At Dentistry on George, we regularly see patients who are surprised to learn how much value they miss out on simply because they weren’t aware of how their cover works. So, as your trusted Brisbane CBD dentist, here’s an easy, practical guide to help you understand your dental benefits and make the most of what you’re already paying for.

How dental benefits typically work

Every health fund is different, but most follow a similar structure:

1. A yearly limit for general dental

This usually includes:

• Check-ups

• Scale and clean

• X-rays

• Fluoride treatments

• Simple fillings

These limits generally refresh on January 1st ( a few health funds go by financial year not calendar year) — but unused amounts disappear.

2. Separate limits for major dental

Depending on your cover, this may include:

• Crowns

• Bridges

• Root canal treatment

• Dentures

• Some funds also include a portion of dental implants

Understanding these limits allows you to plan treatment properly, especially if you’re completing care over multiple visits.

3. Waiting periods and annual resets

If you’ve upgraded your policy recently (for example, to increase your major dental cover), waiting periods may apply. Once the new year begins, your limits reset — but so do your waiting periods for anything newly added.

Why it’s worth knowing your health fund details

Most people pay their premiums without fully understanding what they’re entitled to. A quick check of your health fund app or a phone call can be surprisingly eye-opening. You may discover you still have rebates available for a dental check-up, preventive care, or recommended follow-up treatment.

Regular preventive care is the most effective way to avoid larger issues later. Check-ups, early detection, and routine cleans can reduce the need for complex care like dental crowns, root canal therapy, or extractions. As a Brisbane dentist focused on long-term oral health, we’ve seen first-hand how staying on top of maintenance keeps treatments simpler, more comfortable, and more affordable.

Why December is a smart time for a dental visit

December doesn’t have to be frantic — there are calm, practical reasons why it’s worth booking a dental visit before the year ends:

1. Prevent starting the new year with a tooth problem

You don’t want January holidays or back-to-work season disrupted by a preventable dental issue.

2. Make the most of benefits you’ve already paid for

Even a simple clean or check-up ensures you’re not leaving rebates unused.

3. Plan bigger treatments across two calendar years

If you need crowns, veneers, or wish to begin implant treatment, starting now can allow you to split stages across two years — which can maximise health fund claims (depending on your policy).

4. Ideal time for whitening before holiday photos

Many patients book teeth whitening in December to feel their best for end-of-year events.

We’re here to help you understand your options

We know health funds can be confusing. Our team can provide item numbers and treatment plans so you can speak to your fund and understand your exact entitlements. Whether you’re due for a clean, need follow-up treatment, or simply want clarity, we’re here to support you.

If you’re due for a dental check-up in Brisbane CBD, now is a great time to book before your benefits refresh.
Call us or book online to schedule your appointment at Dentistry on George.

The post Understanding Your Health Fund Benefits Before They Expire first appeared on Dentistry on George.

1. Quit smoking/vaping

For those that smoke/vape, it can be very costly! Not just for your wallet, but due to the health implications. We all know about the links with smoking/vaping and lung issues. But what about your oral health?

According to The Better Health Channel, smokers are more at risk of mouth cancer, gum disease and tooth decay and complications after removal of teeth and/or oral surgery.

Those who vape are also at increased risk, but as vaping is relatively new, the long-term effects are not fully known. There is evidence that vaping can increase inflammation in the mouth, leading to gum disease.

For those that do smoke or vape, it’s really important to let your dentist know, and to visit the dentist regularly. At every check-up here at Dentistry On George, we do a soft tissue examination for any signs of oral cancer, and a gum disease screen. It’s important to pick these things up early, to avoid detrimental health issues as well as to prevent more costly and extensive treatments.

For more information on the oral effects of smoking/vaping, read our previous blog here, and speak to your dentist or doctor to help you quit.

2. Cut out juice/soft drink/energy drinks

Sugary and/or acidic drinks can have huge detriment to our general and oral health. Many people think that sugary drinks are the main culprit and switch to diet drinks or fruit juices. Acidic drinks, even if sugar free, can cause a lot of damage to your teeth.

By cutting down/cutting out on drinks that are not plain milk, water or tea/coffee without sugar, you will not only save money, but you will improve your general and oral health. This could again save money on future health interventions and/or dental work.

3. Check your health insurance

Are you getting bang for your buck? We have previous blogs on this issue – read the latest one here.

Ensure you understand what you are paying for. Does the amount you pay in premiums and the amount you get back make it worthwhile?

It’s also useful to speak to your dentist and find out the likelihood of you needing further dental work in the future. At Dentistry On George, we talk to our patients about immediate dental work that’s required, but we also plan for the long-term. This can help you plan for things financially.

4. Cut out sugary snacks

Similar to the sugary drinks – sugary snacks will also damage your dental health, as well as your general health.

Tooth friendly snacks include things like cheese, nuts (but beware they are not too hard!) and fresh fruit.

Some argue that healthy foods are more expensive than junk foods. However, if you are wise about your snacks and plan your meals, you may feel fuller for longer on certain foods. Some ’empty calories’ such as cakes and biscuits won’t keep you feeling full and can be addictive, so you will eat more and more without any nutritional benefit.

5. Buy the right oral healthcare products

This may seem counter-intuitive: telling you to buy something to save money. However, having the right tools for the job will not only make your oral hygiene routine easier, but more effective. And more effective oral hygiene can reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Here are Kathryn & Mishari’s top buys:

Oral B electric toothbrush

We recommend the Oral B Pro 300 for most patients (and it’s what we use at home!). They are regularly on offer at the supermarket. Our general recommendation is for the soft/sensitive toothbrush heads. These toothbrush heads will change colour over time to tell you when it’s time for a new head.

Each toothbrush head comes with a coloured band. You can have one electric toothbrush for the family, and interchange the heads.

Fluoridated toothpaste

As long as the toothpaste has fluoride (you’re looking for around 1,450ppm), the rest is personal preference or for specific concerns, e.g., sensitivity.

We like fluoride in toothpaste as it has been proven to help the tooth enamel resist decay. However, we are aware that it’s a polarising and emotive issue. If you would rather stay clear of fluoride, we recommend products with xylitol, and your oral hygiene needs to be excellent. In addition, your diet needs to have minimal sugars (both added and natural).

Dental floss

Mishari’s preference is the Oral B Essential Floss; Kathryn prefers the Oral B Satin Tape. We won’t judge who’s side you take!

For those that have bridges or orthodontic wires – Oral B Superfloss is great.

Interdental brushes

These are the small brushes that go between the teeth, towards the gumline (much like where you would use a toothpick). However, they are gentler on the teeth and gums than a toothpick, but very efficient at removing more plaque from between the teeth. The trick is to get the appropriate size – we recommend buying a packet of mixed sizes at first until you find the sizes that suit. You will need different sizes for different gaps, but easiest rule of thumb – use the largest size that will fit in the gap (without forcing it).

Which brand? Personal preference, or whichever is easier to find in the shops! Some patients find those at a right angle easier to get between the back teeth.

6. Visit your dentist regularly

By visiting us regularly, we can give you personalised advice and oral hygiene tips and tricks. In addition to this, we can catch things early – small fillings are much cheaper than big fillings. A small filling caught early is also much cheaper than a late stage root canal when the cavity has gotten much larger.

Many dental diseases can be prevented – we like to work with you to help prevent problems.

7. Educate yourself

We also like to inform you and educate you about your oral health. If you understand the causes of dental disease and how you can prevent them, then you can make more informed choices.

Some good sources of science-backed dental education:

1. Oral B
2. Colgate
3. Australian Dental Association

Getting your education from the right sources, brings us on to the next money-saving tip…

8. Don’t believe internet fads

We have many patients who ask us about products they’ve seen online or on social media. Rarely are they things we have heard about or would recommend. You can end up wasting money on products that don’t work. We like tried and tested, science-backed products. Worse than wasting money, you could end buying something or trying something that could actually damage your teeth and gums. If in doubt, follow tip number #9.

9. Ask your dentist

1. 1. 1. Ask your dentist’s opinion before buying certain products online – some things at best can be a total waste of money; at worst can damage your teeth/gums.
      2. Speak to your dentist before you consider other options such as overseas dental work – see a recent blog article on this
      3. Find out what the best dental products are for you – we all have different needs and preferences and we like to tailor advice to each individual.
      4. If price is a barrier – ask about alternatives or payment options. Here at Dentistry on George we have the option of TLC dental loans, and have just started offering Afterpay.

10. Get a second opinion

Before embarking on any expensive, extensive or invasive dental procedures, a second opinion is always useful. Before you commit to any dental work, ensure you have asked about alternative treatment options, and the pros, cons and risks of all the options.

Quite often there is an ‘ideal treatment’, but sometimes we can compromise with less than ideal, but still suitable treatment options. For example – would whitening get you the appearance you are looking for, rather than veneers? What about adding tooth-coloured filling materials rather than porcelain veneers?

We are always happy to see new patients for a consultation to go through treatment options as a second opinion. Similar to tip #7 – the more knowledge you have, the better the decisions you can make.

The final takeaway…

As always – prevention is better than cure. The majority of dental conditions can be prevented. By preventing dental disease, we can seriously reduce your dental bill!

The post 10 ways to save money on your oral health first appeared on Dentistry on George.

First and foremost, this is a dental blog, not a financial blog. None of this information is intended as financial advice. Secondly, private health insurance is divided into ‘Hospital Cover’ and ‘Extras Cover’. Hospital cover is for trips to hospital and is only relevant to dentistry if you are going to hospital for treatment, e.g., to have teeth removed under general anaesthetic. At Dentistry On George, if you are paying for treatment and using your health insurance, we will be claiming the ‘extras’ and so we will only be discussing ‘extras’ health insurance here.

However, it is worth noting that your hospital cover and your extras cover do not have to be with the same company. We have many patients who have hospital cover that they are happy with, but they haven’t shopped around for their extras. You can have hospital cover, and no extras cover. Or you can keep your hospital cover with your current insurer, and shop around for a better deal on your extras.

How does health insurance for dental treatment work?

Generally, ‘Extras’ cover is for private health care not conducted in a hospital. Each health fund will have their own options for what is on offer, but this can cover things such as dental, optometry, physiotherapy and other allied health that is carried out in private practice.

Different policies do this differently. Each fund will have an annual limit. Some funds may allocate a limit for each type of provider, e.g. $500 for dental, $500 for physio. Others may not split it and give you say $800 a year to spend on any of the services covered by your policy.

Some health insurers split dental into ‘major’ and ‘general’ and will give a different limit for each category. What they classify as major dental varies with each fund, but generally this can include things like implants, surgeries, root canal and crowns. However, each fund is different. Some funds might even split things further into general, major, orthodontic and endodontic (root canals). Read your product information statement thoroughly. If you have absolutely no intention on getting braces, there’s no point having cover for orthodontics.

Some health funds will exclude certain procedures e.g., implants or cosmetic dental work. Other funds give higher rebates or ‘no gap’ for preventive dental care, e.g., check-ups, cleans and fluoride, whereas other funds only allow two check-ups per year. Confusing, isn’t it?

What is a Preferred Provider or Member’s Choice practice?

Some health funds have ‘Member’s Choice’ or ‘preferred provider’ dentist. This is purely a financial agreement between the dental provider and the health fund. The contracted dentist has agreed to provide a dental service at a fee agreed with the health fund. The health fund will then advertise ‘no out of pocket expenses’, but only if you see one of their dentists. The dentist is providing the same service at a reduced fee, in return for receiving a higher volume of patients. The “preferred practitioners” are not actually preferred because of dental ability, nor are the practices held to a higher standard.

This is limiting the choice patients have over who their dentist is. Continuity of care is so important. Finding a dentist that you like and trust should be your priority. Sticking with them over the years means they get to know you, your history, your family. In addition they will become your trusted adviser and friend. We strongly believe that a great relationship with your dentist is the key to successful outcomes and ultimately great oral health Your health fund shouldn’t be penalising you for going to the dentist you like.

At Dentistry On George, we are proud of the fact that we are entirely independent. We are not linked to any one health fund and have chosen not to participate in these health insurance schemes. What this means is that we can set our own fees, which allows us to buy the best materials and equipment, employ the best staff, avoiding cutting corners and ultimately provide the best care for our patients.

However, we do offer HICAPs services, which means that we can claim your health insurance, no matter who you are with, at the time of your treatment and process your rebate on the spot.

Do I actually need ‘extras’ health insurance?

First thing to work out is what allied health services you actually use. Look back over past receipts or think about what you might be needing in the near future. Add up how much your total bills were over the pat year – the total amount, before any health rebates. Compare this amount of what you would have spent if you had no insurance, with what you paid in premiums plus gap fees. This can help you decide if your ‘extras’ cover is worth it. 

Who can I turn to for impartial advice?

Some comparison websites won’t compare all the funds. Funds pay to sign up with these companies. If you just use comparison websites, you’ll be missing out on all the options.

The government have a website that will give you comprehensive, independent private health insurance information. Another great source to try is the Fair Health Care Alliance, who have been backed by the Australian Dental Association. They will find out your insurance needs and do all the calculations and comparisons for your you.

If you want to read more from the Australian Dental Association, check out their page on private health insurance here

The post Is My Extras Health Insurance Worth It? first appeared on Dentistry on George.

In addition, the latest dental fee survey carried out by the Australian Dental Association, showed that from 2018 – 2019 the average costs charged by dentists actually dropped by 1.9%. But our insurance costs are increasing and the average rebate paid is decreasing. So what’s going on and what can you do to make sure you get the most out of your private health insurance?

What to look out for this year

This year, the average increase in fees is going to be around 2.95%. In past years we have seen an average increase of between 3.5% and 5.5%. However, remember that this is just an average. One health fund is set to increase its fees by 5.58% (I was shocked to learn that this is actually my health fund!).

So, what should we do? Well first of all, don’t just accept the rise and carry on as normal. Although this seems tempting when you are already too busy and stressed to deal with it, it does pay to look around at other options.

The private health ombudsman advises you check your policy once every year to make sure that it’s meeting your health needs.

Do you actually need it?

I’m not an expert in health insurance, but this is the first question I ask myself. Here we’ll be dealing with extras cover only.

First thing to work out is what allied health services you actually use. Look back over past receipts or think about what you might be needing in the near future. Hoping this will be the year you finally run a marathon? Probably wise to keep the physio cover! Don’t wear glasses or contacts? You probably don’t need optical cover. Do you just get a check-up and clean once a year at the dentist? Maybe you don’t need dental cover.

If your health insurance extras covers for example, physio, dental and optical – grab your receipts from the past year and add up how much your total bills were. This is the total amount, before any health rebates, at each of these providers. Is this amount less that what you are spending in insurance? If so, you probably don’t need it unless you are foreseeing any changes coming in the next year.

Visiting your dentist regularly can help prevent
any unexpected emergency visits.

An example…

As an example, let’s say you paid $500 for the year for your extras cover, which is paying 50% up to a limit of $800 per year.

Imagine got 2 check-ups and cleans and one filling over the course of the year, which cost a total of $750. You’d have paid $375 (the 50% ‘gap’) plus your premium of $500, which means all up you’ve spent $875. This is more than the $750 you would have paid if you didn’t have any insurance.

This is just an example, but it’s definitely worth looking at your dental needs, what you’re paying and what’s covered to see if you have the right level of cover. Seeing your dentist regularly, they will be able to give you an idea of what kind of work you may require over the course of the year. Also, seeing them regularly means that you may be able to prevent problems before they arise, so there are not any surprise dental appointments that you didn’t budget for.

How does dental insurance work?

Different policies all do this differently. Some will give you an annual limit that will cover all dental whereas others will exclude certain procedures. Some will split procedures into general and major dental, but others might split this further into general, major, orthodontic and endodontic (root canals). Read your product information statement thoroughly. If you have absolutely no intention on getting braces, there’s no point having cover for orthodontics.

Each fund will have an annual limit. Some funds may allocate a limit for each type of provider, e.g. $500 for dental, $500 for physio. Others may not split it and give you say $800 a year to spend on any of the services covered by your policy.

Is your health insurance the right one for you,
or are you wasting your money?

What is a Member’s Choice or Preferred Provider dentist?

Some health funds have ‘Member’s Choice’ or ‘preferred provider’ dentist. This is purely a financial agreement between the dental provider and the health fund. The contracted dentist has agreed to provide a dental service at a fee agreed with the health fund. The health fund will then advertise ‘no out of pocket expenses’, but only if you see one of their dentists.

The dentist is providing the same service at at reduced fee, in return to receiving a higher volume of patients. The “preferred practitioners” are not actually preferred because of dental ability, nor are the practices held to a higher standard.

This is limiting the choice patients have over who their dentist is. Just because they signed up with a certain health fund doesn’t mean they should have to go to the dentist their health fund says. Continuity of care is so important. Finding a dentist that you like and trust should be your priority. Sticking with them over the years mean they get to know you, your history, your family. In addition they will become your trusted adviser and friend. Your health fund shouldn’t be penalising you for going to the dentist you like.

It’s important to see a dentist that you like
and trust.

Who can I turn to for impartial advice?

The government have a website that will give you comprehensive, independent private health insurance information.

Some of the comparison websites out there won’t compare all the funds. Funds pay to sign up with these companies. If you just use comparison websites, you’ll be missing out on all the options.

Another great source to try is the Fair Health Care Alliance, who have been backed by the Australian Dental Association. They will find out your insurance needs and do all the calculations and comparisons for your you.

In summary…

Want to get the most out of your health fund? Make sure you actually use it! Some funds give you unlimited check-ups per year (check your policy). There is no point in paying all that money to health funds who cover preventive treatment, when you don’t actually make the most of it.

Check-up overdue? Call our friendly team today on (07) 3211 1155 and let them take care of you.

The post How to Avoid the Health Fund Increases first appeared on Dentistry on George.

We’ve been hearing more frustration lately about health fund rebates not going as far as they used to. If you’ve ever walked out thinking “I pay plenty in premiums—why is my rebate so small?”, you’re not alone.

This is a practical guide to:

• how extras cover actually works for dental

• what “preferred provider” really means

• how to tell if your policy still stacks up

(Quick note: this is general information, not financial advice.)

What is “extras” cover?

Private health insurance is usually split into hospital cover and general treatment cover (often called “extras”). Extras may include things like dental, physio, optical, and more (Private Health Australia).

For dental, your rebate is set by your insurer, based on your level of cover and the item claimed. Your dentist doesn’t control your rebate.

Most extras policies have limits like:

• annual limits (a cap per year)

• per-service limits (a cap per item or per visit)

• waiting periods

• separate buckets for general vs major dental (varies by fund/policy)

If your rebates feel worse than they used to, it’s often because limits haven’t risen much, or the policy changed, not because the dental fees suddenly exploded (adavb.org).

Why your rebate can drop (even if you haven’t changed dentists)

A few common reasons:

• you hit your annual limit earlier than you realised

• your policy has tight per-item caps

• the insurer pays benefits for some items but not others

• your policy includes waiting periods or restrictions on frequency (adavb.org)

• you’ve moved into treatment types that sit under major dental (often lower rebates / stricter limits) such as dental implants or crowns and bridges.

What does “preferred provider dentist” actually mean?

“Preferred provider” (sometimes called “member’s choice”) is basically a commercial arrangement between a health fund and a dental practice.

In general, it means:

• the fund promotes that practice to members

• the practice agrees to conditions set by the fund (often including fee schedules or “no/low gap” arrangements)

• members may receive higher rebates (or “no gap”) when they attend that network, depending on the fund and policy

Importantly: “preferred” doesn’t mean better trained or higher quality. It usually just means “contracted.” (adavb.org+1)

Why Dentistry on George isn’t a preferred provider

We’re not a preferred provider for any fund because we don’t want an insurer influencing:

• what we recommend

• how long we spend with you

• what materials/approaches we use

• the fees we need to charge to deliver care properly

We’d rather keep it simple:

• we recommend what’s appropriate for you

• you claim whatever your policy pays

• you choose whether your cover still suits your needs

(Plenty of good dentists are in networks. Plenty of good dentists aren’t. We’re just explaining our approach.)

How to tell if your extras cover is worth it (a quick checklist)

When you’re comparing policies, look past the headline premium and check:

1. Annual dental limit (and whether it’s split into general/major)

2. Rebate level per item (not just “percentage back” marketing)

3. Waiting periods (especially if you’re switching)

4. Restrictions on frequency (e.g., how often they’ll pay for certain items)

5. Whether the value you actually claim each year is more than what you pay in premiums (for the extras portion)

A lot of people do better with a “self-fund” approach: set aside a dental budget monthly and use it when needed. That’s not right for everyone, but it can be a useful comparison.

Where to compare policies properly

The most reliable starting point is the Australian Government’s private health insurance comparison site, which contains the policy details insurers are required to provide.

Bottom line

If you’re unhappy with rebates, don’t assume the solution is “find a preferred provider.” The real question is whether your policy benefits match your real dental needs.

If you want help understanding how your cover applies to a proposed treatment plan, bring your policy details and we can explain what’s claimable—but your insurer will always have the final say on rebates.

By researching your dental needs and the different policies available. you may find a better policy that suits your needs.

The post Dental Extras Cover, Rebates & “Preferred Providers”: What You Need to Know first appeared on Dentistry on George.