Arrive and register
Bring your IC and, if you are using a panel or insurance, your card or authorisation. First registration takes about five minutes.
Medical history
We ask about medical conditions, medications and allergies. Blood thinners, diabetes and heart conditions genuinely change how we treat you, so nothing is a trivial detail.
Examination
Dr. Lim checks every tooth, your gums, your bite and the soft tissues. This takes about ten minutes and is not rushed.
X-rays if needed
Decay between teeth is invisible from the surface. We take x-rays only where they will change what we do.
What we found, in plain language
We tell you what is happening in your mouth, what needs doing now, what can wait, and what does not need doing at all.
Treatment plan and fees
You get a written plan with fees before anything is booked. You are free to take it away and think about it.
What we will not do
- Start treatment you have not agreed to and been quoted for.
- Tell you a tooth must come out without explaining what saving it would involve and cost.
- Pressure you into deciding on the day.
- Offer you a discount to book now. Under the MDC Code of Professional Conduct we are not permitted to, and a health decision should not be an impulse purchase.
If you are in pain today
Please call the clinic rather than sending a message. We keep time aside each day for patients in pain, and the phone gets a faster answer. If you have swelling that is affecting your eye, your breathing or your swallowing, go to the nearest hospital emergency department rather than a dental clinic.
Common questions
What should I bring?
Your IC, and if you are using insurance or a company panel, your card or authorisation letter. A list of any medications you take is genuinely useful.
How long will the first appointment take?
About 30 to 40 minutes for registration, examination, any x-rays and a discussion of what we found. We do not usually carry out treatment at the first visit unless you are in pain.
I am nervous about the dentist. What do you do differently?
We tell you what we are going to do before we do it, and we stop when you ask us to. Say so when you book and we will allow more time so the appointment is not rushed.
Will you try to sell me treatment I do not need?
You will get a written plan separating what needs doing now, what can wait and what needs no treatment at all. You can take it away and think about it. Nothing is booked at the first visit unless you want it to be.
Do I need an appointment or can I walk in?
Booking is better and usually means no wait. We do accept walk-ins when there is space, and we hold time each day for people in pain.