Booking for a Parent

Arranging dentures for a parent

Many of the parents we see are in their mid-80s to 90s, and a son or daughter makes the first call.

Some families live nearby. Others live further away and get a call like this: “Dad rang me and said his dentures are really sore, can you go and check on him?” Either way, you can book for your parent, and we can visit them at home if they can’t get to the clinic.

You don’t need to know what type of denture your parent needs, or whether their old one can be saved. Tell us what’s going on, and we’ll examine their mouth, explain what we find and recommend what suits them. You and your parent make the decision together.

Your parent sees the same prosthetist at every appointment, which helps older patients feel settled and means you have one person to talk to about their care.

Signs your parent’s denture needs attention

Older people often put up with a sore or loose denture rather than mention it. These are the signs families most often notice first:

• Eating less: avoiding certain foods, eating slowly or leaving meals unfinished.
• Sore spots: complaints of pain, or red or ulcerated areas on the gums.
• A loose denture: it slips when they talk or eat, or they’ve started using a lot of adhesive.
• Not wearing it: the denture stays in the cup because it hurts or doesn’t fit.
• Weight loss: gums change shape as people lose weight, so a denture that once fitted can become loose.
• Damage: a crack, a broken piece or a missing tooth.

Gums keep changing shape over the years, so an older denture often needs a reline or replacing even if it looks fine. A fit check at least every two years helps catch problems early.

Helpful to know before you call

You don’t need everything sorted. If you can tell us about these, it helps us plan the right appointment.

• Mobility: can your parent come into the clinic, or do they need a home visit?
• Following instructions: can they follow instructions and take part? Cooperation directly affects how accurate the denture is.
• Main contact: are you next of kin, and should you be the main contact?
• Health: any relevant medical history or concerns.
• Payment: how you’d prefer to pay, including health fund details.

If you live out of the area, that’s fine. Plenty of families arrange care from interstate. Let us know the best way to reach you, and whether anyone local, such as another family member or a carer, will be with your parent on the day.

Come along to the first appointment

We recommend a family member or guardian attends at least the first appointment.

It sets the tone for the whole experience, and everyone hears the same thing. It matters most where dementia is involved.

What happens at the first appointment

• A conversation: we ask what’s been bothering your parent and what you’ve noticed.
• An examination: we check their gums, any remaining teeth and the denture they wear now.
• A recommendation: we explain the options in plain terms, with our reasons, so you can decide together.
• Next steps: we outline how many appointments are involved and where they’ll happen.

Ask your parent to bring their current denture, even if it’s broken or they’ve stopped wearing it. It shows us a lot about what has and hasn’t worked for them.

If your parent has dementia

A denture needs the patient to take part. We take impressions and bite records with your parent awake and cooperating, so a familiar face in the room helps.

We’ll talk it through with you before we start. Shorter appointments, a familiar setting such as their own home, and a family member or carer beside them can all make a difference.

If a new denture isn’t practical, we’ll tell you honestly. Adjusting or relining the denture your parent already has can sometimes keep them comfortable without the steps a new one needs.

Keeping you in the loop

Whether you’re at the appointment or not, we keep the main contact up to date.

• After each appointment: we can call or text the main contact with what we did and what comes next.
• Appointment times: we arrange them with you, so you can be there or have someone else attend.
• Aged care facilities: we work with staff on visit times and pass on care instructions for the denture.

Home and aged care visits

If your parent struggles to travel, we can visit them at home or in their aged care facility anywhere on the Redland City mainland.

A home visit follows the same steps as a clinic appointment, with the same prosthetist. A call-out fee applies, calculated on location. Repairs can’t be done on a home visit, so drop the denture into either clinic or post it in.

Paying for your parent’s treatment

We talk you through cost once we’ve seen your parent and know what their treatment involves.

• Health funds: we accept all major health funds and claim on the spot with HICAPS. Bring your parent’s card.
• MediPay payment plans: spread the cost over instalments, subject to eligibility.
• DVA: we accept DVA patients. Mention it when you book.