Cleft Lip and Palate
Clinic
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by specialist consultants who are members of a multidisiplinary team that provide ongoing assessment and management of the complex, long term needs of patients with cleft lip and palate. For further information on
Cleft Services please contact Marcelle McLaughlin, Cleft Co-ordinator on
marcelle.mclaughlin@rch.org.auor call her on 9345 6582.
The Commonwealth Government Medicare system assists in the cost of dental care for individuals with clefts of the lip/palate and certain other nominated conditions. Patients remain eligible for commencement of treatment through to 18 years, and may continue to
be managed until 22 years, or to the completion of a current course of treatment. Only certain items of treatment are actually covered by the scheme eg. examinations and orthodontic treatment. Routine dental treatments including all aspects of restorative dentistry;
fillings, crowns, bridges etc. are not covered by the scheme.
(For more information, The Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services publish a booklet "Medicare Benefits for the Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate Conditions" available from the Health Insurance Commission, Medicare Eligibility Section, PO Box
1001, Tuggeranong, ACT 2901, phone 02 6124 6328)
Craniofacial Anomalies
Clinic The Department of Dentistry is staffed by experienced specialist consultants who are members of a multidisiplinary team that provide ongoing assessment and management of the complex, long term needs of patients with craniofacial anomalies.
(link to Melbourne Craniofacial Unit)
Dental Care
for the Intellectually Disabled
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by specialist consultants, a senior registrar, postgraduate students and support staff who are all highly trained in the dental management of patients who are intellectually disabled.
At the first visit, a paediatric dentist will:
- gather detailed information regarding the child's medical and dental history
- assess the ability of the patient to cooperate with oral hygiene practices and dental procedures
- perform a comprehensive oral examination
- formulate treatment plan options that consider the special needs of the patient
The dental staff have received graduate level training and have considerable experience in the use of a range of behaviour management techniques that can be used successfully in intellectually disabled children. Such techniques include but are not limited to "tell show do", nitrous oxide analgesia (laughing
gas), conscious sedation and general anaesthesia.
Other specialised clinics are offered that cater to specific problems encountered in children with intellectual disabilities:
Dental Care
for the Medically Compromised
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by specialist consultants, a senior registrar, postgraduate students and support staff who are all highly trained in the dental management of patients who are medically compromised. The staff works closely with other health care professionals involved in the management of
the medically compromised child to formulate treatment options that ensure the best possible outcome. Some medical conditions have a direct impact on the type of dental care provided. For example, patients with haemophilia, an hereditary bleeding disorder, can
experience extended bleeding episodes related to the normal loss of the baby teeth. Other medical conditions require altering the normal delivery of dental care to cater to the patient's special needs. For example, patients with congenital cardiac disease often
require antibiotics to prevent infective endocarditis that may occur following dental treatment.
The Department of Dentistry provides the following services for
medically compromised children:
- in-patient consultation
- oral rehabilitation under general anaesthesia on an outpatient or in-patient basis
- pre-procedural screening and treatment prior to surgical procedures
- out-patient preventive and treatment services
Dental
Implants
A dental implant refers to the various procedures used to firmly anchor a replacement for missing teeth directly into bone for stability and retention. These implant- supported prostheses closely replicate the natural dentition and present a greatly
improved solution to lost tooth replacement.
The Department of Dentistry has a team of dental specialists who are experienced in the delivery of dental implants in children with a range of conditions where permanent teeth are missing. Such conditions include but are not limited to: cleft lip and palate,
ectodermal dysplasia, traumatic tooth loss.
For further information regarding dental implants:
Emergency Dental Care
The Department of Dentistry provides a 24 hour emergency service for children presenting with acute problems and dento-facial injuries requiring hospitalisation. Unless the patient meets certain eligibility criteria (link to eligibility) management will
be limited to the presenting problem only and no long term or routine care will be provided by the department.
To access this service
- During office hours - 03 9345 5344
- After hours - 03 9345 5522 - and ask to page dental registrar on call
Endodontics Endodontics is that branch of dentistry, concerned with the morphology, physiology, and pathology of the human tooth, and in particular the dental pulp, root and peri-radicular tissues. The study and practice of endodontics includes the biology of the
normal pulp, crown, root and peri-radicular tissues and the aetiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries that affect these tissues.
Hypodontia Clinic
The Department of Dentistry is staffed by a team of specialist consultants that provide ongoing assessment and management of the often complex and long-term needs of patients with missing teeth. The members of the team include a paediatric dentist, a
prosthodontist and an orthodontist.
Oral and Maxillfacial
Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are surgical specialists who treat conditions, defects, injuries, and aesthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face. They care for patients who have problem wisdom teeth, facial pain, and misaligned jaws. Oral and
maxillofacial surgeons also treat accident victims suffering facial injuries, offer reconstructive and dental implant surgery, and care for patients with tumours and cysts of the jaws.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is that branch of dentistry, which specialises in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems in the alignment of teeth and jaws. The technical term for these problems is malocclusion, which literally means bad bite.
Orthodontic treatment involves the design and use of corrective appliances (such as braces, plates, headgears and functional appliances) to bring the teeth and jaws into proper alignment.
Periodontics
Periodontics is that the specialty of dentistry which encompasses prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of disease of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and aesthetics of these structures and tissues.
Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics is that branch of dentistry that deals with the replacement of teeth and related mouth or jaw structures by artificial devices