Our Services

New Patients

Hi There,

Thank you for choosing us to look after your dental health. Our new patient consults generally go for 1 hour so we have adequate time to get to know you and your dental concerns. Help us stay on time by arriving 10 minutes early to fill out the necessary paper work.
We look forward to meeting you soon!

Checkup and clean

It is recommended that you see us every 6 months to allow us to detect problems early, treat them and keep you smiling. In the instance of decay, if detected early, modification of diet and oral hygiene practices can reverse the decay saving you time, money and from having to get a filling.

As part of our check-up service we will provide:

• • A dental examination – we check the health of your teeth and gums, and other oral tissues

• Oral cancer screening – we check for oral cancers which are treatable if picked up early with regular visits
• Bitewing and OPG x-ray – to detect decay, gum disease, other pathology
• Scale and polish – to remove plaque and tartar which cause decay and gum disease
• Fluoride treatment – to strengthen teeth and help them resist decay
• Treatment plan – give you the results of our findings, discuss restorative options and formulate a treatment plan (with all costings where possible); we also provide you with the opportunity to ask questions, give you information of how to care for your teeth and prevent dental issues

 X-rays are usually taken every two years if no problems are detected, but if you are concerned please read our FAQ section on x-rays and radiation dosage.

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Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is technically referred to as “periodontal disease”, which affects the gum and bone which supports the teeth. It is an infectious disease resulting from your body’s inflammatory response to bacteria found in plaque and tartar.

The early stage of gum disease (gingivitis), involves bleeding and inflammation of the gums but can usually be treated by professional cleaning and good oral hygiene at home. If allowed to progress we get periodontitis which is seen as a more severe form of gum inflammation. Deep pockets may form between the gum and teeth, the gum may shrink showing darker root surfaces and the tooth may become mobile requiring extraction.

Periodontal disease can be exacerbated by smoking and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. It can also contribute to heart disease and poor diabetes management.

Treatment involves diagnosis, measurements for record keeping and comparison, and deep cleaning to remove the cause of the disease i.e. tartar or “calculus”.

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Children's Services

Our philosophy is to make the dental experience for your children as fun as possible so they form a good relationship with dentists for life. It starts in the waiting room where we have books, toys and games for your children. When they come into the surgery, if it’s their first visit, we let them touch, ask and play. They can even be your dentist or my special little helper.

We recommend that you play dentist at home with them, to simulate a dental environment. Make it fun, where they can take turns being the dentist and patient. Then you can count and look at each other’s teeth whilst using the lap to simulate lying back in the dental chair. When speaking to your child about the visit, use phrases such as “the visit is going to be awesome and fun” and “he’s going to count your teeth like we did at home”. Avoid saying things like, “the dentist is not going to hurt you”, or “there is nothing to worry about”. Children will tend think otherwise and they will feed off your nervous energy.

So bring your children along to your next dental visit, even if they are only 12 months old. We can provide you with a lot of useful information to keep their teeth healthy. Then bring them every time after so they become comfortable with the environment.

Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

The federal government has created a scheme to help ensure children from the age of 2-17 are able to access dental services. Medicare will cover the cost of most dental procedures to a maximum of $1000 per 2 year period. You may have received a letter from Medicare which explains your eligibility, if not please click on this link to check if your children are eligible or ask us when you visit us.

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Cosmetic Veneers

Sometimes we are not happy with our smiles because of inherited traits (e.g. gaps, misalignment, blemishes), staining from use of antibiotics as a child, chips and cracks from trauma or broken restorations and age. Whatever the reason, veneers may be suitable for you and can improve the appearance of your teeth and smile.

Veneers can be made from composite or porcelain. Composite veneers are more affordable but have a much shorter lifespan as they are weaker in strength and require more maintenance. However they can often be added onto the tooth with little to no tooth preparation. Porcelain veneers are very strong and aesthetic, but require some tooth preparation. This is usually as thick as a fingernail or about half a millimetre, and only the front surface of the tooth is prepared unlike a crown where the whole tooth is prepared. A mould is then taken for fabrication by a technician and it is cemented in place in a follow-up appointment.

Sometimes the dentist will recommend tooth bleaching before cosmetic treatment to help whiten the teeth; once the veneers or restorative material is cemented any bleaching will not affect them.

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Crown and Bridge

A tooth can be severely weakened by tooth decay, root canal therapy or when it has a large filling, making it prone to breakage. Sometimes trauma from accidents, grinding or biting on hard foods can also crack the tooth. An artificial crown is often the treatment of choice to prevent tooth fracture, or when already broken and if it is restorable, a crown can be used to bind the tooth together for normal function.

Crowns can be made from various materials; the strongest crowns are made of metals such as gold. For the aesthetic conscious, crowns can be made from porcelain which looks very natural.

Before a crown can be made, the dentist has to remove a thin layer of tooth to create space for the crown to slip on, like a hand into a glove. Each crown is custom made to make sure it fits perfectly. To do this the dentist will use a play-doh like material to take a mould of your teeth. A temporary crown is then made by the dentist to sit in place while the crown is being fabricated. The mould is sent to a laboratory where a technician can fabricate the crown, polish and colour it. When it comes back, the crown is checked for fit and colour and if it meets requirements, we will cement it in place and these can last more than 10 years if well maintained.

Bridges replace one or more missing teeth, but are anchored to adjacent teeth. They are fabricated in the same manner as for a single crown.

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Bleaching or Tooth Whitening

Teeth can discolour from various agents and factors including consumption of food and drinks, smoking, certain medications and dental problems to name a few. In most situations, we can whiten teeth by using bleaching agents which are safe and have no damaging effects on your teeth. It is important to consult the dentist first to see if this treatment is suitable for you.

Before bleaching can be performed, the dentist performs a thorough examination to determine the type of staining present, if there are any cavities and if you have significant restorative work present in the zone of treatment. The type of staining may determine if the treatment will work. Sometimes the staining can be removed with just a thorough scale and clean. If you have any cavities in the region of treatment, they will require fillings before bleaching as not doing so may lead to sensitivity during and after treatment. Teeth with fillings and crowns do not change colour after bleaching which means they may mismatch the newly whitened teeth, it is important to plan ahead on how to match them up.

There are three types of bleaching services provided by the dentist; most people are concerned with “take-home” or “in-chair” whitening. In chair whitening takes one appointment of about 60-90 minutes, and the sensitivity is of a shorter duration. It does cost more than take-home treatment as it requires the dentist to perform the treatment, but it can be quite gratifying to achieve instant results. Take-home bleaching requires a specially made set of trays which you wear each day/night for 30-60 minutes for a period of 2-3 weeks. The sensitivity from bleaching and your diet guidelines set out by the dentist will last for the duration of treatment. The sensitivity is a result of the bleaching agents unblocking the pores in the tooth which contain the stains. Use of certain agents can reduce the sensitivity.

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Removable Dentures

Dentures are often referred to as plates, and are a simple way to replace single or multiple missing teeth. They are usually made of acrylic or a mixture of acrylic and cobalt chrome. The cobalt chrome dentures are usually preferred by patients where suitable, as they are thinner, lighter and stronger.

The denture making process can take several appointments and after the issue stage, you may need to come back for adjustments until the comfort is right. It may take a bit of time for you to get use to speaking and eating with them, but speech can often be improved immediately if you have a missing front tooth. After a period, especially if you had teeth removed prior to the dentures being issued, the dentures may feel loose. It may be time to go back to the dentist to get the base of the denture relined.

Make sure to clean your dentures daily like you would real teeth and leave them out at night either in a glass of water or in a solution of denture cleaner (from your pharmacy or supermarket). This gives your gums a chance to rest and reduce the risk of fungal infections. Wash your dentures over a basin filled with water or a soft towel in case they are dropped, they are less likely to break. Never use hot or boiling water to clean them as it may warp the denture.

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Fissure Seals

Teeth have natural groves on the biting surfaces called fissures which can trap food. They can be difficult to clean thoroughly which makes them prone to decay. Fissure seals are simple, painless and extremely effective in reducing the risk of decay. A special material called sealant is applied to a cleaned and dried tooth, and is set in seconds. The best time to provide this treatment is just after the permanent (adult) tooth has erupted, as this maximises the protection of the tooth. The first permanent molar erupts around 6-7 years of age.

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Mouth Guards

Custom fitted mouthguards made by a dentist are an essential item before playing sports where injuries can occur. A custom mouthguard is superior in its protection as the material is evenly distributed and there are different thicknesses depending on the type of sport.

Mouthguards can absorb the shock from heavy blows to the jaw and face, hence reducing the severity or even preventing injury. This can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the tooth, not to mention the pain. Injuries that can occur include chipped and broken teeth, tooth loss, broken jaw bones and concussion. Once made keep them in a case away from heat to protect them from warping.

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Implants

If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants provide a permanent solution for tooth replacement. It involves a surgical procedure whereby titanium posts are inserted into the jawbone. This sounds scary but it is easier and more comfortable than pulling a tooth out.

The implants are left uninterrupted in the jawbone for a period of time, usually 3 months, to allow them to fuse to the bone – a process known as osseointegration. Once the implants fuse to the bone, they serve as a very strong and stable artificial tooth roots that can support a crown or bridge and even dentures.

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Terms and Conditions of our Service

Rescheduling/Cancellation of Appointments

We understand that you may sometimes need to reschedule appointments. If you need to reschedule, please call the clinic as soon as you know that you will not be able to keep the appointment. Please call at least 24 hours in advance. Doing so will allow us to see other patients who are in pain. If appointment changes are made with less than 24 hours notice, you may be liable for a cancellation fee of $100 per hour pro rata payable before your next appointment.

Missed Appointments

If you miss an appointment or cancel it with less than 24 hours notice, a missed appointment will be recorded in your patient file. If you are more than 10 minutes late for an appointment, your appointment may have to be rescheduled if there is not enough time to complete your procedure. Missed appointments result in lost time that may have been used to provide care to other patients. If you have two missed appointments during the past 6 months, you will not be able to make an appointment for a period of 6 months from the date of the second missed appointment. You may also be liable for a cancellation fee of $100 per hour pro rata payable before your next appointment.