What do I do when I snap a tooth off or knock it out?
Call us! Then get the tooth pieces or the tooth and place them in a glass of milk and bring it with you to us. We may be able to replant the tooth or re-glue the broken part of the tooth.
How do I pay for my treatment?
We have HICAPS facility that allows us to accept MasterCard, Visa and EFTPOS. We can also help by claiming your health fund portion for you at the time of your visit. In situations where there is a large and costly amount of treatment we can help put you in touch with companies like GE Money, who lend to people needing medical treatment.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
We require at least 2 working days’ notice for cancellations. This will allow us to be able to offer appointments to patients that urgently need attention. We may charge for late cancellations or missed appointments.
Are you a preferred provider?
ALL health funds can be used to claim on the day of treatment using our HICAPS machine. Your rebate amount is determined by your individual health fund, your level of cover and any waiting periods you may have. Dr Orb is an HBF Members Plus dentist.
Where are you located?
Our dental surgery is located at 729 Canning Hwy in Applecross. We are approximately 400m from the Riseley Street intersection if you are heading down Canning Highway in a Southerly direction. Please see our location map on our Home and Contact Us page.
How much will treatment cost?
At the end of every examination, patients are advised of the different types of treatments available to them should treatment be required. At MyDentist@Applecross we believe in supporting our patient’s treatment choices. When a patient has chosen the treatment that is appropriate to them, a fully itemised plan will be given to the patient so that they are aware of what costs are involved. This is broken down into individual appointments, each with its own treatment duration time and fee allocation. Where possible, we can assist you to get an estimate directly from your health fund.
Are you open on Saturday?
At this stage MyDentist@Applecross is not open on a Saturday, however Dr Orb is available over the phone should you have any questions or concerns. Please call 9316 0555 or 0414 670 614 if you are experiencing a dental emergency.
I am a very nervous patient. How would you reassure me?
We understand that some people have a very big fear of the dentist. We pride ourselves on being very caring and understanding of those fears. There are different ways of being able to perform dental treatments, and when combined with the choices of sedation we have available, our nervous patients feel comfortable enough to start and see through their treatments to completion. We are proud of the fact that we listen to our patients concern and address those concerns individually.
What should I do if I have bad breath?
Bad breath is often caused by the bacteria in the mouth but can sometimes be caused by other medical issues. The best advice we can give patients is to have a dental examination to diagnose and treat the cause of the problem.
How can cosmetic dentistry help improve the appearance of my smile.
There are many ways to improve your smile. This can be something as simple as having a clean and tooth whitening to remove stains. More complex treatments such as moving teeth with Invisalign, or using veneers and crowns can also be used to create the perfect smile.
When should I take my child to the dentist the first time?
We encourage parents to bring in their infants with them every time they have their active maintenance appointment. Children can then see dental maintenance as a normal thing to do. This also helps them to have no preconceived fear of the dentist. Generally we start to check teeth as young as 18 months but this is more of a familiarisation exercise than anything else. Should you however feel there is anything of concern in your child’s mouth, whether it be their teeth or gums, it is always prudent for them to attend the surgery for a quick and gentle examination.
How often should I have a dental exam and clean?
Most of our patients have a clean every 6 months. Some patients with active disease need to have a clean every 3-4 months. Generally we do exams for patients that are on our active maintenance roster every 6-12 months as required. This is because very little treatment is needed for those who have regular visits.
Which tooth brush is better manual or electric?
How effective a brush is really depends on who is using it. Both can be very effective or ineffective depending on how they are used. All things being equal, an electric tooth brush is more effective in children and people who are unable to move a manual brush around, such as those with Arthritis and perhaps the elderly.
Do you do general dentistry?
Yes! We do. Contact the team at MyDentist@Applecross.
How often should I floss my teeth?
Every day! It’s one of the few ways to get in between the teeth to remove those smelly bacteria that cause disease.
When do teeth erupt?
Below you will find a chart with the eruption time of baby teeth (deciduous) and adult teeth.
What will happen to my teeth while I am pregnant?
Pregnancy and dentistry if full of tails of which there are too many to list. One fact that can be dispelled is that babies do not leach calcium from their mother’s teeth! So you won’t lose a tooth for every pregnancy..
Mums-to-be can definitely still have dental treatments while pregnant and in fact we highly recommend you keep up your dental cleans and examinations. Routine x-rays can be delayed until after the baby is born but should you require an x-ray that cannot be delayed, remember your radiation exposure is managed with a lead gown placed over your abdomen and the exposure is less than what you would receive flying from State to State. Due to your midly suppressed immunity, your body’s defences against the bacteria in plaque may be reduced so it is important to brush and floss more while you are pregnant or your gums may start bleeding.
In what sports should I wear a mouth guard?
In any sport where the teeth can be knocked or damaged, you should consider a mouthguard. There are some sports where their use is common place and widely accepted (ie rugby or boxing), but for other sports like soccer, mountain biking and gymnastics, a valid argument could be put forward for their use. People do not realise that they can be useful any time a bump or a fall can cause trauma to the teeth.

