This is why we have compiled our most frequently asked questions to help answer common questions to do with our practice, specific treatment and the results we can achieve. Click below to access the answers for each:
Dr Lidums has been specially trained in further dental rehabilitation with a Masters Degree in Dental Surgery and is registered on the Australian Dental Board as a Prosthodontist. This allows Dr Lidums and his team, which is made up of Dental Prosthetists, Technicians, Dental Hygienists, Certified Dental Assistants and Prosthodontists to provide high quality treatments. Many of our Operators and Support Team have over 20 years experience in their Field.
In just one day, our patients can replace failed or missing teeth with Dental Implants that have fixed teeth attached. We completely designed our entire practice in order to provide the best quality and total reliability throughout all stages of the All-On-4 procedure. With this in mind we offer the All-On-4 treatment, which comes with many features:
Of course, careful planning and x-rays are require to assess if you are a candidate for this treatment.
If you have lost an entire arch of teeth you are not alone. At Lidums Dental we understand traditional dentures provide an often uncomfortable and unstable solution to missing teeth, and knowing this we provide more satisfying alternatives. For the loss of singular or multiple teeth we are able to provide Dental Implants, which are small screws that are placed in the bone. For full arches of lost teeth we are able to provide full arch restoration otherwise known as the All-On-4 Teeth-in-a-Day procedure.
For shorter appointments and lighter treatments, we are able to manage dental anxiety with sedative medication such as Valium. This method can alleviate anxiety or make the appointment go much quicker as many patients simply fall asleep while having their treatment. IV & General Anaesthesia is available for larger treatment or patients with a higher degree of dental anxiety. Our team are also well equipped to assist and support patients who may have high dental anxiety or phobia. (Link to Sleep Dentistry page)
At Lidums Dental, our aim is not just to fix or replace teeth. We consider the longevity of your smile and its impact on your well-being and confidence. The space is fresh, private where required, and supports ease of patient flow and treatment. Privacy was a huge factor in designing the rooms so that our patients could have the treatment they wanted without fear of others seeing. The facility enables our Dental Team to achieve consistent outstanding results due to it’s design and the technology they have access to.
With a day-stay surgical suite to provide a safe environment for patients, you can be sure you are in the best possible hands throughout your treatment. However depending on your treatment choice and preferences, condition and recommendations by our dental professionals, you may require a hospital stay. Our team will discuss this with you.
A Prosthodontist has undergone 3 years of additional intensive Post graduate Study and is a recognised Dental Specialist, unlike “Cosmetic Dentists”. You can be assured you are receiving treatment which understands the overall stability of your bite, maximum function and optimum aesthetics enabling them to provide complex restorative treatment at an advanced level.. What is a Prosthodontist? (pronounced Prost-o-don-tist) A Prosthodontist is a Dental Board Registered Dental Specialist committed to the improvement of function and appearance of teeth through the reconstruction of teeth, the replacement of missing teeth and adjacent oral and facial tissues and the rehabilitation and maintenance of oral health using fixed or removable restoration materials. What does this mean for you? It means when you see a Prosthodontist, you are in the care of someone who has the appropriate training to know what is really happening in your mouth and provide you with stable long-term, predictable solutions.
There are times when treatment can be more expensive than ‘normal’ for a variety of reasons. It’s important to know that your dentist is not restricted on what kind of treatment they can offer or what kind of materials can be used or even what time limits they have. Having the ability to take the time to treatment plan and discuss your needs is important and you will find that a practice who can provide this, is a practice who is likely to have more flexibility in what treatment options they might present and discuss with you.
There are numerous Finance options these days that cater for varying budgets and needs. Anything from Staged treatment, to Accessing Superannuation to 3rd Party Finance is available. Our Treatment Coordinators can discuss these with you once you have decided on your course of treatment.
Absolutely! We can provide you with the relevant item numbers and fee’s prior to your treatment. If your Health fund covers dental, your proposed treatment falls largely under the ‘Major Dental’ category, and most patients receive their annual limit (on average of $600 – $2,000 p/a), regardless of the extent of procedures. To understand your annual limit for ‘Major Dental’ please contact your health fund provider.
Contract vs Private Practitioner Many health fund providers have trained their employees to try and talk patients into going to one of their ‘preferred providers’. We feel this creates confusion for our patients. We have seen numerous times where a patient has had Specialist treatment performed by inexperienced operators and this causes them much grief, pain and money as often the treatment must be redone. We feel it’s a patient’s right to be able to choose their own dentist based on the level of care or treatment they want, rather than how much ‘rebate’ they will receive. This can be very misleading to patients if there is no understanding of why they might see a Private Practicing Dentist vs a Contracted Dentist who may have restrictions on time and materials to be able to treatment plan fully.
No, we do not participate in the preferred provider scheme. We are a South Australian Privately Owned Dental Practice – and proud of it. We operate completely independently of health funds. The preferred provider schemes often do not allow patients to see the dental provider of their choice. Annual rebate limits do not change whether you see a preferred provider or not. Stated in the Australian Dental Association (ADA) website, “As all members of a fund will pay identical premiums, eligibility for rebates should also be identical. To increase a rebate available to one member who chooses to use a Health fund preferred provider discriminates financially against the member who chooses to maintain a dentist patient relationship that may have existed for years. Your fund should allow you to choose your dentist. There is now evidence available that some health funds are using the opportunity of discussing written estimates of costs of treatments with their members to deliberately attempt to redirect patients to the funds’ contracted (preferred provider) dentists. This practice is discouraging patients from using their dentist of choice and may compromise the quality of care to be delivered to you.” I think this sums it up very well.
At Lidums Dental, we want to keep our patients informed and up to date with the changes occurring at Lidums Dental due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We believe in prevention and it is our intention to care for and maintain your dental health for the long term to prevent emergencies.
Please do take the time to read the information we have provided, especially if you are planning to visit us.
We have been following the developments of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past few weeks, and as of 31 March 2020, we have decided to follow Level 3 Restrictions at Lidums Dental.
What does this mean for you?
It means we have temporarily suspended all routine and non-essential dental treatment. This includes examinations and maintenance visits for oral hygiene, fillings, crown and bridge work and routine dental implant treatments.
However, there are treatments we can still perform in order to minimise pain, discomfort and deterioration of your teeth during this time. We have a very clear understanding of what services we can offer our patients in order to have access to this care.
Emergency Dental Care
Our team are on call during this time to advise on and manage Emergency situations and treat them if we are able. Please be aware that some dental problems may not be manageable at this time and others may require referral to an appropriate facility or other dental specialist. We will absolutely do our best to look after you and find a way to attend to your dental emergency.
Patients who have a Dental Emergency or Inquiry
Please go to our Contacts Page where you can send us details about your dental situation. We have a team member who will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours. They will be in contact with you to inform and instruct you on your next step.
For our patients who have existing appointments, we will be contacting you to reschedule your appointment to later in the year if your treatment falls into the Level 3 Restrictions.
Getting in contact with us
If you are unable to contact us via email, you can call the practice on 8223 3531 and inform us of your situation. Our trained support team will ask you some clarifying questions so they can best assess your situation and provide you with an appointment that will manage your situation or refer you to someone who can. If we are unable to take your call, please do leave a message with your name, phone number and brief message and we will ensure to return your call within 24 hours.
We ask that if you are experiencing any flu like symptoms (fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath) that you do not attend the practice. According to Government recommendations to avoid public transport, we believe it is best to drive or get dropped off to your dental appointment if possible.
Please do follow this link for more information relating to those who have recently travelled or are planning on travelling overseas;
Improving the Wow-factor
One of our Core Values at Lidums dental is providing the Wow-factor to our patients and to each other. We are going to use this time to improve our processes, up skill our Team and aim to be better equipped to look after your dental needs when we return to normal practice. We hope you will meet a more skilled team when we see you again.
Staying Connected
We know we’ll be seeing you all again. We want you all to know we will miss you and look forward to seeing our dental family once again. During this time, please go to our Lidums Dental Facebook page for updates on how we are going and what we are up to during this time.
