Treatment Considerations

All dental procedures carry risks. The nature and severity of these risks vary depending on the treatment performed and the individual receiving treatment. All potential risks, complications and recovery implications will be explained to you by your treating practitioner before proceeding with treatment.

Treatment outcomes are not guaranteed and vary from patient to patient.

 If you have any concerns or feedback, we encourage you to contact our clinic directly. We prefer the opportunity to support you personally and discuss your experiences and concerns with our team.

Clinic Contact

Phone: (02) 9387 2851

Address: Shop 1 / 4-12 Waverley Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022

Email: info@boutiquedental.com.au

 If you would prefer to raise any concerns externally, you can contact the healthcare complaints authority for New South Wales, the Health Care Complaints Comission (HCCC) at www.hccc.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1800 043 159.

Dental Procedures: Risks & Patient Information

Published in accordance with AHPRA’s 2020 Guidelines for Advertising a Regulated Health Service and AHPRA’s 2025 Guidelines for Advertising Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures.

General Compliance Statement

The information provided below is intended to support informed consent, transparency in communication and the ethical advertising of healthcare services.

The non-surgical procedures listed below are:

·      Elective

·      Non-therapeutic

·      Cosmetic in nature

·      Not medically necessary

We do not use testimonials, guarantee outcomes, or imply that results are typical.

All images used in our advertising are representative only, and do not reflect expected or promised outcomes for individuals. We recommend and encourage patients to seek a second professional opinion before commencing any treatment.

Patient Responsibilities

Before commencing any cosmetic or surgical dental procedures, our patients must understand and agree to:

·      Follow all instructions given to them by their treating clinician and attend all scheduled review, hygiene and post-operative appointments

·      Notify the clinic as soon as possible in the case of pain, dissatisfaction or complications

·      Maintain good oral hygiene during and after treatment, and wear any issued retainers/nightguards

·      Accept and understand that cosmetic and major surgical treatments require lifelong maintenance, including repair and replacement at the patient’s own cost

·      Ask any questions and ensure they have a full understanding of the risks, limitations and alternative treatment options prior to commencing treatment

General Risks Associated with Cosmetic Procedures

·      Sensitivity, gum irritation, or discomfort

·      Fracture, dislodgement or deterioration of materials

·      Aesthetic mismatch or dissatisfaction with shape/colour

·      Long-term replacement needs

·      Possible need for additional or corrective dental work

·      Cost of future maintenance not included in original treatment

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a thin ceramic shell which are custom-made and bonded to the front of a prepared (cut back) tooth surface and can enhance the shape, colour, alignment and length of the teeth.

 Considerations & Risks

• Removal of natural tooth enamel is irreversible

• Post-operative sensitivity or need for root canal treatment may occur

• Chipping or debonding from trauma, heavy/hard biting or bad habits (e.g. biting nails)

• Colour mismatch or aesthetic dissatisfaction

• Gum inflammation or sensitivity

• Porcelain veneers generally last 10+ years, but this is dependent on the care taken by the patient

Composite Bonding/Veneers

Composite bonding/veneers are built from tooth-coloured resin which is bonded onto the existing teeth. They can be completed removing very little or no tooth structure. It is used to correct minor cosmetic flaws such as chips, gaps between teeth or desired changes to the shape of teeth

Considerations & Risks:

• Chipping or staining over time

• Shorter lifespan than porcelain

• May need regular maintenance or re-treatment

• Nature of the material used is not as colour resistant as porcelain, leading to discolouration over time (this cannot be fixed with whitening and requires replacement)

• Composite bonding generally lasts between 3-5 years, but this is dependent on care taken by the patient

Invisalign

Invisalign uses a clear aligner system to move teeth into the desired position slowly over time.

 Considerations & Risks

• The timeframe for treatment will vary for each person depending on complexity of the case and compliance  

• Treatment failure if non-compliant (aligners must be worn 22+ hours every day during treatment)

• Relapse of teeth into original position if post-treatment retainer compliance is not maintained long-term

• Gum irritation, sore teeth, dry mouth, possible speech disturbance during treatment

• Depending on the original tooth position, movement of the teeth in relation to gum position may create a small gap between the teeth known as “black triangles”.

• Attachments may fall off and need to be rebounded

• Interproximal reduction may need to be performed, causing temporary gaps in between the teeth during treatment

• Not suitable for all orthodontic cases

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure which can be performed in the dental chair or as a take-home treatment. Your dentist will discuss which is the best option for you prior to beginning any treatment.

We recommended having had a check-up and clean appointment within the last 6 months prior to having whitening treatment and good oral health and hygiene is extremely important for the success of teeth whitening.

Considerations & Risks:

• Temporary sensitivity or gum irritation during or after teeth whitening

• White spots on the teeth may become more visible

• Blanching of the gums (white coloured gums) may occur temporarily

• Results vary – teeth may not be the same uniform shade

• Teeth will revert to their original colour over time due to factors such as lifestyle habits and the natural attributes of your teeth

• You may need to consider avoiding certain foods and beverages that may cause the teeth to stain for at least 3 days after treatment – e.g. coffee, tea, red wine, dark coloured sauces and curries

General Risks Associated with Surgical Procedures

·      Pain, swelling, bleeding, bruising, discomfort for up to 8 weeks depending on the procedure

·      Complications such as bone fracture, insufficient implant stability, sinus puncture, nerve impingement/damage, implant failure

·      Cost of future maintenance not included in original treatment

·      Possible need for additional or corrective dental treatment

Full Arch/’All-On-X’ Dental Implants

‘All-On-X’ Implant treatment is an option for people whose teeth are considered terminal. Any remaining teeth are removed and replaced with 4-6 implants which once integrated will support a bridge which replaces the teeth.

Considerations & Risks:

• ‘All-On-X’ is a major surgical procedure, and we strongly advise getting a second opinion before commencing with this treatment.

• It is a life-long commitment which requires regular visits to a dentist to ensure the long-term stability and viability of the implants even after the final restoration is completed

• Recovery from the surgery can take a few weeks and you may experience pain and discomfort, bleeding, irritation from sutures, discomfort, bruising on the face and neck, swelling.

• Post-surgery you will need to take some time off work and your diet will need to be modified temporarily to avoid any hard foods that require biting or putting pressure on the implants

• The duration of the treatment can take 3-6 months from the surgery to fitting of the final restoration

• Upon completion of the treatment, there will be an adjustment period while you are getting used to your new teeth, as they will look and feel very different to what you had previously. This means attending all your follow up appointments that are scheduled so we can ensure everything is progressing correctly.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a surgical option to replace missing teeth and involve the surgical placement of a titanium post into the jawbone. After a 3-4 month integration period, a crown is placed onto the implant via an opening in the gum.

Considerations & Risks:

• All surgical procedures carry a risk of infection. You must take any antibiotics you are prescribed and follow the treating practitioners’ instructions.

• Recovery from the surgery can take up to 2 weeks and you may experience pain, tenderness and discomfort, swelling, bruising

• The implant may fail to integrate, which may require re-treatment or additional treatment.

• If there is not enough supporting bone in the area where the implant needs to be placed, you may require additional treatment such as bone grafting or sinus augmentation.

Extractions

An extraction involves removal of a tooth from the mouth. They can be classified as simple or surgical.

Considerations & Risks:

• All surgical procedures carry a risk of infection. You must take any antibiotics you are prescribed and follow the treating practitioners’ instructions.

• Recovery from the surgery can take up to 2 weeks and you may experience pain, tenderness and discomfort, swelling, bruising

• Complications from extraction may include dry socket, infection, delayed paraesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve in the lower jaw

• ·The position of some teeth (usually wisdom teeth or third molars) presents a higher risk of complications during removal, in this case, the option to perform a coronectomy may be suggested by the treating practitioner to reduce the risk of nerve damage.

Bone Grafting/Sinus Augmentation

Bone grafting is performed to replace bone-loss and provide support for planned implant placement. If an implant is to be placed in the upper jaw, you may require a sinus lift (augmentation) to support the implant. For a dental implant to be successful, there must be enough supporting bone and this procedure may be required in some cases.

Considerations & Risks:

• Bone graft may fail to integrate, or may present with delayed healing which may delay or prevent implant placement

• Recovery from the surgery can take up to 2 weeks and you may experience pain and discomfort, swelling, bruising

• When performing sinus augmentation, there is a risk that the sinus lining can be perforated, which may heal itself or may require further treatment

• All surgical procedures carry a risk of infection. You must take any antibiotics you are prescribed and follow the treating practitioners’ instructions.

Gum Grafting

Gum grafts are done to replace gum that has receded around a tooth/teeth and cause exposure of the tooth root. It can protect the tooth from sensitivity and helps to keep the tooth stable and anchored.

Considerations & Risks:

• All surgical procedures carry a risk of infection. You must take any antibiotics you are prescribed and follow the treating practitioners’ instructions.

• The gum graft may fail integrate or may present with delayed healing in some cases. This may require further treatment.

• Recovery from the surgery can take up to 2 weeks and you may experience pain, tenderness and discomfort, swelling, bruising

• The donor site from which tissue is harvested may be sensitive or uncomfortable for up to a month while the gum grows back