Find out more about our Brisbane city dentists and the innovative dental treatments we provide
Our FAQs section is designed to give you the answers to your questions about the modern, affordable dentistry we provide in our Brisbane dental practice.
Click on the Brisbane dentist FAQs below to find out more. And for more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch using the form to the right or call us on 07 3831 3031.
I’m a new patient – what will happen at my first appointment?
Once we have welcomed you and made sure you are comfortable, we will guide you through completing a brief medical history form on our iPad. Once you have moved on to the clinic, Dr Andrew Teakle or Dr Nicholas Yee will conduct a new patient examination. This involves a thorough review of your teeth, gums, chewing muscles, and any lumps or bumps in your mouth.
We will often take x-rays to discover any decay between your teeth, or old leaking fillings that may need replacement. We’ll also take photos with our intraoral camera, which we display to you on the chair-side monitor to let you see exactly what is going on inside your mouth. Your dentist will also give you a thorough explanation of what’s happening with each tooth. At the end of your visit, we give you a treatment plan of findings and pricing so you will know exactly what your treatment costs are – no nasty surprises!
Is there parking available around your dental surgery?
As a Brisbane city dentist, there is metered street parking available – you’ll find it’s less expensive to park further into the Spring Hill area rather than closer to the city. Don’t forget, after 4pm city streets become a ‘clearway’, so check the signage when you park.
We’ve also teamed up with Astor Terrace Car Park, 28 Astor Tce Spring Hill to offer special discounted parking to our patients.
Park for up to 3 hours for just $15, or stay for up to 5 hours and pay only $25! That’s exceptional value for Brisbane CBD parking and it’s just 100 metres from our practice.
For your special rate CBD car parking, just ask us for a parking voucher at your next appointment.
The train is another easy way to get to Wickham Terrace Dental, as we’re located very close to Central train station. There are frequent departures and arrivals for all train lines.
Which health funds do you accept?
Every Australian health fund is welcome at Wickham Terrace Dental. Simply bring your health fund card to your appointment and we’ll help you claim back straight away with our HICAPS facility.
How much is a Brisbane dentist appointment?
Because we tailor your dental appointment to your personal needs, we can’t predict what dental treatment you’ll need in advance. Instead, we’ll arrange an initial consultation for our dentist to meet you and your teeth.
For just $259, our new patient special includes a comprehensive dental exam, two dental x-rays, and a full professional scale and polish. If you are coming in for an emergency dental appointment, our costs start at $96. These quoted prices are prior to any health fund rebates.
If you have private health insurance, depending on your health fund rules, you may be entitled to rebates that cover most or all of the cost of two exams and cleans per year.
Can I use my Medicare card at the dentist?
No, Medicare does not cover any general or major dental work carried out at any private dental practice. You can claim on your private health fund if eligible.
What government benefits apply to children’s dentistry?
The Commonwealth Government has introduced the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which provides financial support for basic dental services to kids aged between 2 and 17 years.
The CDBS provides up to $1,000 of benefits per child, over a two calendar year period, for examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. A means test applies. Find out more about the CDBS here.
How often should I visit the dentist in Brisbane?
Having regular dental checkups with Wickham Terrace Dental can guard against painful conditions and expensive surprises. With regular visits our Brisbane city dentists can pick up early problems or progressing decay, and recommend a general treatment rather than resorting to major dental work further down the line. If you have good oral hygiene and maintain an excellent at-home cleaning routine, we recommend visiting us every six to twelve months.
How easy is it to straighten my teeth?
Invisalign makes unsightly orthodontic treatment a thing of the past. Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom fitted aligners to guide your teeth back into the ideal position. Each case is individually customised, so you may need as few as 20 aligner sets or as many as 35.
Usually you’ll visit Wickham Terrace Dental every six weeks to receive three new sets of aligners, each of which is worn for two weeks. We may also ask you to pop in between your six-weekly visits for us to create space between your teeth to allow for movement. This is a painless procedure which reduces the side of the tooth by half a millimetre or less.
Why do I have bad breath?
Bad breath (also known as Halitosis) can be embarrassing and unpleasant for those around you. The most common reasons for bad breath are:
Bacteria and gum disease In 85-90% of cases, bad breath is caused by a build-up of bacteria that produce foul-smelling residue. Our mouth, with its moist, warm climate and regular influx of food, is a paradise for microorganisms. While good tooth brushing and flossing can clean most bacteria away, people with gum disease will have bacteria settle in the pockets between the gums and teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.
Dehydration Lack of water consumption results in a dry mouth and an underproduction of saliva, your mouth’s natural cleaning mechanism. This allows the bacterial wastes to become more concentrated and stronger smelling.
Underlying cause Some more unusual causes of bad breath include acid/stomach reflux, oral fungal infections, diabetes, tonsillitis, nasal congestion, sinusitis, bronchitis and lung infections, and kidney and liver problems.
So how can I prevent bad breath?
Good oral hygiene Clean your mouth thoroughly and regularly, focusing on brushing between your teeth and especially your back molars. However, brushing your teeth is not enough. Your tongue, unfortunately, is like a shaggy carpet where all kinds of bacteria can hide. So use your toothbrush or a tongue cleaner to “scrape” your tongue and remove bacteria.
Floss Flossing is essential for removing the build-up of bacteria in those hard-to-reach spots between your teeth and along the gum line. So make flossing as much of an automatic habit as brushing your teeth.
Mouthwash Mouthwash helps to keep your mouth moist, prevent build up of plaque, and ultimately prevent bad breath.
Sugar free gum Chewing sugar free gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help increase saliva flow. Gum that is 100% xylitol-sweetened can help reduce cavities while giving you cool and fresh breath.
Visit Wickham Terrace Dental regularly The more dental plaque you have, the more at risk you are of bad breath. So make sure you visit your dentist twice a year to keep those bacteria to a minimum. And remember that denture cleanliness is just as important as tooth cleanliness for controlling halitosis-causing bacteria.
My teeth are badly stained – can you help?
Extrinsic (external) stains can be caused by smoking, drinking coffee or tea, or red wine. Depending on the cause, the solution can be as easy as:
- A scale and polish to remove unsightly marks
- An adjustment and polish of stained filling edges
- Teeth whitening treatment
Intrinsic (internal) stains may be caused by old, leaky, metal amalgam fillings, previously root-treated teeth, and other genetic conditions. You’ll need to consult Wickham Terrace Dental for a solution to your specific intrinsic stain, but common methods of removal include:
- Replacing old metal amalgam fillings with white fillings (tooth-coloured resin fillings)
- Internal whitening of previously root-treated teeth
- Dental crowns and dental veneers to mask underlying stains.
Does root canal therapy hurt?
Contrary to popular belief, root canal therapy (or endodontic treatment) is no more uncomfortable than getting a regular filling. In fact, with local anaesthetic your treatment should be virtually pain-free.
The good news is that gentle root canal treatment by Dr Teakle, in the comfort of our Brisbane city dental practice, can actively save your tooth from extraction.
When should my child first visit the dentist?
At Wickham Terrace Dental we recommend that children first visit our Brisbane city dentists when their baby teeth start to come through. This should be before their second birthday. Even if your baby’s teeth are yet to come through, you can still care for their oral health by wiping their gums with a clean, wet cloth.
What is the best way to replace my missing teeth?
Dental implants have revolutionised the way we can treat tooth loss. Perfectly emulating the performance of your missing tooth root, dental implants are made from titanium to be highly biocompatible with your jaw bone. Dental implants are surgically inserted into your jaw bone, and over a period of months are fully accepted as part of your biological make-up. They then form a permanently solid foundation for prosthetic tooth replacements such as dental crowns.
How often should I floss my teeth?
Your teeth should be flossed every single day. Remember you don’t have to floss all of your teeth – just the ones you want to keep! Flossing can remove the build-up of plaque from between your teeth and along the gum line, where your toothbrush can’t reach.