AMK Dental Clinic has gathered the questions patients ask most often, grouped by topic: appointments and hours, costs and health funds, children, emergencies and treatments. The answers draw on guidance from the Australian Dental Association, healthdirect and Services Australia. For more detail, see our new patients, fees and health funds and services pages.
These answers are general information, not a diagnosis. Your dentist will give you advice based on an examination. If you have a question that is not covered here, call AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525 or use the enquiry form on our Contact page.
Appointments and hours
What are AMK Dental Clinic's opening hours?
AMK Dental Clinic is open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, and Friday, 9am to midday for dental emergencies. You can book online at any time, even when the practice is closed. If you have a dental emergency during opening hours, call (02) 9739 6525 so we can advise you. For life-threatening emergencies, call 000.
How do I book an appointment?
You can book online at any time through our booking system, or call AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525 during opening hours. Online booking shows available times so you can choose one that suits you. If you are in pain, have swelling or have damaged a tooth, please call rather than booking online, so we can advise you and find the next suitable appointment.
Is AMK Dental Clinic taking new patients?
Yes, AMK Dental Clinic welcomes new patients of all ages. A first visit usually takes about an hour and includes a medical and dental history, an examination, an oral cancer screening and any X-rays you need. You then receive a treatment plan and itemised estimate. Our new patients page explains what to bring.
How much notice do I need to give to cancel an appointment?
AMK Dental Clinic asks for at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or change an appointment. This allows us to offer the time to another patient, including someone in pain who needs to be seen. Please call (02) 9739 6525 as early as you can. If something unexpected happens on the day, let us know as soon as possible.
Costs and health funds
Can I claim on my health fund on the day?
Yes. AMK Dental Clinic offers on-the-spot health fund claiming through HICAPS, so you pay only the gap, if there is one, on the day. Bring your health fund card to your appointment. How much your fund pays depends on your level of extras cover, annual limits, waiting periods and frequency limits, so ask us for item numbers if you want to check first.
Is AMK Dental Clinic a Medibank Members' Choice provider?
AMK Dental Clinic is a Medibank Members' Choice provider. What Medibank members pay depends on their extras cover, annual limits, waiting periods and policy conditions, and some treatment may involve a gap. Please check your cover with Medibank before your visit, or ask our team for the item numbers in your treatment plan so you can confirm your benefit.
Does Medicare cover dental care?
Medicare does not cover most dental care for adults, so most people pay themselves or claim part of the cost from extras cover. The main exceptions are the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible children, DVA arrangements for eligible veterans, and NSW public dental services for adults with an eligible concession card. Our fees and health funds page explains each option.
Will I get a quote before treatment?
Yes. Before any treatment at AMK Dental Clinic, you receive an itemised written estimate listing each service, its ADA item number and its fee. You can take it home, check your health fund cover and ask questions before deciding. If your treatment needs change along the way, your dentist will explain why and update the estimate before going ahead.
Do you offer payment plans?
Payment plans may be available through a third-party finance provider, so please ask our team about current options. A payment plan is a credit arrangement between you and the provider, and interest, fees and charges may apply. Before you sign, ask the provider for the total amount you will repay, the term and all fees. AMK Dental Clinic will give you the full treatment cost in writing so you can compare.
Children
When should my child first see a dentist?
The Australian Dental Association recommends a child's first dental visit when their first teeth appear. An early visit lets the dentist check how the teeth are developing, look for early signs of decay and give you advice on brushing, diet and teething. Your AMK Dental Clinic dentist will explain what they see and answer your questions.
Can my child use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule at AMK Dental Clinic?
Eligible children aged 0 to 17 may be able to use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule at AMK Dental Clinic for basic services such as check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealants, fillings and extractions, up to a capped amount over two calendar years. Eligibility depends on Medicare and on receiving certain government payments. Our CDBS guide explains how to check.
How often should children have a dental check-up?
Most children benefit from a dental check-up every 6 to 12 months, but the right interval depends on your child's teeth and risk of decay. The Australian Dental Association advises regular visits even when there are no problems. At each visit, your AMK Dental Clinic dentist will recommend when your child should come back, and explain why.
Emergencies
What should I do in a dental emergency?
Call AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525 as soon as you can and we will advise you on next steps. Outside opening hours, call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 for advice. Go to a hospital emergency department if swelling affects your breathing, swallowing or eye, or bleeding will not stop. For life-threatening emergencies, call 000.
What should I do if an adult tooth is knocked out?
Find the tooth and hold it by the crown, the white part, not the root. Rinse it briefly in water without scrubbing, then try to put it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it in place. If you cannot, store it in milk or saliva. Call AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525 straight away, because time matters. Do not put a baby tooth back in.
Can I be seen on the same day for toothache?
Call AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525 as early in the day as possible. We will offer the earliest suitable appointment available, or advise you where else to go if we cannot see you in time. Please phone rather than booking online, so we can understand how urgent your problem is.
Treatments
Is Dr Ali Khalessi a general dentist?
Yes. Dr Ali Khalessi (Dentist) is registered as a general dentist. He holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago (2001), a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Periodontology) and MRACDS, and has a special interest in implant, cosmetic and microscope-assisted dentistry. If you need care outside the scope of our practice, he will discuss a referral with you.
What is a CEREC same-day crown?
A CEREC crown is a ceramic crown that is designed on a computer from a digital scan of your tooth and milled in the clinic. Where the tooth is suitable, AMK Dental Clinic can often prepare and fit the crown in one appointment, without a temporary crown or a second visit. Your dentist will check whether CEREC suits your tooth and explain the alternatives.
Does AMK Dental Clinic offer Invisalign?
Yes. AMK Dental Clinic offers Invisalign®, which is orthodontic treatment with clear aligners provided by a general dentist. Aligners need to be worn for most of the day, usually 20 to 22 hours, and retainers are needed afterwards to maintain results. Treatment may take longer than estimated. A consultation confirms whether aligners are suitable for your teeth.
Will teeth whitening change the colour of my fillings or crowns?
No. Whitening can lighten natural tooth colour, but it does not change the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers. Whitening can cause temporary tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, and results fade over time and vary between people. Your AMK Dental Clinic dentist will check your teeth and gums first and explain whether whitening is suitable for you.