number of cases, especially if the teeth have been sensitive prior to treatment. It is due to the action of peroxide and in almost all cases it goes away within 24 hours.

Q: Is it safe? Does it damage the teeth?

A: Smartbleach laser tooth whitening has been researched extensively and like most bleaching methods, causes no damage to the teeth. It simply breaks the large staining molecules into smaller ones and as a result the surface of the tooth reflects the light more effectively, making the tooth appear lighter in shade. Unlike other in office bleaching methods, the laser beam is in contact with each tooth for only 30 seconds at a time. This way, the risk of heat damage to the pulp is minimized. The bleaching substance is not ingested.

Q: How long does it take?

A: The overall procedure takes approximately 1 hour to complete. It is a one – off treatment that doesn’t require any at home maintenance and can be done in a lunch break.

Q: Can I claim teeth whitening back on private health insurance?

A: The majority of health funds do not pay back with any kind of teeth whitening. This is because it is considered an optional procedure. At a consultation appointment we are able to provide you with the item numbers that you require to check with your private health insurance.

Q: What can I eat or drink afterwards?

A: In the first 48 hours after treatment you should avoid eating or drinking anything that can permanently stain a white shirt; this includes coloured fizzy drinks, black tea or coffee, and red wine.

Q: I have a lot of fillings and crowns. Can they be bleached?

A: No, bleaching only works on natural tooth substance. Any fillings or crowns may appear too dark after the rest of the tooth has been bleached and may require replacement.

Gum Lift

Q: Is there a chance of infection?

A: Gum infections after laser surgery are extremely rare.

Q: Does the gum grow back?

A: The laser works by ‘cutting’ away the gum. It does not grow back after the treatment has been completed.

Q: Is there any bleeding?

A: As the laser cuts it also seals the area allowing for little or no bleeding to occur. If there is bleeding it is only a small amount and will stop shortly after the procedure.

Q: Is the laser gum lift procedure painful?

A: This procedure is done with a laser light and conducted under local anaesthetic; this means there is no pain. There are no sutures, no bleeding and no gauze packs. Post operative pain is negligible. However if there is a small amount of discomfort, mild anti inflammatory medication can be taken to ease this. Keep in mind you have had a surgical procedure and even though it might not seem like it, the area should still be treated as one.

Q: How long does it take? Am I able to return to work?

A: The procedure time can vary from patient to patient. Generally allowing an hour can be all that is required. Most patients are able to return to their normal, daily life after having a laser gum lift.

Q: What is a 'gummy smile'?

A: A gummy smile is when excessive amount of gum and little tooth is shown in the full smile. In some cases (not all) it can be less than attractive.

Resin Veneers

Q: Will they look ‘fake’?

A: Resin veneers do not look ‘fake’. The material used is matched to the current shade of your teeth, which means they blend in. Also the material is polished to give the teeth a natural shine and lustre just like the enamel of your tooth.

Q: Are resin veneers long lasting?

A: As long as routine dental check ups are attended, they should last for several years. Regular polishing and stain removal is required to maintain the natural look of the veneers.

Q: Will resin veneers break?

A: Generally Resin Veneers do not break. However biting on hard food may cause chipping of the veneers. Either polishing or the addition of more resin to the veneer can easily repair small chips.

Q: Are they reversible?

A: Resin veneers require no or minimal tooth reshaping. This means, yes, they are reversible. If in several years you are unhappy with the veneers or wish to change/ replace them, we are able to remove the resin and leave behind the natural tooth structure that was originally there.

Q: How long does the procedure take?

A: Resin veneers only require 1 visit to the dentist. In 1 – 2 hours Dr Amrein or Dr Reddy can transform your smile using Resin Veneers.

Porcelain Veneers

Q: Is porcelain the ‘Best’ material to use?

A: This can only be determined by the individual circumstances of each patient. Porcelain maintains its lustre and does not stain. Provided that regular 6monthly check ups are attended, Porcelain Veneers can last for 10 – 15 years and they also come with a 5-year warranty.

Q: Is tooth reduction required?

A: At Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry we aim to have no or minimal tooth reduction. With the majority of cases, tooth reduction is not necessary. However certain situations do require a small amount of reduction.. Either way, if tooth reduction is required, it is very minimal.

Q: Are Porcelain veneers permanent? Are they replaceable?

A: Porcelain veneers are a permanent restoration and their life span is approximately 10 – 15 years. We offer a 5 year warrant provided regular 6 monthly check ups are maintained and a night guard – to protect your teeth from grinding in the night – is worn.

However porcelain veneers can be replaced. If no tooth reduction has been required the veneers can be removed and your teeth return to how they were prior to the veneers being placed. If a veneer chips or breaks, it can be removed and a new one placed.

Q: Can Porcelain Veneers break or fall off?

A: The cement that is used is extremely strong and prevents the veneer from falling off. Chips and breakages are extremely rare. Nevertheless, if a veneer does chip, it can be replaced.

Q: Will they wear down?

A:Porcelain veneers do not wear down with general eating and grinding.

Q: Will they look natural?

A: Porcelain is the closest looking material to natural tooth. Porcelain veneers maintain their shine and appearance just like a tooth. Shade matching allows a likeness that only a true professional will be able to tell the difference.

Q: How do you colour match?

A:If several teeth are being veneered the porcelain is matched to your natural teeth by our lab technician. If 8 – 10 teeth are being veneered you are able to choose the colour porcelain you want.

Q: How long does it take?

A: The procedure can vary depending on all of the treatment recommended. Porcelain veneers take 2 weeks from impressions to cementation, as the lab requires this time to manufacture the veneer.

Crowns and Bridges

Q: Are crowns permanent?

A: Yes crowns are a permanent restoration. Usually crowns are placed as the last option on severely broken down and heavily filled teeth to increase their strength. At Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry we use full porcelain crowns to ensure there is not metal collaring if the gum recedes.

Q: Is the tooth cut?

A: To make room for the crown the tooth must be cut. Every surface of the tooth is reduced to ensure the crown will fit securely and also to help prevent food packing between teeth.

Q: Is the procedure painful?

A: Local anaesthetic is used when preparing a tooth for a crown. Once the procedure has been completed a temporary crown is placed to ensure no sensitivity is felt whilst the porcelain crown is being manufactured by the lab.

Q: How long does it take?

A: Porcelain crowns require at least 2 visits with 2 weeks in between. The lab requires 2 weeks to manufacture the porcelain crown.

Q: Are there differences in the quality of crowns?

A: Yes, crowns can be made of different types of materials, incorporating gold, alumina or zirconia as a base under the ceramic. Aesthetics and strength of these materials vary and each situation needs to be carefully assessed to determine which crown is best suited to the tooth.

Q: Do crown/porcelain veneers last a long time?

A: Crown and veneers can potentially last a lifetime with good home care and regular check-ups. One of the common causes of fracture in veneers, crowns or teeth is grinding throughout sleep. As a provision a night guard is strongly recommended following aesthetic makeovers.

Amalgam Fillings

There are many concerns raised relating to dental amalgam or more commonly known as silver fillings. Dental amalgam comprises of silver, tin, copper and mercury. Majority of the issues regarding amalgam are caused by the mercury component and its release into the body. Together, the International Dental Federation and The World Health Organisation have released a statement confirming dental amalgam is safe to use as a filling material.

Though it is a strong and durable material dental, amalgams are not as widely used in dentistry as they once were due to their unsatisfactory aesthetic properties and availability of modern ceramic inlays. Chair-side milled Cerec restorations can be a far superior option to both resins and amalgams when it comes to large fillings. Ceramic inlays are a lot more accessible and much less time consuming to fabricate.

Resin Fillings

Another alternative for filling material is composite resin. Composite resin is strong and durable. It comes in a range of colours that allows for easy matching to your natural tooth. This makes composite resin the number one choice when needing a filling in a front tooth.

Larger cavities require a porcelain inlay or onlay as more surface structure is compromised in the tooth, however composite resin is ideal for small, single surface cavities.

Porcelain Inlays/Onlays

Porcelain inlays or onlays are used as an alternative to amalgam fillings and also large composite resins. The benefits for the placement of an inlay or onlay are firstly the porcelain is a tooth coloured material. It looks very natural and blends in with the rest of your teeth. Secondly porcelain is a strong, extremely durable material. It provides the strength needed to protect the teeth that come under substantial pressure due to chewing and grinding.

At Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry the placement of porcelain (ceramic) fillings can be done in a single visit using a Cerec 4.0 computer.  The ceramic used for these inlays has hardness similar to your natural tooth; therefore it doesn’t cause excessive wear of the opposite teeth.

Tooth Implants

Implants require a visit with a specialist as well as a general dentist. The specialist will place the titanium screw in the bone and the general dentist will place the tooth restoration on top.

If interested in implants please contact our rooms (08) 8213 1821 to make an appointment to see either Dr Amrein or Dr Reddy. At this appointment the Dentist will be able to provide you with information regarding the placement of the actual crown as well as answer any basic questions related to implant placement.

You must see a general dentist before seeing a specialist to gain a referral.

Finance And Concessions

Veterans Affairs:

At Adelaide Family Dentistry we see people holding Veterans Affair health cards. Members with White Cards will need to receive prior approval from the Department of Veterans Affairs before commencing treatment. If however you hold a Gold Card, treatment can begin immediately. Please let us know when you make an appointment that you hold a Veterans Affairs Health Card.

Teen Dental Plan – Medicare:

At Adelaide Family Dentistry we accept Medicare’s – Teen Dental Plan. Patients usually receive a letter in the mail notifying them of eligibility. The plan is valid once for treatment in the calendar year stated on the letter.

It is simple to use your voucher - call us for an appointment and let us know you have received the letter. Bring the letter and your Medicare card with you to your appointment. Full payment is made on the day of your appointment. You can then take your receipt and letter into the closest Medicare Branch to claim directly.

Chronic Disease Dental Plan – Medicare:

The Chronic Disease Dental Plan initially starts with your GP. They will let you know if you are eligible to use this Dental Plan and provide you with the documentation we require to assist you.

When making an appointment with us please tell us you are eligible for this plan. You will need to bring in the letter and other paper work your GP will provide you with on the day of your treatment.

The Chronic Disease Dental Plan will only cover a certain $ amount of treatment over two consecutive years. Anything you require beyond this amount will be at your own expense. Medicare provides us with a set of fees to use when treating an eligible patient. More often than not, the $ amount allocate to you, the patient, will not be exceeded. However this may not always be the case. We will provide you with the total cost of treatment before beginning.

Finance:

At Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry we provide patients with a 3month interest free payment plan with GE Care Credit.

Before commencing it is important we find out how much GE Care Credit will cover of your proposed treatment. This is done by filling in some paper work and then submitting it to GE Care Credit online. A response is almost immediate.

If you are eligible to use the interest free period we can begin treatment. Once the treatment is complete you will receive letters monthly from GE Care Credit for payment of your treatment. Please ensure you pay your total bill within the 3-month interest free period, as the interest rates can be quite high.