QUEEN STREET DENTAL

Unless you have been booked in for urgent treatment, your first visit will involve a general consultation. You will also be asked to complete a Registration and Medical History Form for our records. Your dentist will complete a thorough examination of your mouth, x-ray your teeth and talk to you about your general expectations or concerns. If further dental treatment is required, we will fully discuss with you what it entails and the costs associated with the treatment. In some circumstances it may be necessary to have additional consultation appointments to refine your final treatments. In most cases the initial consultation visit will be included in the cost of future treatments.

Regular routine dental checks and professional cleaning are a vital part of a long-term dental preventative program. In this way we are also able to identify any emerging dental problems you may have, and treat them before they may become more serious. We send reminder notices to our patients on a 6 or 12 monthly basis to advise when their check-up is due.

Dental appointments, and particularly those set for check-ups and general consultation, are generally booked several weeks ahead. If you are experiencing toothache, or a dental trauma such as a broken tooth, immediately contact our reception staff advising of your problem. Your dentist will be consulted and an appointment will be scheduled at the very earliest possible time.

Regular flossing and brushing teeth at home are undoubtedly important parts of maintaining good oral hygiene. Despite this, over a period of time plaque build-up can occur and this requires professional dental cleaning to remove. This is commonly recommended at 6 monthly intervals, but will depend on your individual circumstances. If in doubt your dentist will advise a recommended interval.

IV Sedation is commonly referred to as “twilight or sleep sedation”, as it brings on an immediate and deep sense of relaxation for patients. A sedative is administered intravenously into a patient’s hand or arm immediately prior to the dental treatment planned. This form of sedation, which can only be administered by dentists who have completed additional post-graduate study and training, is well suited to patients with a history of high dental anxiety or phobia. It is also used to perform multiple, longer duration treatments during one session, as while the patient remains conscious during the entire procedure they will have virtually no recollection of it once completed.

A short fasting period is required prior to this treatment and patients cannot drive away from their appointment. You will need to be picked up by a responsible adult by private vehicle or taxi. Generally most patients will feel a little light-headed for only a few hours after treatment, but you are advised not to return to work that day. Patients undergoing IV Sedation or receiving general anaesthesia are required to complete a medical check-list immediately prior to the appointment.

You should contact the practice as soon as possible, and particularly if you are in pain. If you are in pain, a priority appointment at the earliest possible time will be scheduled.

You should leave a message outlining your problem on our after hours office recording. Somebody from the practice will contact you early on the first working day after your message. Alternatively, if you are an existing patient of the practice and in extreme pain or discomfort, please email and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we can.

X-rays are a vital part of your preventative dental program, as they identify possible hidden tooth decay or gum and bone disorders not immediately apparent through an oral inspection. Queen Street Dental has invested in the latest digital x-ray technology to ensure that all patient dental x-rays are completed quickly and to the highest safety standards.