Huge Bill,any advise?

[jorose]

I work for the school dental service and can assure you that the information that you have been provided with is without doubt incorrect. Public dentistry provides basic dental treatment e.g. relief of pain, examinations, fillings, extractions. The treatment is all carried out by qualified dental surgeons or 5th year dental undergraduates about to qualify under the supervision of qualified dental surgeons. A dental technician makes prosthesis such as crowns & dentures and does not carry out any form of dental treatment.
Furthermore, there are specialist paediatric dentists who have undertaken a further 3 years study. Within the public system these practitioners practice at the Women & Children's Hospital. However, the main bulk of their work is carried out at their own private practice. I can assure you that these dentists are not "simply masquerading as children's dentists to make a quick buck". I have worked with them and the extra-training and knowledge required to obtain this post-grad qualification is extensive. Specialist paediatric dentists are particulalry suited to those children who have complex medical historys. Dentist's that haven't undertaken this post-graduate qualification but have attended university for 5 years work within the school dental system seeing children. They don't claim to be children's dentist. They simply work within a system that provides a service to 0 - 18 year olds. Hope that helps make things clearer for you. Regards.

Medicare doesnt cover the cost of the bed but will pay about 66% of the general anesthetic.
As for childrens dentists..we visited 2 of them.My god.....what a farce...just normal dentists masquerading as childrens dentists to make a quick buck!!! One of them told my daughter not to be such a baby and that she had pulled her daughters teeth out at the dining table!!!!!!!We ended up taking them to our local dentist...a lovely sweet guy who has gradually won their trust over the years. My son has a phobia of dentists after knockiong his teeth into the roof of his mouth when he was 3. The rotting teeth caused a virus that reached his brain and he nearly died.
Please dont assume that as they are classed as childrens dentists they will be any different to a normal dentist!!!!!
I have also been told that school dentists employed by the government are no more than dental techicians....as cut backs have forced sa government to do this...how true this is I don't know....but both my dentist and orthodontist have said this. So be aware.

[jorose]

General anaesthetics can be carried out using the public system at the Women & Children's Hospital via a referral from a dentist. However, there is a lengthy wait. The latest figures released for waiting times were approximatley 18 months. There is a half Medicare and half private system which as far as I know is undertaken at Genelg Hospital, again through a referral system. I think that the latter option incurs a fee of approx $1000. Marion GP plus accomodates a school dental service which could provide an examination and a subsequent referral. That being said, it is not impossible to treat 4 year olds in the dental chair. General anaesthetic should be a last resort.

Hi Guys

Recently moved here and our 4 year old needs some fillings.Went to dentist and told us we would have to bring him to hospital and knock him out at a cost of about $1,000 in total.Cannot believe it!Private health cover said 12month wait until you are covered and free dental treatment for kids is only for in dental surgeries.Any advice?? Siobhan

[Nick11]

I was referring to private dentists who advertise themselves as purely childrens dentists.
Well all I can say is god help the children under the 2 childrens dentists that my kids went to......to be shouted at and being told they are a babies...not good practise at all!!!!!! These were private dentists who only saw children...and their manner with children left an awful lot to be desired!!!! Never again!!!! My son has a complex medical history and all these dentists did was to make the situation much much worse.

[jorose]

I'm sorry that you seem to have had a disappointing experience. I have never experienced such an attitude with the Specialist Paedaitric dentists that I worked with and would certainly recommend them to those seeking their services.

I was referring to private dentists who advertise themselves as purely childrens dentists.
Well all I can say is god help the children under the 2 childrens dentists that my kids went to......to be shouted at and being told they are a babies...not good practise at all!!!!!! These were private dentists who only saw children...and their manner with children left an awful lot to be desired!!!! Never again!!!! My son has a complex medical history and all these dentists did was to make the situation much much worse.

[Nick11]

And tbh what really gets my goat....I have just googled childrens dentists in adelaide and the worst offenders seem to always seem to be advertising. Anyone who wants to know who NOT to take their children to...feel free to pm me.
As I said we now have a great dentist..who isn't a paediatric specilalist..but a normal run of the mill dentist...whose lovely manner with kids has won my terrified son over.