How to Pay for Your Dental Procedure

1. How to Pay for Your Dental Procedure There are several options patients often opt for when paying for dental services. Here are the positives and negatives of each, so you can make an informed decision. Going to the dentist can be costly, and occasionally we hear of people postponing dental visits in order to save money. While this might seem harmless at first, the reality is that many small issues such as cavities or the early signs of gum disease can be spotted at a cheap check-up, but can balloon into more costly operations or surgeries if left unchecked. At Five Dock Dental Clinic, we want all our patients to be aware of the costs involved with dental health, so that they can save money and make informed decisions about their own wellbeing. A dentist you can trust will try to minimise the costs you pay. This is the most important rule when choosing your regular dentist. If you feel like you are constantly being shocked by how costly your dental appointments are, and your dentist is not openly communicating about what each procedure will cost or why it is a vital one for your health, then it is possible that they are taking advantage of you. A dentist who is committed to the health of their patients, like our friendly team at ​Five Dock Dental Clinic​, will never try to push or trick anyone into a costly or unnecessary procedure, because eroding the trust of a patient is almost as bad as eroding their enamel. This is why we are committed to preventative care – catching issues before they exacerbate, and keeping the cost low for our regulars. Sometimes though, it is necessary to perform a larger scale and more costly operation. Maybe it is due to pain in your teeth, or to curb the development of something worse. In each case, the costs and risks should be clearly communicated to you, as well as your options for payment. Here are the most common ones, listed in the order you should check: ● Public Dental Plan – The NSW Medicare Public Dental plan completely covers all children under 18 years old, as well as adults with concession such as a Healthcare Card or Pensioner’s Card. If you are covered by Medicare and fall into one of these categories, all you need to do to receive full dental coverage is show your relevant cards and ID at the counter.

2. ● Healthcare Plan – The majority of healthcare plans from private health insurers offer dental cover, with some also covering cosmetic dentistry. Some plans give full payment coverage while others are partial, so it is best to shop around and see what the best deal could be. Healthcare plans tend to come with waiting periods, so be aware you won’t be covered immediately – if it’s an emergency you’ll need to find a different way to pay. Super Withdrawal – When an injury or health complication would, if left untreated, lead to inability to work or function, NSW legislation allows for individuals to dip into their superannuation savings with a one-time withdrawal. Discuss with your dentist to see if this is an option, and if they and another healthcare professional both sign off that the procedure is absolutely necessary and unable to be delayed, it is possible to pay for the operation with super. Dental loans – Many loan companies have special criteria for dentistry and other medical procedures, so if you are short of cash on hand, this is an option to have the operation done right away. That being said, many of these loans can have significant interest rates, so be sure to check with competitors and read all the fine print. Some entities partner with dentist’s offices for added convenience, and for the most part these can be more trustworthy than payday loans, since they will have better understanding of what the involved costs will be. Out of pocket – There is also the option to pay for procedures with your own savings. This is our recommendation for cosmetic dental procedures, as in most cases these will be considered elective and thus not as readily covered by healthcare plans. Your dentist should be upfront with you about how much a procedure is expected to cost (as sometimes it is a range), so you can make an informed decision on whether it is worth your money. ● ● ● At Five Dock Dental Clinic, we never want to see financial hardship be a prohibitive factor in maintaining good dental health. If you have any further questions about payment for dental procedures, be sure to get in contact with our friendly team. Source:​scdental.doodlekit.com