Why We’re Not a Preferred Provider
Your health. Your smile. Your choice.
Your smile deserves more than a health fund's fee schedule
At DNTL Code, we believe you deserve excellent dental care, and we're committed to delivering it right here in Broome.
What being a preferred provider actually means?
When a dental practice enters into a preferred-provider agreement with a private health insurer, the health fund sets the fees the practice can charge for services covered under that agreement.
These arrangements can reduce a patient's out-of-pocket costs. However, the fees set by the insurer aren't necessarily based on the actual cost of providing each treatment, including the materials, laboratories and clinical time involved.
For example
Historically, the laboratory fee alone for us to provide a quality custom-made mouthguard has sometimes been higher than the total fee a preferred provider is permitted to charge for the treatment.
When the fee charged is less than what it costs to provide the treatment, something has to give. This can mean finding lower-cost materials, laboratories or other alternatives to provide treatment within the set fee.
At DNTL Code, we believe decisions about your care should be based on what is right for you, rather than what fits within a fee set by an insurer.
Why we've chosen to remain independent
Remaining independent gives our clinicians the freedom to recommend care based on your individual needs, preferences and long-term oral health. It also means we can allocate appropriate time for your appointments and choose the materials, laboratories and technology we believe will provide the best outcome.
We believe your treatment should be guided first by what's right for your health and your individual needs, with the freedom to choose who provides your care, rather than being driven by your insurance rebate.
"The Australian Dental Association (ADA) states that third parties, including private health insurers, "should not limit or influence the patient's choice of dental provider."
The ADA also identifies a conflict of interest where a private health insurer is both the funder and supplier of dental services.
We believe your choice of dental provider and the clinical decisions regarding your care should remain between you and the clinicians who look after you.
Quality care, closer to home
Providing healthcare in a remote community comes with additional challenges,
but we don't believe living regionally should mean accepting a lower standard of care.
Quality laboratories and materials
We choose quality Australian dental laboratories and select our materials, instruments and consumables based on their quality, reliability, safety and clinical performance, rather than simply choosing the lowest-cost option.
Skilled people, modern technology
We also invest in attracting and retaining skilled professionals, ongoing team training, and modern dental technology here in Broome, including digital scanning and 3D X-ray technology.
More care, right here in Broome
This allows more comprehensive care to be provided locally, reducing the time, travel and expense of accessing services elsewhere.
Health funds
Your questions,answered
Can I still use my private health insurance?
Absolutely. You don't need to visit a preferred-provider dentist to claim eligible dental benefits.
We can process most eligible private health insurance claims on the day, so in many cases, you'll only need to pay the remaining gap, rather than paying the full fee upfront and waiting for your rebate to be returned to you.
We can also provide treatment estimates so you understand your expected costs and available benefits before proceeding. Your rebate will depend on your insurer and level of cover and may differ from the rebate available at a preferred-provider practice.
Is a preferred-provider dentist better?
Not necessarily. "Preferred provider" describes a contractual arrangement between a dental practice and a health insurer. It isn't, by itself, a measure of a dentist's clinical skills or the quality of care provided.
There are excellent clinicians working in both preferred-provider and independent practices. What matters is finding a dental team you trust, who listens to you, explains your options and provides care that aligns with your needs.
We also believe access matters. Having the care you need available close to home, at a location that is convenient for you, can help reduce the time, travel and other barriers that might otherwise delay treatment, allowing concerns to be addressed earlier before they become more complex.
Helping make quality dental care accessible
Dental care can be a significant investment in your health, particularly when unexpected treatment is needed.
At DNTL Code, we want quality dental care to be as accessible as possible to our community. That's why we offer options to help make treatment costs more manageable, without changing the standard of care you receive.
Our team is also happy to provide a treatment estimate upon request before treatment begins, so you can understand the expected costs, available health fund benefits, and payment options before deciding how you'd like to proceed.
Fund My Dental and DentiCare
Payment options available to eligible patients.
CDBS and DVA
We also welcome eligible patients accessing care through government-funded dental programs.
Our commitment to you
We believe people living in Broome and the Kimberley should have access to excellent dental care, skilled professionals, quality materials and laboratories, and modern technology close to home.
Remaining independent means the decisions we make can stay focused on what matters most: providing your care based on the best available evidence, our clinical expertise and what matters to you, while continuing to invest in the people, technology and quality that support the standard of care we want for our community.