Dental FAQs Shellharbour

Bring a list of the medicines you take, your medical conditions and any allergies. If you have recent dental X-rays or a letter from another dentist, bring those too. If you are booking routine care, you can also read our check-up and clean page before your visit.

If you have private health cover, bring your membership card so the team can check your claim at the clinic.

The visit depends on why you are coming. Many first visits are a check-up and clean and start with a talk about your concerns and medical history, then a look at your teeth and gums.

Your dentist can explain what they find and what they suggest. Ask the team what your booked visit includes.

Your dentist recommends X-rays based on your oral health, risk of decay or gum disease, and any existing images. A check-up and clean includes X-rays only when clinically appropriate.

If your dentist suggests an X-ray, ask why they recommend it and what it will show.

Yes, if you need treatment. After your consultation, you get a written treatment plan that lists each recommended procedure and its cost, so you can read it before you decide.

You do not have to go ahead with any treatment. You can take time to decide and you can ask for a second opinion. Our general dentistry page is a starting point for reading about routine care.

The cost depends on the appointment and on any treatment you need. Our fees page lists starting fees for common treatments as a general guide.

Fees can change with your dental health. Larger treatments, such as dental implants or crowns and bridges, need a written quote. Your treatment plan sets out the cost of your own care before you agree to anything.

You pay on the day of your appointment. We take cash, credit and debit cards, tap-to-pay mobile payments and health fund cards through HICAPS.

If you would like to spread the cost, read our payment information and check the provider's terms and charges before applying. For routine care information, see our general dentistry page.

We use a HICAPS terminal to process eligible health fund claims at the clinic. We are a preferred provider for HCF, CBHS and Smile.com.au.

Tell the team your fund and your level of cover before your visit. Your fund can tell you what your policy covers and how much of your annual limit is left. If you are planning a routine visit, read about a check-up and clean and ask your fund about your cover.

Yes. We list Afterpay, Zip, SuperCare, MediPay and Total Lifestyle Credit. Each provider decides who is approved and sets its own terms, so read them before you decide.

Ask for the treatment costs first, then compare how you would pay. A treatment recommendation does not mean you have to apply for finance. For information about routine care before discussing costs, see our general dentistry page.

Tell the team when you book, or at the start of your visit. Ask your dentist to explain each step before it starts.

If you have had a bad dental experience, say so. Your dentist can then plan the visit around what worries you. You can also ask about IV sedation; the answer below explains how it works.

Tell your dentist if you feel anxious and ask how you can request a break. For information about routine care before your visit, see our general dentistry page.

Before treatment starts, agree on a signal to request a break, such as raising your hand.

Yes. Shellharbour Dentists offers IV sedation. IV means intravenous: medicine is given through a drip into a vein. You may feel sleepy but can respond to spoken prompts. A sedation dentist or visiting specialist anaesthetist gives it. Tell the team about your medical history and medicines; these can affect suitability.

Arrange for an adult to take you home after sedation, and ask the clinic what support you need afterwards. Follow the instructions the team gives you about eating, drinking and driving.

Many people feel better with a family member or friend nearby.

Ask the clinic when you book whether someone can come in with you and how that works for your appointment. If you are planning routine care, you can read our general dentistry page together before the visit.

Yes. Shellharbour Dentists provides emergency dentistry services. If you have a toothache, swelling, a broken tooth or a knock to your mouth, call (02) 4216 9911 as soon as you can and say what has happened.

For a dental emergency we offer out-of-hours treatment or try to see you the same day. If you cannot reach us, use the advice below.

Hold an adult tooth by the crown, the visible part, without touching its root. If dirty, rinse it briefly in warm water without scrubbing or soaking it. If you cannot put it back in the gum, keep it in milk or saliva. Seek a dentist or hospital immediately, ideally within 30 minutes.

Do not put a baby tooth back in. Rinse the child's mouth with salt water and seek dental care. If you need advice, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222. After first aid, call the clinic about emergency dentist care.

Call 000 or go straight to a hospital emergency department if you have trouble breathing, talking or swallowing, if a lot of blood is running down your throat, or if your mouth or tongue is very swollen.

A website cannot assess your symptoms. If you are not sure how serious something is, get urgent medical advice. For a dental problem that is not this severe, see our emergency dentist page.

We provide general dentistry, including check-ups, cleans and children's care, alongside cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, orthodontics, dental implants and emergency care.

Your dentist will assess your needs and explain the options that may suit you. Call the team if you would like to ask about a particular treatment.

The right interval between check-ups depends on your teeth, gums and overall health.

Ask your dentist how often to come back for a check-up and clean, and book your next visit before you leave or when the time comes.

Our dentists speak Spanish, Hindi, Sindhi and English.

If you would like to speak with a dentist in one of those languages, tell the team when you book so they can check who is available. You can read our general dentistry page as a starting point for questions about routine care.

You can ask the clinic for an appointment to talk about a diagnosis or treatment plan you have already been given.

Bring any X-rays, scans or written plans you have. Ask the clinic what to bring when you book. A second opinion is especially worth asking for before larger plans, such as full mouth rehabilitation or dental implants.

You can ask your previous practice to send your records and X-rays to the clinic. Ask what consent they need before sending them.

Call the clinic first and ask which details it needs, so you can pass them on to your previous practice. Past records help your dentist understand your previous care. If you are arranging a routine visit, see our check-up and clean page before booking.