General Dentistry
If it has been a while since your last visit, or a tooth has started to bother you, a general dental visit is the place to begin. Your dentist checks your teeth and gums, explains what they find and talks through what to do next. To book, call us on (02) 4284 4486 or book online.
Fees, private health benefits and third-party payment arrangements vary. Please confirm current details before relying on an option.
Where To Start
General dentistry is the everyday care of your teeth and gums. It can mean a check-up and clean, a tooth filling, care for sore or bleeding gums, or a question about a wisdom tooth.
Looking after your teeth between visits does much of the work. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth every day, eat a diet low in added sugar and have regular check-ups. Early tooth decay often has no symptoms, so regular dental visits can help identify changes.
A check can find early decay, sometimes seen as a white spot, before it becomes a hole.
Some problems need more than a clean or a filling. If decay or an injury reaches the soft pulp inside a tooth, root canal treatment is one option your dentist may explain, and removing the tooth is another. If you wake with a sore jaw or your teeth look worn, ask about teeth grinding.
Some people clench or grind without knowing it, and not everyone who does needs treatment.
Gingivitis, an early and mild form of gum disease, can be cured without permanent damage, while periodontitis can be controlled but not cured, which is why sore or bleeding gums are worth a visit.
Children can start early. A first dental visit is recommended when their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. Our kids dentistry team can help with advice for their growing teeth. Book sooner if you notice dark spots on your child’s teeth or think there may be a problem.
Your dentist explains the findings and your options before you decide anything. For current fees, call us on (02) 4284 4486 or read our fees. You can also see our patient offers. Dapto Dentists or Shellharbour Dentists if you are choosing between clinics in the Illawarra.
Before You Visit
Pain, bleeding, a chipped tooth or a sore jaw: say when it started and what makes it better or worse.
List any health conditions and the medicines you take. They can change the care your dentist suggests.
Tell us which fund you are with. The clinic works with most major funds through HICAPS, so ask what you can claim.
Say when you last had a check-up, what treatment you have had and anything that worried you at the time. Earlier details help your dentist compare.
Describe how you brush and clean between your teeth, and how often you snack or sip sugary drinks. Your dentist can then talk about changes that matter for you.
Ask what a visit includes and what any treatment may cost before you agree to it. For current fees, call us on (02) 4284 4486.
Explore Treatments
A regular check of your teeth and gums, a clean, and time to ask about caring for your teeth at home.
Check-up and Clean informationFor a tooth with decay, a chip or a worn spot. Your dentist explains whether a filling suits it.
Tooth Fillings informationFor gums that bleed, feel sore or look swollen. We check your gums and explain what we find.
Gum Disease Treatment informationFor a tooth with inflammation or infection inside it. Find out what treatment involves and what else you could consider.
Root Canal Treatment informationFor a wisdom tooth that is sore, infected or coming through at an angle. We assess it and explain your options.
Wisdom Tooth Removal informationDental visits for children, with advice for parents on looking after young teeth.
Kids Dentistry informationFor a sore jaw on waking or teeth that look worn. We look for signs of clenching or grinding and talk through options.
Teeth Grinding informationFor people who feel very anxious about dental care. Ask whether IV sedation could suit you and how to prepare.
IV Sedation informationYour Appointment
Start with what has brought you in, or say you would like a regular check.
Your dentist checks your teeth and gums and tells you what they see in plain words.
Talk through your options and costs, then decide what to do and when.
Frequently Asked Questions
These general answers can help you prepare questions for an individual conversation.
If you’re unsure of what appointment or dental service to book, call us on (02) 4284 4486 and our friendly team can guide you.
Whether you're due for a routine check-up, have a dental concern or want to talk about a treatment, our Woonona team can help.
