Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes! We warmly welcome new patients to our practice in West Lakes and look forward to providing you and your family with personalised dental care. Whether you’re visiting for a routine check-up, preventive care or more specialised treatments, our team is dedicated to making every visit comfortable.

At Providence Dental Care, patient comfort is a top priority. Our modern, welcoming clinic is designed to help you feel relaxed from the moment you arrive. From calming treatment rooms to friendly staff who guide you through every step, we aim to ensure your experience is tailored to your needs.

What to expect at your first visit:

• A warm welcome from our team and a guided tour of the practice
• A comprehensive dental exam for you or your child
• Discussion of your medical and dental history, oral hygiene habits and any concerns
• Recommendations for treatments or preventive care, tailored to your oral health and goals
• Answers to any questions about procedures, costs and scheduling

We also accept all health funds. Our team can assist with claims and explain your benefits, so you can focus on your oral health and your child’s. We also sometimes offer specials!

Ready to Book Your First Dental Visit?

We strive to make your first visit informative, comfortable and positive, so you leave feeling pleased with your dental care.

We invite you to arrange your appointment today!

At our practice, we accept coverage through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). This government initiative helps families access essential dental care for children aged 2–17 by providing up to $1,000 in benefits every two years for eligible patients.

Eligible services include a wide range of preventive and restorative treatments, such as dental check-ups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions and certain other procedures, depending on your child’s needs. By using the CDBS, families can ensure their children receive professional dental care without financial stress, promoting healthy teeth and gums from an early age.

Our team will assist you in verifying eligibility and submitting claims directly to Medicare, making the process as simple and stress-free as possible. With bulk-billed access to CDBS services, your child can maintain regular dental check-ups, receive timely treatment for any dental issues and establish good oral health habits that last a lifetime.

Have Questions? We Welcome Your Call

If you have any questions about eligibility, covered services or how to make the most of your child’s dental benefits, our friendly team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Yes. We accept all private health funds and offer on the spot HICAPS claiming.

We are not a preferred provider by choice. This allows us to recommend treatment based on what is clinically appropriate for you, rather than insurer driven limitations. 

Your rebate will depend on your individual policy. We always discuss fees and provide clear estimates before treatment. Visit our financial page more info

For most people, a dental check up every six months is recommended. This allows us to monitor your teeth and gums, provide professional cleaning, and identify problems early while they are simpler to manage.

6 months as, is also the time it takes for tartar (calculus) to build up on the teeth and about the time when our last fluoride treatments enamel strengthening effects wear off.

Some patients may benefit from more frequent visits depending on their oral health, medical history, or risk of gum disease. We will always advise a recall interval that is appropriate for you. More info from ADA.

Our comprehensive dental check ups are designed to be thorough, informative, and patient focused.

We begin with a brief discussion to understand any concerns you would like addressed and to ensure your priorities are clearly understood.

We then complete a detailed examination of your teeth, gums, and bite, supported by clinical photographs. These allow us to show you what we can see, help you understand your oral health, and track any changes over time.

If required, we take small in the mouth x rays, which are typically recommended every two years, to assess areas that cannot be seen directly.

Your teeth are professionally cleaned and fluoride is applied to help strengthen enamel and reduce decay.

We finish with a full mouth OPG x ray, providing an overview of the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures.

Finally, we review your findings together, using their intra-oral photographs explain everything clearly, and answer any questions. If there is treatment you would like us to assist with, we provide a written quote to take home.

There is no pressure to proceed with treatment. Our role is to educate and support you so you can make informed decisions that feel right for you. We often have reduced costs for these visits for new patients, see our specials page to check.

Routine dental check ups are designed for patients we see regularly and are usually shorter and simpler, while still being thorough.

We begin with a brief discussion to check in on any concerns and ensure nothing has changed since your last visit.

We then complete an examination of your teeth, gums, and bite. Because we are monitoring your oral health over time, clinical photographs updated at no charge if there is something important to show or a specific area we wish to track.

If required, we take small in the mouth x rays. These are recommended when existing x rays are more than two years old, or if there is a particular concern we need to assess more closely.

Your teeth are professionally cleaned, and fluoride is applied to help protect against decay.

We finish by reviewing our findings with you, answering any questions, and discussing next steps if needed. If treatment is required or desired, a written quote is provided for you to take home.

As always, there is no pressure to proceed with treatment. Our role is to support informed decisions and ongoing oral health.

X-rays allow us to 'see the unseen'. Many places like inbetween the teeth, beneath the gums and within the bone are not able to be visualised in regular examination. By having regular X-rays we are able to pick up on problems before they become larger problems, and can often manage things more conservatively as a result. By the time problems are visible to our eyes in an exam, they're often becoming quite significant of a problem, that if we had X-rays, perhaps we could have resolved the issue earlier, and with a better prognosis.

Dental x-rays can be used to:

• Show areas of decay that may not be visible with an oral exam, especially small areas of decay between teeth or underneath existing fillings
• Reveal bone loss that accompanies gum disease or an infection
• Reveal an abscess or other developmental abnormalities, such as cysts and some types of tumours

The frequency of getting x-rays of your teeth often depends on your medical and dental history and current condition. Some people may need x-rays as often as every six months; others with no recent dental or gum disease and who visit their dentist regularly may get x-rays only every couple of years. If you are a new patient, your dentist may take x-rays as part of the initial exam and to establish a baseline record from which to compare changes that may occur over time.

From a general perspective we recommend X-rays every 24 months for the in the mouth 'bitewing' types.

Full mouth X-rays can be taken less often, depending on individual risk, every 3-5 years. 

Besides these points, we often need to X-ray the teeth to simply find out more about them. If you have a particular issue, X-raying the area will often give us a very good idea as to what is or is not happening, that my be influencing your symptoms.

Patients may wish to discuss crowns or bridges with a dentist if you have teeth that are weakened, damaged or missing. These restorations can help maintain the function of your bite, greatly strengthen damaged teeth, and improve their aesthetic appearance.

Common situations where crowns or bridges may be considered include:

• Teeth with extensive decay that cannot be restored with a filling
• Cracked, chipped or fractured teeth that require additional support
• Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment
• Replacing missing teeth in the bite
• Worn teeth due to natural wear or other factors
• Teeth with large existing restorations that may be at risk of breaking or being lost

Crowns cover individual teeth like a cap to provide protection, restore shape and maintain function. They are made from much stronger materials than typical filling materials.

Dental bridges can replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent teeth or dental implants. This can help maintain normal chewing and bite alignment.

Your dentist will assess your oral health, discuss options and recommend treatments appropriate for your needs. Early evaluation and care can help support the long-term function of your teeth and bite.

At Providence Dental Care, crowns and bridges are custom-made to suit individual requirements, with modern materials selected to match your teeth and provide long lasting solutions.

Short answer:

Heavily restored, cracked or decayed teeth are often best restored with crowns to significantly increase their strength while also improving the appearance.

Modern crowns and bridges often use tooth colored metal ceramics like zirconia, which is incredibly strong, aesthetic, and very friendly to the surrounding gums. When not using zirconia, we often use tooth colored glass-ceramic materials which are very aesthetic but are not quite as strong or as friendly to the gums as zirconia.

Historically crowns and bridges were made of metal, and then a porcelain fused to metal to make it look more aesthetic. These materials do still have a place in Dentistry, but they are being used less commonly.

Looking to the future, these 3D printed hybrid materials will be increasingly used in dentistry, but until the technology better refined, we will be continuing to use the modern materials that are very well researched, with great long term track records for our patients.

Booking an Implant consultation will allow your dentist to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

During your consultation, your dentist will review your dental and medical history, take digital scans or x-rays and assess your jawbone density to determine if dental implants are appropriate for your needs.

Dental implants are a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth, but suitability depends on several factors. Common indicators that implants may be right for you include:

• One or more missing teeth
• Healthy gums
• Sufficient jawbone to support the implant
• Overall good oral and general health

Even if bone amount or density is reduced, procedures like bone grafting can often prepare the jaw to support implants successfully. Your dentist will explain whether you need grafting and how it integrates with the implant treatment plan.

If you feel you would benefit from dental implants, we welcome you to book an appointment over the phone or online so we can give you the answers you need.

Proper home care is essential to ensure the longevity of dental implants. Treat your implants like natural teeth: 

• Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Floss carefully around the implant.
• Consider using an interdental brush to clean hard-to-reach areas.
• Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash can also help prevent plaque buildup and gum inflammation.
• Avoid chewing hard foods or using your teeth as tools to protect your implants from unnecessary stress.
• Avoiding smoking or vaping and keeping your body healthy.

Regular dental check-ups are equally important. Professional cleanings allow your dentist to monitor the implant, surrounding gum tissue and jawbone. 

We invite you to call us for your next appointment. 

High quality veneers should look natural.

Our goal is to create a seamless smile that matches your unique look. We use whichever materials best suit your needs and aesthetic goals, helping ensure results that are both natural-looking and durable.

For example:

• Porcelain veneers are highly popular for their lifelike translucency and stain resistance. They mimic the natural sheen of tooth enamel.
• Composite veneers are a more conservative option, made from tooth-coloured resin. They are versatile and can often be applied in a single visit while still producing a natural appearance. Good hygiene and care is required to achieve a long lifespan of the material.
• Zirconia veneers are strong and durable, and they're ideal for patients who require maximum strength while achieving a resilient and aesthetic result.

Additional Benefits of Veneers

• Correct Imperfections: Cover chips, cracks, gaps or worn teeth.
• Whiten Teeth: Mask stubborn stains that don’t respond to whitening treatments.
• Long-Lasting: With proper care, veneers can last 10–15 years or more.
• Minimally Invasive: We only remove a small amount of enamel, which means it helps preserve more natural tooth structure.
• Protecting and reversing tooth wear: Veneers can protect weakened teeth and reduce further wear and reverse it in more complex cases.
• Customisable: We customise each veneer's shape, size and colour to match your facial features and personal aesthetic goals.

If you are looking for Veneers in West Lakes or the surrounding suburbs we would be more than happy to discuss whether the treatment is right for you in a no obligation consultation.

Your dentist can help ensure your veneers look natural and meet your functional and lifestyle needs. We craft each veneer specifically for you. We welcome your call or online booking!

We encourage you to please contact an emergency dentist immediately whenever you experience sudden or severe dental problems.

Quick action can help prevent further damage, reduce pain and increase the chances of saving a tooth or preventing infection.

Common situations that require urgent dental attention include:

• Severe tooth pain that doesn’t improve with over-the-counter pain relief
• Knocked-out teeth (avulsed teeth) due to injury or trauma
• Broken or fractured teeth from an accident, bite or injury
• Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding from the gums, mouth or after dental treatment
• Swelling of the gums, face or jaw which could indicate infection or abscess
• Dental abscess or signs of infection, including pus, fever or tenderness
• Loose or dislodged teeth from trauma
• Severe jaw pain or locking of the jaw
• Problems with dental work such as broken crowns, loose fillings or damaged implants

Even if you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies as an emergency, we recommend that you please call and speak with our emergency dentist in West Lakes, Grange and Tennyson. Prompt evaluation can help prevent complications, reduce discomfort and improve long-term outcomes for your oral health.

Having a Dental Emergency in West Lakes or Surrounding Suburbs? Get in touch.

At Providence Dental Care, we prioritise emergency patients and aim to provide compassionate, effective care to manage pain, treat the problem and restore your smile as quickly as possible.

Yes we offer same-day emergency appointments!

To book an emergency appointment, you can book online or call us on (08) 7082 5161.

If no suitable appointments are available online try calling, we may be able to squeeze you in!

What should I do if a filling or crown falls out?

If a filling or crown comes out, try to keep the restoration if you can and bring it with you to your appointment. In some cases it may be able to be reused or helps us assess what is needed.

Please contact the practice as soon as possible, either by phone or online booking, to arrange an appointment. When booking, it is helpful to let us know which tooth is affected, for example the "upper left second tooth from the back", and whether you are experiencing any pain or sensitivity.

Providing this information allows us to prepare appropriately and maximises our chance to help you on the day when you attend.

If the tooth is painful, sharp, or sensitive, try to avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.

If you develop a toothache, it is best to contact the clinic and arrange an appointment so the cause can be properly assessed. Tooth pain can have many causes, including decay, infection, cracks, gum problems, or clenching and grinding.

While waiting to be seen, try to avoid chewing on the affected side. Over the counter pain relief may help temporarily if appropriate for you, but it should not be relied on as a long term solution.

If the pain is severe, worsening, associated with swelling, or affecting your sleep, this should be assessed as soon as possible.

Early assessment often allows problems to be managed more simply and helps reduce the risk of complications.

While some factors that contribute to TMJ disorders or bruxism—such as genetics, certain medical conditions or stress—cannot be entirely prevented, there are several strategies that can help reduce symptoms and protect your oral health. Early diagnosis and consistent management are key to preventing long-term damage to teeth, jaw joints and surrounding muscles.

Nightguards / Splints

One of the most effective preventive measures is the use of custom-made mouthguards or splints. These devices are designed to fit your teeth precisely, helping to reduce the strain on your jaw muscles, prevent tooth wear and minimise the risk of fractures caused by grinding or clenching.

Relaxation and Stress Management

Because stress and anxiety are common triggers for bruxism, practising relaxation techniques can be highly beneficial. Simple habits like deep-breathing exercises, meditation or gentle jaw stretches can help relieve muscle tension and reduce the frequency of clenching or grinding.

Muscle relaxing injections

Certain medications can be nearly painlessly injected into the muscles of the Jaw which can help minimize the amount of strain they are being put under. Many people find this treatment a wonderful source of relief from their TMJ pain. These injections last 4-6 months, and are very quick and easy to perform.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Limiting caffeine and alcohol, avoiding chewing hard objects and maintaining good posture while sitting or sleeping can also contribute to prevention and symptom management.

Do you live with TMJ pain or bruxism? We welcome your call.

We have a special interest TMJ and Bruxism Treatment, so if you are in the in West Lakes and surrounding suburbs in Adelaide, don't hesitate to make a booking for assessment and management.

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joints, and their involved muscles, bones and ligaments, which connect your lower jaw to your skull and allow you to open, close, and move your mouth. Problems with these joints or the surrounding muscles can cause jaw pain, clicking, stiffness, headaches, and facial discomfort.

Bruxism is the habit of clenching or grinding the teeth, most commonly during sleep but sometimes during the day. Over time, this can place strain on the jaw joints and muscles, wear down teeth, cause fractures, and contribute to headaches and facial pain.

TMJ symptoms and clenching/grinding (bruxism) are often closely linked. Tooth grinding and clenching can overload the jaw joints and muscles, while jaw joint problems can increase muscle tension and clenching.

A dental assessment usually as a part of an exam - can help determine whether your symptoms are related to TMJ dysfunction, bruxism, or a combination of both, and guide appropriate management.

Clear aligners are nearly invisible and removable, making it easy to eat, drink and maintain oral hygiene without disrupting your daily life. They are a discreet and effective way to straighten teeth for adults and teens with mild to moderate alignment issues. They can correct problems such as crowded teeth, gaps or bite concerns.

Booking a consultation for clear aligners will allow your dentist to give you a clear answer on whether clear aligners are best for your needs. During your consultation, your dentist will evaluate your oral health, bite alignment and treatment goals to determine if clear aligners are suitable. Not every case requires traditional braces, but complex bite or severe alignment issues may need additional orthodontic solutions.

Clear aligners use a series of custom-made, removable trays that gently shift your teeth into proper alignment. Each tray is worn for about 20–22 hours per day and swapped every few weeks. Treatment times and results vary from 6 months to 24+ months and are dependent upon each individual patient's orthodontic needs. Your dentist can give you an approximate treatment length duration estimate.

Ready to Try Clear Aligners?

Book online or call us to schedule an obligation free consultation or examination.

Caring for Clear Aligners at Home

Proper at-home care is key to maintaining oral health and achieving the best results with clear aligners. Always remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before putting the trays back in. Clean your aligners daily using a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water, avoiding hot water, which can warp the trays. Regular check-ins with your dentist help ensure your treatment is progressing as planned. 

Gum disease often develops gradually, and early symptoms can be easy to overlook. Common warning signs include:

• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Gum recession
• Loose teeth 

You might also notice tenderness or discomfort when chewing, or gums that feel sensitive or pull away from your teeth. If any of these symptoms appear, it’s important to schedule a dental evaluation to address any disease in its earlier stages.

During your appointment, your dentist will examine your gums for inflammation, measure the depth of gum pockets around each tooth and check for bone loss or other signs of periodontal disease. Based on this assessment, your dentist will recommend a tailored treatment plan, which could include scaling and deep cleaning beneath the gums while numbed, or more advanced therapies if necessary. Professional intervention is key to preventing the progression of gum disease and helps maintain long-term oral health.

Maintaining Healthy Gums at Home

Maintaining your gums between dental visits is essential:

• Daily brushing and flossing remove plaque and bacteria that can irritate the gums.
• Using an antiseptic or fluoride mouthwash can further reduce harmful bacteria and freshen breath.
• Avoiding smoking or vaping, eating a balanced diet and managing stress also support gum health.
• Regular dental cleanings and check-ups, combined with good at-home care, are the most effective ways to prevent gum disease and protect your smile for years to come.

Have questions or need to book your visit? We welcome your call. 

• Periodontitis is the technical term for what we colloquially refer to as gum disease, generally speaking.
• Periodontitis is a chronic lifelong disease which causes the loss of the bone and gums which hold the teeth in place. 
• It is significantly impacted by lifestyle factors like smoking, medical conditions like diabetes, as well as a large genetic element
• It can be slowed or stopped entirely by having periodontal (deep) cleaning which is more involved than regularly cleaning. When combined with addressing the lifestyle and systemic health conditions that are worsening it.
• Periodontitis is very common in the general population, and more so in certain ethnic groups

Full mouth reconstruction is a personalised, multi-step approach to restoring the health, function and appearance of teeth. Treatment times and results vary for each patient depending on the complexity of their oral health needs, the types of procedures required and overall dental goals.

Initial Assessment

Your dentist will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, gums, jaw alignment and bite. Digital scans, x-rays and impressions may be taken to create a detailed plan tailored to your specific needs.

Treatment Planning

A customised plan is then developed, which may include crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays/onlays, dental implants or other restorative and cosmetic procedures. In some cases, orthodontic adjustments or gum treatments may be necessary to achieve the best results.

Treatment Process

Procedures are carefully coordinated to restore both function and appearance efficiently while keeping you comfortable. Temporary restorations may be used during the process to maintain oral function and aesthetics.

Aftercare and Follow-Up

After treatment, your dentist will provide guidance on maintaining your new smile, including oral hygiene routines and follow-up visits. These visits help monitor progress and ensure long-term results.

Full mouth reconstruction can improve chewing function, prevent further dental damage, support jaw health and enhance the appearance of your smile. Remember, every patient’s timeline and outcome is unique, and your dentist will discuss realistic expectations and personalised care every step of the way.