Referring an Interstate Patient for Full-Arch or Complex Implant Care
Dentists in other states and overseas can refer a patient to Collins Street Specialist Centre by phoning (03) 9650 2726 or emailing theteam@collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au. Your patient does not need a referral to book with our prosthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons or periodontists, but your notes and imaging help our specialists prepare. Assessment is in person in Melbourne.
How do I refer a patient from another state or country?
Contact the practice by phone or email and let us know the patient's name, the reason you are referring and which discipline you have in mind, if any. You are welcome to call before your patient books, to talk through whether a specialist assessment is appropriate. Patients calling from outside Australia can reach us on +61 3 9650 2726.
What is useful for the patient to bring?
Please give your patient copies of the following and ask them to bring them to the first appointment and mention them when they call to book:
- a referral letter or summary covering the reason for referral and what you would like us to address
- recent radiographs, such as an OPG or a CBCT scan, with the date they were taken
- periodontal charting and any recent treatment notes
- a medical history and current medication list
- details of previous implant, bridge or denture work, including the implant system if you know it
- the patient's own goals and concerns about treatment
The treating specialist decides whether new imaging is needed. Our rooms have a Planmeca ProMax 3D Max cone beam CT scanner on site.
What will our specialists assess?
At the first appointment we look at the remaining teeth, the periodontal condition, bone volume on 3D imaging, the bite and jaw relationships, existing restorations and any medical factors that affect surgery or anaesthesia. From there the specialist sets out the options, which can range from periodontal therapy or extractions to bone grafting, conventional implants or full-arch treatment such as All-on-4. Sometimes the advice is that treatment is not indicated, or that a simpler approach is suitable.
Which of our specialists will see your patient?
Full-arch and complex restorative cases are usually led by one of our specialist prosthodontists, Prof Vasileios Chronopoulos or Dr Jamie Foong. Implant surgery, extractions and grafting are carried out by our oral and maxillofacial surgeons, A/Prof. Patrishia Bordbar and Dr Ricky Kumar, or by our periodontists, including Dr Simon Hinckfuss, who holds specialist registration in both periodontics and prosthodontics, and Dr James van den Berg. Who is involved depends on the case.
How are treatment stages organised for a patient who travels?
Assessment, surgery, the fit check the day after full-arch surgery, the final bridge and maintenance all take place at our practice or, for surgery under general anaesthetic, in a private hospital where the patient has cover. Healing between surgery and the final bridge takes three to six months. Because our specialists share one practice, a patient who needs more than one discipline can often be seen by the relevant specialists at the same location. We plan the timing of visits with the patient at consultation.
What happens once your patient is back home?
Ask your patient to raise maintenance at their consultation, so they know how ongoing visits will be arranged when they live away from Melbourne. If a problem arises after they return home, they can contact us, and a local dentist can provide urgent care. Patients with full-arch bridges need regular professional cleaning and check-ups, and some bridges need adjustment or repair over time.
How are fees and payment handled?
Fees are discussed with the patient at consultation, once the specialist has assessed the case, because cost depends on complexity. Bone grafting can add time and cost. Payment plans through Payright, TLC and Supercare are subject to eligibility, and the Payright and TLC plans require Australian permanent residence or citizenship, so they are generally not open to patients who live overseas. Our payment plans page has the details.
Frequently asked questions
Does my patient need a written referral to see your prosthodontists or surgeons?
No. Patients can book directly with our prosthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists. A referral letter is still helpful, because it gives the specialist your clinical findings and the background to the case.
Can I call to discuss a case before referring?
Yes. Call (03) 9650 2726 or email theteam@collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au to talk about whether a specialist assessment suits your patient. We cannot give a treatment plan before the patient has been examined in person.
Can my patient see more than one specialist on the same visit?
Where the case calls for it and appointments allow, a patient can see more than one of our specialists at the same location, because our prosthodontists, surgeons and periodontists practise together on Level 8.
Will my patient need new scans in Melbourne?
Not always. Your patient should bring copies of recent radiographs and scans. The treating specialist reviews them and decides whether new imaging is needed for planning.
Related pages
- Specialist full-arch care for interstate and international patients
- Complex and revision implant cases
- Surgery and sedation for travelling patients
- Prosthodontics
- Periodontics
- Our team
Contact Collins Street Specialist Centre
Referring dentists and patients can phone (03) 9650 2726 (international +61 3 9650 2726) or email theteam@collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au. Our rooms are on Level 8 of the Manchester Unity Building at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, opposite the Melbourne Town Hall. Enquiries can also go through our contact page.
Results, recovery times and risks vary for each individual. This information is written for referring dentists and their patients, is general in nature and does not replace an individual assessment. Patients should seek advice from an appropriately qualified, AHPRA-registered practitioner before proceeding.
How can a dentist outside Victoria contact Collins Street Specialist Centre about a patient?
A dentist outside Victoria can phone Collins Street Specialist Centre on (03) 9650 2726, or +61 3 9650 2726 from overseas, or email theteam@collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au to discuss a patient.
Which radiographs help Collins Street Specialist Centre specialists prepare for a referred patient?
A recent OPG or CBCT scan, with the date taken, helps our specialists at Collins Street Specialist Centre prepare. The patient brings copies to the first visit, and the treating specialist decides whether new imaging is needed.
Where are referred patients seen at Collins Street Specialist Centre?
Referred patients are seen at Collins Street Specialist Centre, Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne, on the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets.
Which Collins Street Specialist Centre surgeons place implants for referred patients?
Implant surgery for referred patients at Collins Street Specialist Centre is carried out by our oral and maxillofacial surgeons, A/Prof. Patrishia Bordbar and Dr Ricky Kumar, or by one of our specialist periodontists.
Does Collins Street Specialist Centre have a cone beam CT scanner on site?
Yes. Collins Street Specialist Centre has a Planmeca ProMax 3D Max cone beam CT scanner in our rooms, which our specialists use for implant and full-arch planning when new imaging is needed.
When are fees set for a patient referred to Collins Street Specialist Centre?
Fees are discussed with the patient at the consultation at Collins Street Specialist Centre, after the specialist has assessed the case, because cost depends on the complexity of the treatment.