How to get the treatment you need, when you need it
You probably know that in Australia, you generally can’t access your superannuation before you are 55 years old (or older for some people). Of course, this is because your super is usually designed to fund your retirement.
However, in some cases you may be able to access your superannuation early, to pay for critical dental treatment here at Wickham Terrace Dental.
It’s part of a scheme called the Early Release of Superannuation (ERS) program, designed to give you access to your superannuation on compassionate grounds in certain circumstances.
Why we participate in the Early Release of Super scheme
Our principal dentist Dr Andrew Teakle said he is grateful to be able to help patients with serious dental issues by way of the ERS.
“In recent years, our understanding of the relationship between oral health and your overall health has become much clearer,” said Dr Teakle.
“We know of the relationship between oral inflammation – from infected teeth or gums for instance – and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack or stroke, and even increased risk of cancer, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s disease.”
“And of course, that’s all on top of the obvious oral health problems such as chronic or acute pain, or poor jaw joint function,” he said.
“That’s why, for patients who can’t afford crucial dental treatment, we are happy to extend the option of using their super in this way.”
How to apply for early release of your super in Brisbane
Wickham Terrace Dental have formed a partnership with SuperCare, the only Australian business specifically created to help patients with the ERS program.
SuperCare can assist you with an ERS application to cover treatment for yourself, your partner, or your children. You may choose to apply for funding to cover the entire cost of the procedure or just part of the cost.
Some of the dental procedures you can access your super for include:
- Dental implants
- Dental crowns
- Dentures
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Braces and orthodontics
- Root Canal Therapy
- General dentistry
Find out more about SuperCare and the Early Release of Superannuation program here.
Can you use your super to pay for cosmetic dentistry?
At Wickham Terrace Dental, we choose not to participate in the ERS program for purely cosmetic dental procedures, such as dental veneers or teeth whitening. There’s a good reason for this.
“While of course we’re happy to assist people with chronic dental problems in this way, we don’t extend the super scheme to cosmetic treatments,” said Dr Andrew Teakle.
“It’s part of that balance between providing a better standard of living for our patients now, but also making sure they can look after themselves for the long term,” Dr Teakle said.
Find out more about accessing your super with our caring Brisbane dentists
If you’d like to know more about SuperCare or how the ERS scheme could make your dental treatment more affordable, please call our friendly team on 07 3831 3031 or use the short contact form here.