Accessibility at Sandgate Family Dental

We want a visit to our practice to be as straightforward as possible, whatever your access or support needs. Whether you use a wheelchair, are hard of hearing, have a sensory sensitivity, or are bringing a family member with mobility needs, we are happy to plan around it. The single most useful thing you can do is let us know what you need when you book — that way the room, the chair, and the appointment time are all set up before you arrive.

If you would like to talk through specific access needs before booking, please call the practice during business hours. Otherwise, you can book online and add a note about your needs.

Please tell us in advance

A short note when you book makes a real difference. Useful things to mention include:

• Whether you use a wheelchair, walker, or mobility scooter
• Whether transferring to the dental chair is difficult, or whether you would prefer to stay seated where possible
• Whether you are deaf, hard of hearing, or use a hearing aid
• Whether you are blind or have low vision
• Whether you have a sensory sensitivity — to light, sound, vibration, or touch
• Whether English is not your first language — see our language support page
• Whether you have a service dog accompanying you
• Whether you have a carer, support worker, or family member coming with you
• Any cognitive or communication support needs we should be aware of

This is not so we can decide whether to see you — we are happy to look after you regardless. It is so the visit goes smoothly when you arrive.

Getting to the practice

Sandgate Family Dental is in Sandgate, on Brisbane’s northside. There is on-street parking nearby. If you have a Mobility Parking Permit and would like advice on the closest spots, give us a quick call before your appointment and our reception team can help.

If you are travelling by public transport, Sandgate train station is a short distance from the practice. We are also a short drive from Brighton, Shorncliffe, Bracken Ridge, Deagon, and the surrounding suburbs.

At the practice

When you arrive we will:

• Welcome you at reception and walk you through to the surgery at your pace
• Adjust the dental chair to whatever position is most comfortable
• Take breaks during the appointment whenever you need them
• Speak slowly and clearly if that helps, or write things down on request
• Welcome a support person into the surgery with you
• Let you know what we are about to do before we do it, in plain language

If we can do something specific that would make the visit easier, please ask. There is no need to apologise — these requests are completely normal.

Communication preferences

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, we will face you when speaking, slow down, and use written notes or our screen where helpful. If you would like a sign language interpreter, please let us know at booking so we have time to arrange it.

If you are blind or have low vision, we will describe each step before we do it and let you know where instruments are placed. You are welcome to bring a guide dog into the surgery.

If reading the consent or treatment plan is difficult, we will go through it with you verbally and answer any questions until you are comfortable.

Sensory considerations

Dental surgeries can be sensory-heavy environments — bright lights, sounds, vibration, and tastes. We can adjust on the day:

• Dimming or angling the overhead light away from your face
• Letting you wear sunglasses against the chair light
• Headphones with your own music or a podcast
• Quieter or shorter appointment times, where the practice is less busy
• A weighted blanket or familiar item from home
• Pausing for breaks at agreed intervals
• Showing instruments before they go near the mouth

Many autistic and neurodivergent patients find these adjustments make routine dentistry much more manageable. Our pages on dental anxiety and managing a strong gag reflex may also be useful.

Bringing a support person, carer, or interpreter

You are welcome to bring whoever helps you feel comfortable — a partner, family member, support worker, or interpreter. Let us know at booking so the surgery is set up to accommodate them. If you have a support coordinator under the NDIS, see our NDIS dental care page for how we can work with your team.

If we are not the right fit

We want to be honest. While we will do our best to make a visit comfortable, our practice may not be the best environment for every patient — for example, those who need general anaesthetic for routine dental work, or who need a fully hoist-assisted transfer. In those situations we are happy to talk through what we can and cannot offer, and to point you towards a service better suited to your needs. Please call us before booking if you have any doubts — we would rather have that conversation up front.

Children and dependants

If you are bringing a child or dependant adult with additional needs, please let us know what we can do to support them on the day. Our children’s dental anxiety page covers age-appropriate approaches, and many of the strategies on this page apply equally to adults supporting a family member.

Payment, NDIS, and DVA

We are HICAPS providers and accept eftpos, cards, and cash. We are happy to work with:

• NDIS participants — self-managed, plan-managed, or agency-managed (see NDIS dental care)
• DVA Gold and White cardholders for eligible dental treatment
• CDBS-eligible children — see CDBS bulk-billed children’s dental

For more on costs and how we structure quotes, see our payment options page.

Accessibility FAQs

Related information

• Patient information hub
• Your first visit
• NDIS dental care
• Language support
• Dental anxiety
• Managing a strong gag reflex
• Senior dental care
• Practice tour

Book a visit and tell us how to help

We will do our best to make your visit as comfortable as possible. Please call us with any access questions before booking, or book online and add a note about your needs.