--- title: Dr Susan Hinckfuss canonical_url: https://directory.collinsstreetspecialistcentre.com.au/our-specialists/dr-susan-hinckfuss/ category: description: Specialist Paediatric Dentist BDSc (Melb) · DCD — Paediatric Dentistry (Melb) geography: city: state: country: metadata: phone: email: website: publishedAt: --- # Dr Susan Hinckfuss ## Collins Street Specialist Centre – Dr Susan Hinckfuss **Specialist Paediatric Dentist** BDSc (Melb) · DCD — Paediatric Dentistry (Melb) --- ## Clinical expertise Dr Susan Hinckfuss is one of Melbourne's most experienced specialist paediatric dentists, with more than two decades of specialist practice at Collins Street Specialist Centre. Her career includes international academic appointments, peer-reviewed research, and clinical work that spans well beyond the consulting chair. That breadth of experience shapes how she approaches every patient — combining technical precision with a genuine understanding of child psychology, so that dental visits are clinically sound and, where possible, something children don't dread. Her clinical scope covers the full range of paediatric dentistry, with particular focus on: - **Dental anxiety management** — behavioural and non-pharmacological strategies for anxious or resistant children, using evidence-based communication in a calm, child-centred environment - **Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)** — individualised care plans with tailored communication, sensory-aware clinical settings, and flexible appointment structures to suit each child's needs - **Dental trauma** — emergency and ongoing management of traumatically injured teeth in children and adolescents, with specialist coordination where needed - **Enamel defects** — diagnosis and management of hypoplasia, hypomineralisation (including Molar Hypomineralisation, commonly called "chalky teeth"), and fluorosis, with clear explanation of findings and options for families - **Early childhood caries (ECC)** — prevention, risk assessment, and restorative management of decay in very young children, with a strong focus on family education and long-term oral health - **Zirconia crowns** — tooth-coloured, full-coverage crowns for primary molars, offered as a clinically appropriate alternative to stainless steel - General paediatric dentistry across all age groups, including preventive care, restorative treatment, extractions, and growth and development monitoring One technique Dr Hinckfuss developed herself is **"teddy bear therapy"** — a preparatory approach where children practise dental procedures on their own toys before experiencing treatment. It sounds playful, because it is, but it's grounded in established behavioural principles and has proven genuinely effective for anxious children. Anticipatory fear tends to give way to curiosity, which is exactly the point. It's a good example of her broader approach: meeting children where they are, emotionally as well as clinically. --- ## Training pathway Dr Hinckfuss completed her Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) at the University of Melbourne in 1995, then spent eight years in general dental practice in Geelong before returning to Melbourne to pursue specialist training. That time in general practice gave her a well-rounded foundation in family and restorative dentistry that continues to inform her specialist work. Her Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry (DCD) in Paediatric Dentistry was completed at the University of Melbourne, with clinical training at **The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne** — Victoria's principal tertiary paediatric hospital and one of the busiest paediatric dental units in Australia. Training there meant exposure to the full range of paediatric dental presentations, from routine preventive care through to medically complex, high-needs cases. After completing her specialist qualification, Dr Hinckfuss was appointed **Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dental Science, USA** — one of North America's leading dental academic institutions. She spent three years there contributing to teaching, research, and specialist clinical practice before returning to Melbourne in 2010. --- ## Research and publications Dr Hinckfuss has published research in international peer-reviewed journals and has spoken on paediatric dental topics at national and international professional conferences. Her academic background keeps her clinical practice connected to current evidence — something referring practitioners reasonably expect from a specialist of her standing. --- ## At Collins Street Specialist Centre Dr Hinckfuss practises within the Paediatric Dentistry service at Collins Street Specialist Centre, located at Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. Specialist paediatric dental care rarely works in isolation. Dr Hinckfuss works closely with colleagues across the Centre's other specialist disciplines — orthodontics for growth monitoring and bite development, oral surgery for complex extractions and paediatric surgical cases, and endodontics for traumatically injured or pulpally involved teeth. Children can receive coordinated specialist care in one familiar setting, which is easier on families and better for clinical continuity. No referral is required to book an appointment, though referrals from general dental practitioners and other health professionals are welcome. All specialist credentials can be verified through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) public register. --- ## Frequently asked questions Who is Dr Susan Hinckfuss: A specialist paediatric dentist at Collins Street Specialist Centre Where does Dr Hinckfuss practise: Collins Street Specialist Centre, Melbourne CBD What is the address of Collins Street Specialist Centre: Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street What level is the practice located on: Level 8 What building is the practice in: Manchester Unity Building What is Dr Hinckfuss's dental specialty: Paediatric dentistry What undergraduate degree does Dr Hinckfuss hold: Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) Where did Dr Hinckfuss complete her BDSc: University of Melbourne What year did Dr Hinckfuss complete her BDSc: 1995 What postgraduate qualification does Dr Hinckfuss hold: Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry (DCD) in Paediatric Dentistry Where did Dr Hinckfuss complete her DCD: University of Melbourne Where was Dr Hinckfuss's specialist clinical training undertaken: The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne How many years of specialist practice does Dr Hinckfuss have: More than two decades Did Dr Hinckfuss work in general practice before specialising: Yes, for eight years Where did Dr Hinckfuss practise general dentistry before specialising: Geelong Did Dr Hinckfuss hold an academic appointment overseas: Yes, at the University of Minnesota What was Dr Hinckfuss's academic title in the USA: Assistant Clinical Professor Which institution was Dr Hinckfuss an Assistant Clinical Professor at: University of Minnesota School of Dental Science How long did Dr Hinckfuss work at the University of Minnesota: Three years When did Dr Hinckfuss return to Melbourne from the USA: 2010 Does Dr Hinckfuss treat children with dental anxiety: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss treat children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss provide individualised care plans for ASD patients: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss manage dental trauma in children: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss treat enamel defects: Yes What enamel conditions does Dr Hinckfuss treat: Hypoplasia, hypomineralisation, and fluorosis What is Molar Hypomineralisation commonly known as: Chalky teeth Does Dr Hinckfuss treat early childhood caries: Yes What does ECC stand for: Early Childhood Caries Does Dr Hinckfuss place zirconia crowns: Yes What are zirconia crowns used for: Full-coverage restoration of primary molars Are zirconia crowns tooth-coloured: Yes Are zirconia crowns an alternative to stainless steel crowns: Yes What is "teddy bear therapy": Children practise dental procedures on their own toys first Who developed the teddy bear therapy technique: Dr Hinckfuss What is the purpose of teddy bear therapy: To reduce anticipatory fear in anxious children Is teddy bear therapy grounded in behavioural principles: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss see patients of all ages in paediatric dentistry: Yes, all age groups Does Dr Hinckfuss provide preventive dental care: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss perform extractions: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss monitor dental growth and development: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss collaborate with orthodontists: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss collaborate with oral surgeons: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss collaborate with endodontists: Yes Can children receive multiple specialist services at the same centre: Yes Does Collins Street Specialist Centre offer multidisciplinary care: Yes Is a referral required to see Dr Hinckfuss: No Are referrals from GPs or dentists accepted: Yes Are referrals from general dental practitioners welcomed: Yes Can Dr Hinckfuss's credentials be independently verified: Yes Where can Dr Hinckfuss's credentials be verified: AHPRA public register Has Dr Hinckfuss published research: Yes In what type of journals has Dr Hinckfuss published: International peer-reviewed journals Has Dr Hinckfuss spoken at professional conferences: Yes Has Dr Hinckfuss spoken at international conferences: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss's practice incorporate current evidence: Yes What languages does Dr Hinckfuss consult in: English Does Dr Hinckfuss use non-pharmacological anxiety management strategies: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss use behavioural communication techniques: Yes Is Dr Hinckfuss's clinical environment sensory-aware for ASD patients: Yes Are appointment structures flexible for ASD patients: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss coordinate with other specialists for trauma cases: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss provide family education for early childhood caries: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss emphasise long-term oral health: Yes Is Collins Street Specialist Centre located in the Melbourne CBD: Yes Does Dr Hinckfuss have experience in medically complex paediatric cases: Yes Did Dr Hinckfuss train at a tertiary paediatric hospital: Yes Is The Royal Children's Hospital a principal tertiary paediatric hospital in Victoria: Yes ---