Appointments

Teeth in Place supplies our own portable dental equipment which we bring into the facility - including suction, local anaesthetic, lighting, dental materials, and infection control measures. All we need is access to a standard powerpoint. 

 The patient is positioned somewhere comfortable - ideally a recliner lounge chair or adjustable hospital bed. We can adapt what you have available to find a solution that works. The dentist will wear a head light and/or use a specialised light probe to help see into the mouth.

Yes

• There needs to be at least one other person present for the initial appointment, this is in line with best practice in treating vulnerable people.  

• We want to ensure the comfort and safety of the patient as well as establishing clear communication throughout the appointment and with any follow up/continuation of care. 

• The support person does not necessarily have to be the next of kin, but can be a spouse, sibling, adult son or daughter, friend or care person familiar to and trusted by the patient. It is helpful if this person is the person responsible for payment and/or with medical treatment decision making capacity. 

• The advantage of the portable dental service is that the support person only needs to be present for the length of the appointment - meaning 1 hour of time, instead of the 2-3 hours often required to prepare for an outing to the dentist, transport to appointment, treatment time, then travel to obtain oral health care products and transport back home again. 

• Attendance certificates can be provided for support people if time is needed to be taken off work to assist the patient receive dental care.

All appointments are booked in 1 hour blocks - but don’t worry, we don’t expect your mouth to be open the whole time! 

The 1 hour time frame includes:

• Greeting and set up equipment

• Review of medical and medications history 

• Discussion regarding any dental concerns

• Examination and diagnosis, photographs as needed

• Discussion of treatment recommendations and options including time for questions and oral health education

• Treatment as agreed - eg. Smoothing sharp edges, cleaning and polishing teeth, application of preventative products, adjusting dentures, simple fillings etc.

• Making referrals and future bookings if needed, processing payments

• Pack up of equipment and cleaning of treatment area.

• Patient registration (including medical history) is completed prior to the appointment (online link or email through information)

• Allow about 1 hour of time for the appointment

• Ensure that a support person/next of kin/person with medical treatment decision making responsibility is present. 

• Have your home ready - clear access into building, pets secured, patient comfortable in recliner chair or on own bed, with a single power point available nearby. Removing any distractions eg. turning off television/radio is also helpful to maintain focus during the appointment.

• Meet the dentist, who will set up portable dental unit next to the patient. 

• Discuss concerns that patient and support team may have, review medical history and current oral hygiene routine. 

• Examination of mouth, teeth, gums and dentures - we can stop for breaks as often as needed. 

• The dentist will record some notes, and take photographs as needed

• Discuss findings and treatment options - including providing the opportunity to ask questions and provide input into treatment plan. 

• Perform treatment as required

• Demonstrate oral hygiene recommendations - including providing any specialised products required and explain post operative care.

• Pack up equipment, clean area

• Process payment 

• Make any future appointments /referrals as needed

Yes, we can attend if you are experiencing an urgent dental problems. Urgency will be triaged according to our triage policy, with preference given to existing patients of the practice.

If you are experiencing facial swelling, are having difficulty breathing or have had a traumatic injury to the head or face, please call 000 or attend the nearest hospital urgently - Bendigo Base Hospital is located at 100 Barnard St, Bendigo, Vic 3550. 

Urgent call out for pain/problem includes:

• Travel to you

• onsite set up and pack up

• Review of medical and medication history, liason with GP/medical specialist/previous dentist if required.

• Assessment and diagnosis of pain/problem to the best of our ability

• Discussion of treatment options and costs involved

• Minimally invasive management of the concern if possible* (smoothing sharp edges, treatment of localised gum infections, simple fillings, adjustment of denture, prescription of analgesia, anti-inflammatory or antimicrobials if appropriate) 

*Referral for radiology imaging and/or to a fixed dental practice/dental specialist may be required.

*Any Dental treatment performed on the day will be charged in addition to the call out fee, at the itemised rate. 

*A follow up appointment may be needed to completely resolve the problem.

Extractions will be assessed on an individual basis - taking into account the relevant medical history, available radiology and assessed complexity of the procedure. Referral to a fixed dental practice and/or dental specialist may be required.

Currently we do not take radiographs (X-rays) onsite, due to the variation in sites visited and difficulty ensuring Occupational Health and Safety Regulations are met at each individual location. 

Previous radiographs and records taken at a fixed dental clinic can be transferred to Teeth in Place, and can be extremely useful in assessing the dental condition/difficulty of extractions.

Alternatively, you may be referred to a local imaging centre to have a new OPG (full mouth dental X-ray) taken. Several sites in Bendigo offer bulk billed OPG’s (cost 100% covered by Medicare), are accessibility friendly and do not require appointments, just a referral from a dentist or medical practitioner.

We regularly work with the following local businesses - who bulk bill OPG’s and have onsite parking available. Scans are are completed in less than 5 - 10 minutes, no special preparation is required, except for removing any jewellery, hair clips or metal objects in the head and face region. Images will be reviewed by a radiologist, then sent directly to Teeth in Place for assessment by your dentist. 

1. High St XRay
149-151 High Street, Bendigo VIC 3550

03 5441 9999

Monday to Friday, 8am to 5:30pm, no bookings required. 

2. Vision Radiology
99-105 High Street, Kangaroo Flat VIC 3555

03 9087 4377

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm and Saturday, 9am to 1pm, no bookings required. 

3. Bendigo Radiology

Bendigo
109-111 Lucan St, Bendigo VIC 3550

03 5440 3500

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, appointments required.

Castlemaine
142 Cornish St, Castlemaine VIC 3450

03 5471 3482

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, appointments required.

4. Lake Imaging
7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton, Vic 3444

Bookings: 1300 525 300

General: 03 5422 9944

Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5pm, appointments required.

Absolutely! 

In fact, receiving dental care at home, in a familiar environment is likely to be much more successful than attempting dental treatment in a fixed dental practice for people living with dementia. 

Seeing the patient in their home environment supports the patient to remain orientated by having a familiar space with personal items, few distractions (for example, noise/sensory overload), and a small number of people present, improving communication.

Onsite assessment of the oral hygiene routine and products available allows the dentist to more appropriately tailor recommendations for home care - identifying which devices, products, techniques and routine will make the home care most achievable for individuals and their support team.

Additionally, advances in dental materials and technology now mean not every cavity needs to be filled to stop dental decay, and when a filling is required - our drills and suction units are much quieter. Minimally invasive treatment options are generally well accepted by all patients we treat, not only those living with dementia or other impairments. 

Absolutely! We want to support you to maintain your oral health however we can.

If you feel more comfortable returning to your regular dentist for any major work/maintenance of implants etc, we absolutely support this and are happy to liase with the dentist/specialist of your choosing to ensure we are all on the same page, working towards the same goals and for you receive the best care possible.

Yes, we can attend your Residential Aged Care Facility! (In fact, that is where we work the most!) We bring everything with us to provide you with dental care, all we need is access to a single power point.

Patients are treated in their own room - either in a comfortable recliner chair, wheelchair, or in their own bed - no need for transfers. We are happy to provide training to staff in assisting in the patient’s oral hygiene routine.

We recommend the patient themselves, or their next of kin/person with medical treatment making responsibility/financial responsibility contact us to arrange an appointment, and be present for the initial appointment as well. Payment transaction occurs directly between dentist and the patient/their support person. 

A recorded video with oral hygiene instructions or a written report can be provided to the Aged Care Facility at the conclusion of the appointment. This information should be included in the patients overall care plan and will assist the Aged Care Facility in meeting Quality Standard 3 – Personal and Clinical Care.

Travel within the Bendigo region is included in the standard pricing above. Travel outside of the Bendigo region may be possible, but may be subject to an additional travel fee. If you are located outside the travel region we can do our best to refer you to a local dental service.

Please get in touch at 0494 147 272 to discuss how we may be able to help!