Specialist Full-Arch Care for Interstate and International Patients

Collins Street Specialist Centre in Melbourne sees patients from other states and from overseas who need full-arch implant treatment or complex dental rehabilitation. Our prosthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists practise together on Level 8 of the Manchester Unity Building, no referral is needed to book with them, and every treatment stage takes place in Melbourne.

What does full-arch treatment involve?

Full-arch treatment replaces every tooth in the upper jaw, the lower jaw or both with a fixed bridge held by dental implants. All-on-4 is one approach, in which a bridge is attached to four implants placed in the jaw. It can suit people who have lost many teeth, whose remaining teeth cannot be saved, or who wear dentures and want a fixed option. Whether it suits you depends on your bone, your gums, your bite and your general health, which is why a full assessment comes first.

Which of our specialists look after a full-arch case?

A full-arch plan is led by a specialist prosthodontist, who designs the teeth, the bite and the bridge. A specialist surgeon or periodontist carries out extractions, bone grafting and implant placement. Each specialist below holds specialist registration with the Dental Board of Australia, and you can check any registration on the AHPRA register at ahpra.gov.au.

Because these specialists work in one practice, a travelling patient's case can be planned by the people who will carry it out, with peer review between disciplines before treatment begins.

Do I need a referral if I live outside Victoria?

No. You can book directly with our prosthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists. If your own dentist would like to refer you, or to talk to us about your case first, they can phone or email the practice. Our guide for referring dentists explains what to include.

How do I get started from interstate or overseas?

Call us on (03) 9650 2726, or +61 3 9650 2726 from outside Australia, to talk through your situation before you plan travel. Ask your dentist for copies of recent x-rays, scans and treatment notes, bring them with you, and mention them when you call. Your treating specialist decides whether new imaging is needed. The assessment itself is an in-person appointment at our rooms on Collins Street, where we use a Planmeca ProMax 3D Max cone beam CT scanner and coDiagnostiX implant planning software.

What are the stages of full-arch treatment?

Every stage below takes place in Melbourne. We plan the timing of your visits with you at your consultation, because the sequence depends on your clinical needs.

Stage 1: Assessment and treatment planning

A medical and dental assessment establishes whether full-arch treatment is suitable. Your specialist reviews your teeth, gums, bite and 3D imaging, then explains the plan, the alternatives (including no treatment), the likely sequence and the fees.

Stage 2: Implant surgery under general anaesthetic

All-on-4 surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. If you hold private hospital cover, it can be performed in a private hospital. Impressions for your new bridge are taken as part of this stage. Our page on surgery and sedation for travelling patients covers the anaesthetic options in more detail.

Stage 3: Fit check the day after surgery

Your specialist prosthodontist checks the fit of your new teeth the day after surgery and makes any adjustments, so plan to be in Melbourne at least until then. Your surgeon will tell you when you are fit to fly or travel home.

Stage 4: Healing over three to six months

The implants need a healing period of three to six months to integrate with the bone before the final bridge is made. Bone grafting, if you need it, can add time and cost.

Stage 5: Your final fixed bridge

After healing, your prosthodontist secures the final fixed bridge and checks your bite and comfort.

Stage 6: Maintenance

Implant bridges need regular professional cleaning, check-ups and careful home care with a soft brush, interdental brushes or a water flosser. Some bridges need adjustment or repair over the years. Because you live away from Melbourne, raise maintenance at your consultation so you know how those visits will be arranged.

What if my case is complex or involves earlier implant work?

Some patients come to us with implants or bridges that have loosened, broken or become inflamed, sometimes after treatment overseas. Our specialists can assess that work and plan corrective treatment where it is needed. Read more on complex and revision implant cases.

Is travel from Tasmania or New Zealand straightforward?

Tasmania shares Victoria's time zone, and you can reach Melbourne by air or on the Spirit of Tasmania vehicle ferry across Bass Strait. Direct flights operate between the main New Zealand cities and Melbourne, and New Zealand is generally two hours ahead of Melbourne. Fees are quoted in Australian dollars. If you plan to claim on insurance, check with your insurer before you travel.

How can full-arch treatment be paid for?

Your specialist discusses the cost of your individual plan at your consultation, since fees depend on complexity. We accept cash, credit cards and EFTPOS, and you can bring your private health fund card to your appointments. Payment plans are available through Payright (interest-free plans up to $20,000 over 3 to 30 months, paid fortnightly, with a low establishment fee), TLC personal loans ($2,001 to $50,000 over up to 84 months, with an interest rate that depends on your credit score) and Supercare, which helps eligible people apply for early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds.

Payright requires permanent residence in Australia with Australian ID and an Australian mobile number, and TLC requires Australian citizenship or permanent residency, so these plans are generally not available to people who live overseas, including in New Zealand. Eligibility applies, and we do not give financial advice. See our payment plans page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see a specialist at Collins Street Specialist Centre without a referral from my dentist?

Yes. You can book directly with our prosthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists by calling (03) 9650 2726. A letter or notes from your dentist are still welcome, because they help your specialist understand your dental history.

Do you see patients who live in New Zealand?

Yes. Patients from New Zealand attend the same in-person assessment in Melbourne as anyone else. Call +61 3 9650 2726 before you plan travel, and bring copies of recent x-rays, scans and treatment notes from your dentist. Fees are quoted in Australian dollars.

Will I leave Melbourne with teeth after full-arch surgery?

Your specialist prosthodontist checks the fit of your new teeth the day after surgery and adjusts them as needed. The final fixed bridge is secured after a healing period of three to six months, and your surgeon tells you when you are ready to travel.

How many visits to Melbourne will I need?

The number of visits depends on your treatment plan, including whether you need extractions or bone grafting. The stages are assessment, surgery, the next-day fit check, healing, the final bridge and maintenance, and we plan the timing of your visits with you at your consultation.

Who places the implants in a full-arch case?

Implants are placed by one of our specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeons, A/Prof. Patrishia Bordbar or Dr Ricky Kumar, or by a specialist periodontist. A specialist prosthodontist plans and fits the bridge that the implants support.

Related pages

Contact Collins Street Specialist Centre

Phone (03) 9650 2726 within Australia or +61 3 9650 2726 from overseas. Email theteam@collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au. Visit us at Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, on the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets. We are open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm and on Saturday mornings (please call for Saturday times). You can also send an enquiry through our contact page.

Results, recovery times and risks vary for each individual. This page is general information for patients planning treatment from interstate or overseas and does not replace a consultation. Seek advice from an appropriately qualified, AHPRA-registered practitioner before you proceed.

Does Collins Street Specialist Centre treat patients who live outside Victoria?

Yes. Collins Street Specialist Centre sees patients from other Australian states and from overseas, including New Zealand. Assessment and every treatment stage take place at our practice on Level 8, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne.

What number should overseas patients call to reach Collins Street Specialist Centre?

Patients calling from outside Australia can reach Collins Street Specialist Centre on +61 3 9650 2726. Within Australia, call (03) 9650 2726, or email theteam@collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au.

Which Collins Street Specialist Centre prosthodontists plan full-arch treatment?

At Collins Street Specialist Centre, full-arch treatment is planned by our specialist prosthodontists, including Prof Vasileios Chronopoulos and Dr Jamie Foong. Dr Simon Hinckfuss holds specialist registration in both prosthodontics and periodontics.

Is All-on-4 surgery at Collins Street Specialist Centre done under general anaesthetic?

Yes. All-on-4 surgery at Collins Street Specialist Centre is performed under general anaesthetic, and patients with private hospital cover can have it performed in a private hospital.

How long is the healing period before the final bridge at Collins Street Specialist Centre?

At Collins Street Specialist Centre the final fixed bridge is secured after a healing period of three to six months. Bone grafting, when needed, can add time and cost to the plan.

Are payment plans at Collins Street Specialist Centre open to New Zealand residents?

Generally not. The Payright and TLC plans offered at Collins Street Specialist Centre require Australian permanent residence or citizenship, so people living in New Zealand or elsewhere overseas are usually not eligible.