Last updated: 2 July 2026
At Dentists @ Canning Vale, we believe you have the right to understand the cost of your dental care before you agree to treatment. This page explains our approach to informed financial consent, in line with the Australian Dental Association’s Policy Statement 5.16 on Informed Financial Consent.
1. What Is Informed Financial Consent?
Informed financial consent means you give your consent to the fees for a proposed treatment before that treatment goes ahead, based on clear information about what it will cost. We consider this an essential part of ethical, transparent dental care, not an optional extra.
2. What You Will Receive Before Treatment
Following your consultation and clinical examination, we will provide you with a written treatment plan outlining the recommended treatment, reasonable alternatives and associated fees. For larger or more complex treatment plans, we will provide the closest possible cost estimate and honour the quoted fees. If the treatment required changes because of unforeseen clinical findings or changes to the agreed treatment plan, we will discuss any additional costs with you and obtain your approval before proceeding.
3. Health Fund, Medicare and DVA Estimates
Where you have private health insurance, we use HICAPS to process claims and provide on-the-spot rebates wherever possible. Because rebates depend on your individual policy, level of cover and any waiting periods, we recommend contacting your health fund directly to confirm your entitlements before treatment begins. Where relevant, we will also provide estimates relating to Medicare, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), or the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).
4. If Costs Change During Treatment
Dentistry does not always follow a predictable path. If, during treatment, we identify a clinical issue that was not apparent at the time of your original quote, for example, an unexpected complication, we will explain this to you and discuss any change in cost before proceeding further, wherever it is clinically safe to do so.
5. Payment
Unless another arrangement has been agreed with our team in advance, payment is required at the time of treatment. We accept the payment methods displayed at our practice and can process most private health fund claims instantly via HICAPS.
6. Payment Plans
We understand that dental treatment can represent a significant expense. If cost is a concern, please speak with our team.
Payment plans are available through Fund My Dental, TLC and Afterpay.
You may also be able to access your superannuation early to help pay for essential dental treatment. SuperCare assists patients with applications to the ATO for compassionate release of superannuation. Approval is at the ATO’s discretion and eligibility criteria apply.
We are not financial advisors and encourage patients to seek independent financial advice where needed. We do not provide credit or financial products ourselves.
7. Emergency Care
In a genuine dental emergency, our priority is your immediate care. A full written cost estimate may not always be possible before urgent treatment is provided, but we will discuss costs with you as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
8. Questions About Your Account
If you have any questions about a quote, invoice or account, please contact our team directly. Most billing queries can be resolved quickly with a conversation.
Dentists @ Canning Vale
Phone: (08) 9256 2588
Email: [email protected]
Or visit our Contact Us page.
This page should be read together with our disclaimer and privacy policy.