As a dental specialist, Dr David Fu has worked extensively with many different dis/abilities, conditions, and syndromes. These are some of the most common conditions we work with.
If you have a condition not listed here please Enquire about how we can help.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex lifelong neurological condition that ranges in severity. It can affect the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information.
As each individual with ASD is different, Dr David Fu encourages his patients and/or carer to take time to familiarise with the dental environment and the team.
Individual with ASD may have particular sensations that they enjoy and dislike – please let us know beforehand so that we can adequately prepare to help and tailor the environment.
It is vital to develop routine dental check-ups for individuals with ASD, as without a routine it may become increasingly more difficult for them to receive timely dental care.
Cerebral palsy is a physical disability caused by brain damage that ranges in severity. It affects movement, posture and/or muscle tone. It may also cause learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, epilepsy and other issues.
Individuals with cerebral palsy may have difficulties with tooth brushing and saliva control, which can lead to dental decay and an increased risk in aspiration pneumonia.
Dr David Fu has helped individuals with cerebral palsy of all severities. In conjunction with dental treamtent, he is able to:
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. These changes can make it difficult for one to brush their teeth and allow dental examination and treatment.
It is important to know that:
Dr David Fu has helped many patients with dementia and their family, as it is important to have a manageable and simple dental plan. In conjunction with providing dental treatment, Dr David is able to:
Dental anxiety is fear, anxiety or stress associated with a dental setting. Dental phobia is a severe form of dental anxiety.
Sometimes the extreme the fear and anxiety can stop a person from entering a dental clinic until there are significant dental issues, which can then result in another poor experience at the dentist.
Dr David Fu has access to several ways of managing dental anxiety and phobia, including counselling and sedation options (see Services). As each person's anxiety and fear is different, Dr David will work with the individual to find ways to provide dental treatment that is safe and less threatening, at the individual's pace.
Down Syndrome is a condition when a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome. This condition classically causes distinct facial features, developmental delays and intellectual disability.
Individuals with Down Syndrome often have a lower decay risk, but a higher risk of gum disease and dental infections. The teeth generally have shorter roots and are prone to be missing, however dentures are usually less tolerated.
Dr David Fu offers realistic treatment plans that are catered to each patient. In conjunction with providing dental treatment, he will:
Head and neck cancer relates to any cancer that involves the face, oral cavity, eyes, sinuses, nose and throat. More and more patients are surviving head and neck cancers in Australia, owing to our improved multidisciplinary health care systems. However, the cancer and related treatments can result in long-term side effects, especially in the oral cavity.
Survivors of head and neck cancer often have issues with dry mouth, small mouth opening, taste changes/loss, and high risk of dental decay. They are also often at risk of osteoradionecrosis (non-healing bone as a result of radiation therapy), and at a higher risk of infection and recurrent malignancy.
In conjunction with providing dental treatment, Dr David Fu can also:
Heart disease refers to heart conditions that include diseased vessels, structural problems and blood clots. It is a disease that is often associated with many other medical co-morbidities.
Patients with heart disease may require antibiotics prior to dental treatment (only for high risk heart conditions), and are more likely to have bleeding issues if on blood thinners (such as Clopidogrel, Warfarin, Apixaban etc.). There is also an association with heart disease and gum disease.
Dr David Fu has extensive experience working with a range of heart diseases and will be able to provide the safest and most appropriate dental care before, during, and after your appointment.
Intellectual disability is a lifelong condition that affects a person's intellectual skills and their behaviour in different situations.
Depending on the severity, a person with intellectual disability may have difficulties with managing their diet and oral hygiene, managing appointments, accessing funding and optimal dental care.
Dr David Fu will liaise with the individual and their support network to navigate the most appropriate and realistic dental outcomes.
Mental health conditions affect people's thoughts, mood, behaviour or the way they perceive the world around them. With appropriate medical and psychological/psychiatric assistance, many individuals with mental health conditions are able to function well and just need a helping hand every once in a while.
Individuals with mental health conditions may be at a higher risk of dental decay, gum infections and other oral health issues due to lifestyle and medication factors. A general reluctance to seek dental care can also be a contributing factor.
Dr David Fu has extensive experience providing personalised dental treatment and management for individuals with mental health conditions in an open, honest and non-judgemental way.
A stroke is loss of blood flow to part of the brain. It can be caused by a blood clot or a bleed in the brain. It is a sudden and debilitating event that may result in serious physical and cognitive ramifications consequently.
The physical or cognitive changes after a stroke may cause patients to have a loss or reduced ability to look after their oral health. Patients also often take blood-thinners which may mean a higher risk of bleeding issues for dental surgery.
Dr David Fu is mindful of the challenges that a stroke can bring, and will be able to provide a personalised dental treatment and management plan for the patient and their support network.
Above are a few examples of the conditions we work with.
If you have a condition that is not listed here, please Contact us to see how we can help.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex lifelong neurological condition that ranges in severity. It can affect the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information.
As each individual with ASD is different, Dr David Fu encourages his patients and/or carer to take time to familiarise with the dental environment and the team.
Individual with ASD may have particular sensations that they enjoy and dislike – please let us know beforehand so that we can adequately prepare to help and tailor the environment.
It is vital to develop routine dental check-ups for individuals with ASD, as without a routine it may become increasingly more difficult for them to receive timely dental care.
Cerebral palsy is a physical disability caused by brain damage that ranges in severity. It affects movement, posture and/or muscle tone. It may also cause learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, epilepsy and other issues.
Individuals with cerebral palsy may have difficulties with tooth brushing and saliva control, which can lead to dental decay and an increased risk in aspiration pneumonia.
Dr David Fu has helped individuals with cerebral palsy of all severities. In conjunction with dental treamtent, he is able to:
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. These changes can make it difficult for one to brush their teeth and allow dental examination and treatment.
It is important to know that:
Dr David Fu has helped many patients with dementia and their family, as it is important to have a manageable and simple dental plan. In conjunction with providing dental treatment, Dr David is able to:
Dental anxiety is fear, anxiety or stress associated with a dental setting. Dental phobia is a severe form of dental anxiety.
Sometimes the extreme the fear and anxiety can stop a person from entering a dental clinic until there are significant dental issues, which can then result in another poor experience at the dentist.
Dr David Fu has access to several ways of managing dental anxiety and phobia, including counselling and sedation options (see Services). As each person's anxiety and fear is different, Dr David will work with the individual to find ways to provide dental treatment that is safe and less threatening, at the individual's pace.
Down Syndrome is a condition when a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome. This condition classically causes distinct facial features, developmental delays and intellectual disability.
Individuals with Down Syndrome often have a lower decay risk, but a higher risk of gum disease and dental infections. The teeth generally have shorter roots and are prone to be missing, however dentures are usually less tolerated.
Dr David Fu offers realistic treatment plans that are catered to each patient. In conjunction with providing dental treatment, he will:
Head and neck cancer relates to any cancer that involves the face, oral cavity, eyes, sinuses, nose and throat. More and more patients are surviving head and neck cancers in Australia, owing to our improved multidisciplinary health care systems. However, the cancer and related treatments can result in long-term side effects, especially in the oral cavity.
Survivors of head and neck cancer often have issues with dry mouth, small mouth opening, taste changes/loss, and high risk of dental decay. They are also often at risk of osteoradionecrosis (non-healing bone as a result of radiation therapy), and at a higher risk of infection and recurrent malignancy.
In conjunction with providing dental treatment, Dr David Fu can also:
Heart disease refers to heart conditions that include diseased vessels, structural problems and blood clots. It is a disease that is often associated with many other medical co-morbidities.
Patients with heart disease may require antibiotics prior to dental treatment (only for high risk heart conditions), and are more likely to have bleeding issues if on blood thinners (such as Clopidogrel, Warfarin, Apixaban etc.). There is also an association with heart disease and gum disease.
Dr David Fu has extensive experience working with a range of heart diseases and will be able to provide the safest and most appropriate dental care before, during, and after your appointment.
Intellectual disability is a lifelong condition that affects a person's intellectual skills and their behaviour in different situations.
Depending on the severity, a person with intellectual disability may have difficulties with managing their diet and oral hygiene, managing appointments, accessing funding and optimal dental care.
Dr David Fu will liaise with the individual and their support network to navigate the most appropriate and realistic dental outcomes.
Mental health conditions affect people's thoughts, mood, behaviour or the way they perceive the world around them. With appropriate medical and psychological/psychiatric assistance, many individuals with mental health conditions are able to function well and just need a helping hand every once in a while.
Individuals with mental health conditions may be at a higher risk of dental decay, gum infections and other oral health issues due to lifestyle and medication factors. A general reluctance to seek dental care can also be a contributing factor.
Dr David Fu has extensive experience providing personalised dental treatment and management for individuals with mental health conditions in an open, honest and non-judgemental way.
A stroke is loss of blood flow to part of the brain. It can be caused by a blood clot or a bleed in the brain. It is a sudden and debilitating event that may result in serious physical and cognitive ramifications consequently.
The physical or cognitive changes after a stroke may cause patients to have a loss or reduced ability to look after their oral health. Patients also often take blood-thinners which may mean a higher risk of bleeding issues for dental surgery.
Dr David Fu is mindful of the challenges that a stroke can bring, and will be able to provide a personalised dental treatment and management plan for the patient and their support network.
Above are a few examples of the conditions we work with.
If you have a condition that is not listed here, please Contact us to see how we can help.
For most patients with special needs, one or multiple of below treatment options may be applicable depending on what is required. As a specialist Dr David is an expert in understanding the indications and contraindications for what is safe and effective, holistic approach, multidisciplinary.
Happy gas (nitrous oxide) is a colourless and odourless gas. It is a safe type of sedation used in the clinic to help patients feel happy and relaxed during dental treatment while staying awake. It is suitable for patients with mild dental anxiety to have basic or advanced dental treatment.
A small nosepiece will be placed on the patient's nose to breathe in the gas while dental treatment is provided.
Most people describe the feeling of happy gas as 'happy, relaxed, dreamy, warm, and floaty'. The effects usually start within a few minutes of breathing in the gas, and wears off a few minutes after stopping the gas. It is safe, has little side effects, and most people can have happy gas.
Most patients enjoy the experience quite a lot, and Dr David often gets “Please don’t turn it off!” and "My teeth are done? I didn't feel a thing!", even from dentally anxious patients.
General anaesthesia (GA) is a combination of medications used to make you 'go to sleep' so you will not feel pain, move or be aware during a procedure. It is used for patients who cannot be seen in the dental clinic, or choose to be completely asleep for the treatment such as due to severe dental phobia.
Dr David Fu is able to provide dental care under GA through our partnered private hospitals in Brisbane. He presently provides dental care through x-rays, fillings, extractions (including surgical) and teeth cleaning under GA.
At the hospital, a specialist medical doctor (anaesthetist) will be putting you to sleep, with a team of highly trained hospital staff to look after you, while Dr David works on your teeth.
Please note that there are extra costs associated with the anaesthetics and hospital admission, in addition to dental treatment costs. Make sure to check your private health fund to see if you will be covered.
Happy gas (nitrous oxide) is a colourless and odourless gas. It is a safe type of sedation used in the clinic to help patients feel happy and relaxed during dental treatment while staying awake. It is suitable for patients with mild dental anxiety to have basic or advanced dental treatment.
A small nosepiece will be placed on the patient's nose to breathe in the gas while dental treatment is provided.
Most people describe the feeling of happy gas as 'happy, relaxed, dreamy, warm, and floaty'. The effects usually start within a few minutes of breathing in the gas, and wears off a few minutes after stopping the gas. It is safe, has little side effects, and most people can have happy gas.
Most patients enjoy the experience quite a lot, and Dr David often gets “Please don’t turn it off!” and "My teeth are done? I didn't feel a thing!", even from dentally anxious patients.
General anaesthesia (GA) is a combination of medications used to make you 'go to sleep' so you will not feel pain, move or be aware during a procedure. It is used for patients who cannot be seen in the dental clinic, or choose to be completely asleep for the treatment such as due to severe dental phobia.
Dr David Fu is able to provide dental care under GA through our partnered private hospitals in Brisbane. He presently provides dental care through x-rays, fillings, extractions (including surgical) and teeth cleaning under GA.
At the hospital, a specialist medical doctor (anaesthetist) will be putting you to sleep, with a team of highly trained hospital staff to look after you, while Dr David works on your teeth.
Please note that there are extra costs associated with the anaesthetics and hospital admission, in addition to dental treatment costs. Make sure to check your private health fund to see if you will be covered.