FAQ

How do I make an appointment?

The easiest and fastest way to make an appointment is by giving our front office a call on (02) 9977 2442. Our phones are staffed from 8am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. We are closed on national public holidays. If it is after hours, you may email us on: [email protected] and we will endeavour to reply within the next business day. You may also use our “Book an Appointment” or “Contact Us” tabs on our website, and we will similarly respond within the next business day. For any dental emergencies, we invite you to contact us through any of the above means, and encourage you to see your GP or a medical doctor for pain relief.

Do I need to be referred by another dentist for cosmetic or implant dentistry at Sydney Road Dental Care?

No, we offer both general dental services as well as cosmetic, orthodontic and implant dentistry. All of our services are available in the same clinic. Feel free to call us to schedule a consultation so we can determine how best to serve you.

What are your opening hours?

Our phones are staffed from 8am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. Our first patient appointment is generally at 8:30am, and our last appointment is 5pm depending on what procedural time is required. We are closed on national public holidays, weekends and over the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Feel free to monitor our social media for updates on opening hours during these time periods. Should you require a specific time outside these hours, give our front office a call and we can see how we can accommodate you.

How long will it take for me to get an appointment?

As our clinic is generally very busy, we advise patients to book approximately one week in advance to secure their desired time slot. Nonetheless, we always leave room for emergency appointments on the day should you require it.

How long can I expect my appointment to be?

This is highly dependent on the type of appointment you require due to the procedure being provided. A standard appointment for a consultation is approximately 30 minutes, as well as for an emergency appointment. For all other appointments, your dentist will provide you with a treatment plan which will include time requirements.

Do you require deposits for your appointments?

For long or complex procedures, or those requiring dental laboratory assistance, we may require a holding deposit. This is to ensure this appointment time which could have otherwise been given to another patient. The amount taken for your deposit will be put towards your treatment on the day. Should you cancel within a 48 hours’ notice period, we will be able to refund it.

How do I pay for my appointment?

We accept all credit cards and cash payments. For private health insurance claims (HICAPS), we ask our patients to bring in their private health insurance card and we are usually able to do an instant claim with the amount payable on the day being the gap. On occasion, should your private health insurance be declined, if you are still in a waiting period or are not covered for that procedure, we will require upfront payment. We will then provide you with a receipt including item codes for the procedure performed on the day which you can take directly to your health fund and organize a claim privately.

Do you offer student or pensioner discounts?

In general, we do not offer discounts as our prices are reflective of the time and material cost required to produce comprehensive dental care. Nonetheless, we recognize that each situation is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us directly about how we can assist you financially.

Do you offer payment plans?

We recognize that cost can be a factor in accessing comprehensive dental treatment, and will always provide you with a treatment plan outlining the cost for your future appointments. Nonetheless, we can also assist in setting up payments plans, especially for more involved treatment plans. Speak to our front office staff about how we can assist you.

Can I expect to be seen on time?

We appreciate all of our patients taking the time to see us, and recognize that you have done so often with children, families, work and other obligations in mind. We will do everything we can to respect your appointment time. However, on occasion we do experience complications with treatment; same as any other medical procedure. As doctors, it is important to us to provide you with the most comprehensive care possible, and under no circumstance will we compromise the quality of our treatment. Should this be the case, we apologize for running over time and ensure you that you will receive the same quality and comprehensive care during your appointment. We will always advise you of any changes to our schedule as soon as we know about them.

What do I do if I have had x-rays taken recently at another dental practice?

In this case, we will ask you to sign a “Records Release Consent” form which gives us permission on your behalf to contact your previous dental clinic and request a transfer of records. Please note that this transfer may take up to a week, and in certain occasions longer if we are requesting an interstate or international transfer.

Will my health insurance cover all general dentistry?

A frequently asked question our front office receives is how much of routine fillings and cleans will be covered by private health insurance? This is solely dependent on the contract between you and your health fund and can be quite variable. We often find that there is at least a small gap outstanding with most health funds and encourage patients to familiarise themselves with their cover prior to dental appointments.

Please ask us how we can provide a health fund quote for you.

Not finding the answer to your burning question?

Please either send us an email via contact us, or give us a call and our friendly staff will do their best to answer any question you might have.