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Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions answered
Q: How are you different from a normal dental practice? A: Dentists are generally trained to fix teeth. Sometimes, it is possible for good dentists to forget that there is a person behind those teeth. We are different because we have built a practice from the group up to help you, as a person, achieve the dental health you deserve. We will treat you as an equal, not as someone who needs lecturing. Our dentists have dedicated their careers to focus on the human behind the mouth, and how we can collaboratively achieve good health in the most comfortable way. Our space is designed to flip the ‘drill and fill’ model of past dentistry on its head, in favour of a person-first model.
Q: So wait, are you dentists or counsellors? A: First and foremost, we are dentists. We draw on counselling and psychology techniques when helping people to work through their dental anxiety, but are certainly not a replacement for a mental health professional. Referral to a counsellor or a psychologist is considered as part of your treatment plan if needed to help you get the best possible outcome.
Q: Why do I have to come in for a consultation? Why can’t I just come and get my tooth fixed? A: Mindset Dental was established to do two things: to get you healthy, and to relieve your dental anxiety now and into the future. Firstly, we recognise that your mouth and body are connected and should be treated holistically. A healthy mouth has positive flow on effects for your physical and mental health. Second, the health of each individual tooth is closely intertwined with the other teeth, your gums and your jaws. Without getting the full picture, we would just be providing bandaid treatments and continuously waiting for the bandaids to fall off. Secondly, we focus on helping nervous patients. Quick, anxiety-inducing fixes contribute to worsening dental anxiety. This is the opposite of what we would like to achieve. If you do have a true dental emergency, we will do our best to help you out as soon as possible but we will always check your entire mouth first at a separate visit. We will always make sure that the treatment we provide will be the right one for you long term.
Q: I’m too afraid of coming to see you. Do you offer telehealth consultations? A: Yes, we offer telehealth consultations. Sometimes, turning up is the hardest part. Knowledge and trust are often the keys to feel comfortable making that first step towards help. We offer telehealth consultations for you to get to know us, and to learn a little more about what might be happening in your mouth, what possible treatments involve, and how we can make your dental journey as easy as possible. You can even send us photos of your mouth, so we can best advise you remotely. Ultimately, the goal of these telehealth consultations is to raise your health knowledge, gain your trust, and show you an easier way of improving your dental health.
Q: I'd like to book an appointment for someone with ASD or other special needs. Is this the right place? A: This is dependent on a person’s level of support needs. Our treatment styles and scope of practice rely heavily on our patients' ability to understand the nature and effect of dental treatment (as well as the consequences of refusing treatment), their ability to freely and voluntarily decide whether to have the treatment and then communicate their ongoing consent or removal of consent throughout their treatment. If you suspect a person’s level of support needs may inhibit this, a Special Needs Dentist is an excellent alternative. Dr David Fu at Queensland Special Needs Dentistry is conveniently located in the north of Brisbane and provides specialised and individualised care for individuals that may have disabilities, psychiatric conditions, or complex medical histories. For more details, visit his website at https://queenslandsnd.com.au/
Q: Do you see nervous children as patients too? A: Mindset Dental is for anyone 17 years and over. For dentally anxious children younger than this, we recommend a specialist paediatric dentist - Dr P.Y. Lai at Kids Dental is a great choice. For more information, find Dr P.Y. at https://www.kidsdental.com.au/.
Q: Does Mindset Dental make dentures? A: We work with Rod Litzow from Dentures at Clayfield to construct dentures for our patients. He is located just up the road on Sandgate Road. We ask Rod to make our dentures for two reasons: 1. Rod is a denture prosthetist. This means Rod makes dentures all day, every day. He is very good at it. 2. We cut out the middle man (us)! Traditionally, a dentist will take a mould of your mouth and send it to Rod to work on it. Your denture goes back and forth a few times allowing for errors. Rod can do everything in house instead. This means that you will get a better result and it will be cheaper as well. Don't worry, Rod is fantastic with our nervous patients. You will be in good hands!
Q. I feel embarrassed by the state of my teeth, will you judge me? A: No, we will never judge you for the state of your teeth. As dentists, it is our role to listen to what you want to get out of coming to the dentist and help you achieve your dental goals. We also understand that you may feel embarrassed, but that doesn't mean we judge you. We encourage you to talk freely and relax so that we're in the best position possible to help guide you through your journey to great dental health.
Q: I’m sure my teeth will be the worst you’ve ever seen. Will you turn me away? A: Quite often we meet patients who say that their teeth will be the worst we have ever seen - it’s a very common concern. From our perspective, there’s really no such thing, as all cases are very different. Our primary focus is looking at the foundations in your mouth then working with you to create a plan to move forwards and achieve whatever your health goals may be.
Q: Will you accept my private health fund? A: We will accept all health funds on the spot using our HICAPS machine. We are not a preferred provider for any health funds.
Q: Will Medicare cover my dental treatment? A: Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover private dental treatment in Australia for adults. If you have private health insurance, this will cover some of your dental treatment.
Q: Do you offer payment plans? A: Yes, we provide payment plans via Denticare. Our payment plans require a 20% deposit and a one-off fee of $39 on your first day of treatment. They are completely interest-free and allow you to spread the cost of your treatment over as many as 40 weeks via a direct debit. For more details, visit our Payment Plans page.
Q: Do you have parking on site? A: There is dedicated off-street parking available behind our practice. Access is via Nudgee Rd and the driveway is directly to the right of our building front. A more detailed look at our parking can be found on our Virtual Tour page.
Q: Is your practice wheelchair accessible? A: Yes. While our street-front has a step, our side door is wheelchair accessible. We encourage you to let us know at the time of booking of any accommodations you require so that we can make your visit as smooth as possible.
Q. What happens if I don't feel comfortable during a treatment? A. A dentist and a patient are a team. If at any time you feel uncomfortable while you're in the chair you can let us know, and we will stop the procedure immediately to check-in with how you're going. Before beginning, we can also discuss having scheduled breaks, to keep that open line of communication between the team going.
Q. Is there anything I can do to relax while I'm in the chair? A. We have a range of techniques and technology that can help you relax while you're in the dental chair. This includes noise-cancelling headphones, your choice of music or on-screen entertainment, weighted blankets and aromatherapy. Our practice is fitted with noise-absorbing tiles and we also have a digital local anaesthetic system rather than traditional metal syringe injections. Before any procedure occurs, your dentist will talk with you to understand your own personal needs, and suggest relaxation techniques that are specific to you.
Q. I hate needles, is there anything you can do to help me? A: At Mindset Dental, we offer a range of options including the use of numbing gels to reduce any discomfort you may experience from an anaesthetic injection. We also use all the latest technology, such as The Wand dental injector, which is an alternative to a traditional syringe injection. Additionally, we can provide tailored guidance and advice on relaxation techniques that may assist you to overcome anxiety you're feeling about receiving an injection.
Q: I just want to get in and out as quickly as I can - do we really need to spend so much time talking? A: Everyone’s exact dental fear and phobia is unique, and there are multiple factors at play in addition to just anxiety - for many people they can also feel embarrassment, guilt or loss of self esteem. By identifying what general or specific factors are related to your dental fear, we can share tips and techniques that are best suited to help you feel comfortable and in control. By allowing us to understand you better, you also allow us to better help you.
Q. Is it possible to get sedation during all of my dental work? A. Sedation is an option that we can explore with you if other relaxation techniques are not appropriate for you. Prior to any procedure, we will listen to your situation and work together to choose the most comfortable approach to achieving great dental health.
Q: Can I drive after dental sedation? A: The effects of happy gas disappear quickly after your treatment, so you are able to drive yourself home after your appointment. If you are having oral sedation or IV sedation, you will need to bring a friend or family member to the appointment to drive you home afterwards.
Q: What is the difference between oral sedation, happy gas and IV sedation? A: Oral sedation is a tablet taken prior to your procedure, allowing you to feel more at ease without rendering you unconscious. This option is suitable for somebody with mild anxiety, but it may not be as effective if your anxiety is severe. As the effects last multiple hours, someone will need to drive you home afterwards. Nitrous oxide, also known as "Happy Gas" or "Laughing Gas" allows you to feel relaxed while in the chair, and this can make everything that bit easier. It is easy to use, starts working quickly and wears off quickly as well, meaning you should be able to drive home after your appointment. Intravenous sedation (IV) dentistry, commonly referred to as “twilight sedation” or “sleep dentistry”, is a type of anaesthesia that is administered through a vein. IV sedation can be conscious or unconscious. Recovery can be slow or fast, and you will be monitored by an sedationist until it is safe for a friend or family member to drive you home.
Q: Can I bring a friend or support person with me? A: Absolutely! We encourage bringing a friend, family member or other trusted person along to your visit. They can come through to our consultation and treatment rooms with you, or they can stay and relax in our comfortable waiting room. It’s all about what you feel most comfortable with.