Keeping your smile healthy, strong and pain-free
From your regular check-up and clean to everyday restorative work — honest, high-quality care to keep you out of dental trouble.
At Stewart Road Dental, general dentistry is the heart of what we do. Whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been with us for years, we take the time to understand your concerns, explain your options, and provide treatment that suits your goals and your budget.
Your general dentistry options
Check-up & Cleaning
Prevention is always better than cure. Our check-up and clean appointments detect problems early, remove built-up plaque and tartar, and keep your gums and teeth in top shape.
The ADA generally recommends a check-up and clean every six months — enough time for a small problem to become a large one, particularly in children, whose baby teeth have thinner enamel. Regular visits also catch gum disease at its earliest, most reversible stage.
Younger children often only need a gentle exam and polish, with fluoride usually introduced from around age 7 — but regardless of age, some children do have a build-up of plaque or calculus and require a full professional clean. We accept the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) for eligible families.
Your clean is usually provided by Mavis Liaw, our Oral Health Therapist with a strong background in periodontal care — so you can expect a thorough, gentle clean every visit.
New Patient Special includes initial exam, clean, fluoride, and 2 routine X-rays.
Sometimes your child will only need an exam; other times a professional clean and fluoride treatment are also required. Your child’s exact fee depends on their individual clinical needs and will be confirmed at their appointment.
If your child is a new patient and their itemised total works out higher than $189, our New Patient Special applies instead.
Intra-oral X-rays
X-rays show what the eye can’t — cavities forming between teeth, early infection at the tooth root, bone loss from gum disease, and problems under existing fillings.
Routine bitewing X-rays are recommended every 2 years in line with ADA guidelines, though we may suggest them more often if you’re at higher risk. We use low-radiation digital X-rays for safe, quick, detailed imaging.
Dental Fillings
Tooth decay is common but highly treatable, especially when caught early. We use modern tooth-coloured composite resin that blends naturally with your existing teeth, so your filling looks as good as it feels.
After gently numbing the area, we remove the decayed portion, clean the space, and layer the filling material to restore your tooth’s shape and function — preserving as much of your natural tooth as possible.
We’ll always provide a personalised quote before starting, and can process HICAPS claims on the spot if you have private health cover.
Complete reconstruction (535) is reserved for cases where the tooth is otherwise heading toward needing a crown — it’s essentially rebuilding the tooth’s full structure, not a standard filling.
Fissure Sealants
Fissure sealants are thin, protective coatings applied to the grooves of molars, and sometimes premolars — areas where toothbrushes struggle to reach and plaque tends to build up, especially in children’s and teenagers’ permanent teeth.
The procedure is completely painless, quick, and non-invasive. Once applied, sealants can last several years, and we check them at every routine visit. Most commonly recommended for ages 6–12.
Mouthguards
Facial sports injuries can lead to serious dental trauma. A custom-fitted mouthguard offers far superior protection to store-bought versions — a secure, comfortable fit, maximum shock absorption, and easier speech and breathing.
We offer a range of colours and thicknesses to suit your level of contact sport, and can help you choose based on your activity level and age.
General Dentistry FAQs
How often should I get a check-up and clean?
The Australian Dental Association generally recommends a check-up and clean every six months for most adults. Regular visits catch problems early, before they become bigger and more costly to treat.
What age should my child have their first dental visit?
Around 1 year old is a good starting point — by then they’ll usually have several baby teeth, and it’s really about introducing them to visiting the dentist in a low-pressure way.
How often should children come in for check-ups?
We recommend an annual visit up to around age 3–4, then every six months from there. Baby teeth are especially vulnerable to rapid decay, so regular check-ups matter even more for younger children.
Do I need X-rays at every visit?
Not usually — routine bitewing X-rays are generally recommended every 2 years in line with ADA guidelines, though we may suggest them more often if you’re at higher risk of decay or other issues.
Will a filling hurt?
We apply a numbing gel to the gum before the injection, so the needle itself is barely felt, and we use distraction techniques during the injection to keep things as comfortable as possible. Once you’re numb, you won’t feel the filling being placed.
It’s common to have some sensitivity afterward — particularly to cold — which usually settles within 2–3 weeks. If biting feels uneven, that’s often just a bite adjustment, easily fixed with a quick follow-up appointment. Very deep fillings occasionally carry a small chance of nerve irritation — if that’s a possibility for your particular filling, we’ll let you know what symptoms to watch for. If you ever experience ongoing or worsening pain after a filling, please get in touch with us.
Will my filling look natural?
Yes — we use tooth-coloured composite resin that blends with your existing teeth, rather than older silver amalgam fillings.
How long do fissure sealants last?
There’s no fixed timeframe. Sealants don’t involve drilling into the tooth, so nothing anchors them beyond the bond itself — they’re a purely preventive measure for higher-risk areas, like the deep grooves of molars, at a time when hygiene isn’t always consistent, particularly in children and teenagers.
Your first adult molars come through around age 6, and since you keep those teeth for life, protecting them early is worthwhile.
Can I claim on my health fund?
Yes — we can process HICAPS claims on the spot if you have private health cover, so you’ll only need to pay any gap amount at the time of your visit.
What if I’m a new patient?
New patients can take advantage of our $189 New Patient Special (or gap free, depending on your fund), which includes an initial exam, clean, fluoride treatment and 2 routine X-rays.
Book your check-up today
New patients always welcome — ask about our $189 New Patient Special.