Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Absolutely! We know how busy the week can get, especially for families juggling work, school and after-school activities. That's why many dental clinics, including Shoppingtown Dental in Doncaster, offer extended hours (including Saturdays!) to make oral care more accessible for everyone.

You're not alone if you're searching for a dentist with Saturday hours. Weekend appointments are especially helpful for routine check-ups, children's dental visits or follow-up treatments that don't fit into a hectic Monday-to-Friday schedule. It also means minor issues can be caught and addressed sooner, so we can prevent more significant problems from happening later. 

At Shoppingtown Dental, we're pleased to offer flexible scheduling, including Saturday appointments, to better serve our Doncaster community. We aim to make dental care as convenient and stress-free as possible without needing to take time off work or pull kids out of school.

We Invite You to Book Your Saturday Dental Visit! 

Whether for a routine cleaning, cosmetic consultation or unexpected dental concern, you can count on us to be here when you need us—yes, even on the weekend. Our Doncaster dental clinic also has various payment options available, including bulk billing.

We invite you to give us a call or book online to secure an appointment spot that fits your lifestyle. Your smile shouldn't have to wait!

At Shoppingtown Dental, we provide many financial options to help you fit necessary dentistry into your budget. One example is our partnership with SuperCare, a company that assists you in applying for early release of your super when needed for certain dental treatments.

This option could be ideal in specific circumstances:

1. Your private health fund insurance is insufficient or relevant to the proposed treatment.
2. You do not have access to sufficient funds.
3. You have a family member with superannuation funds available.

Our dental team will assist you with all the necessary paperwork, and an experienced SuperCare consultant will guide you so you can move seamlessly through the application process. Their assistance and support frees you up to focus on what’s most important—your family’s health.

If you do not qualify for early super access, we offer several alternatives to help you fit your dentistry into your budget.

We Accept All Health Insurance

Our Doncaster dental practice accepts all private health fund insurance with efficient claims processing through HICAPS. We are also preferred providers for Smile, HCF and CBHS, offer TLC payment plans and are partnered with AfterPay, Zip and Humm for easy financing. 

We believe everyone deserves access to quality dental care. If you are interested in an option you don’t see listed here, we encourage you to contact us, and our solution-oriented team will be happy to assist you.

At our Doncaster dental practice, we are pleased to offer orthodontic treatment for all ages, including Invisalign clear aligners and traditional braces.

Crooked, crowded teeth or a misaligned dental bite do more than affect your appearance; they also contribute to issues like worn and cracked teeth, TMJ problems, and even an increased risk for cavities and gum disease. By correcting these issues with Invisalign or braces, you not only improve your smile but also help enhance your oral health.

Invisalign Clear Aligners

Invisalign has become an extremely popular treatment and with good reason. The clear aligners are comfortable and discreet, so you can smile confidently throughout treatment. You can also easily remove your aligners, making oral hygiene easy and effective and allowing you to eat your favourite foods. 

Traditional Braces

While Invisalign is appropriate for mild to moderate orthodontic issues, traditional braces do the heavy lifting for severe bite or alignment issues. Traditional orthodontics may also be more appropriate for children because there is a level of maturity required to wear removable aligners. With brackets and wires attached to their teeth, you never have to worry whether your child is compliant with wearing their aligners.

Which Orthodontic Treatment Is Right for You?

Our Doncaster dentists are experts in orthodontic treatment and will be happy to meet with you or your child to determine the most appropriate approach. If you are ready to learn more, we invite you to contact Shoppingtown Dental to schedule a consultation.

Dental implants are an excellent option for tooth replacement because they restore teeth and their roots. Replacing the root is important because root loss leads to bone loss, impacting support for neighbouring teeth and facial structure.  

How Do Dental Implants in Doncaster, VIC, Work?

Tooth implants are comprised of three integral parts:

• The implant—Carefully placed into your jawbone to take the place of your root
• The abutment—Attaches the dental implant to its restoration
• The restoration—Typically a porcelain crown for single teeth, or a bridge or denture to restore multiple missing teeth

These three components work together to create your new tooth. We can complete implant dentistry here at our Doncaster dental clinic from start to finish, including the implant placement surgery. You can feel comfortable knowing you'll work with the dental team you know and trust throughout your procedure.

The Advantages of Dental Implants

Tooth implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement options that our patients appreciate. 

• Longevity—Dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime with the right care.
• Aesthetics—Dental implants provide the look, function, and feeling of a natural tooth.
• Stability—Tooth implants restore bite and jaw joint stabilisation.
• Versatility—Dental implants can restore one or multiple teeth.
• Protection—Implants protect you from devastating bone loss. 

Contact your team at Shoppingtown Dental if you'd like more information about dental implants. 

Living with missing teeth that affect your appearance and comfort can be a real challenge. Shoppingtown Dental in Doncaster is pleased to offer personalised tooth replacement options to fit every need and every budget.

Tooth Replacement in Doncaster

• Dental bridge — If you have one or two missing teeth in a row and aren’t interested in implants, a dental bridge might be the perfect solution. A bridge uses crowns attached to teeth adjacent to the missing tooth gap, with an artificial tooth suspended between them.
• Dentures and partials — We design removable partials and complete dentures that look realistic and complement your smile.
• Dental implants — We recommend implants because they are the healthiest, longest-lasting tooth replacements available in dentistry today. Implants can replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth with an implant bridge, or a full arch of missing teeth with an implant-supported denture.
• All-on-X implants — We are pleased to offer Teeth in 24 Hours (T24), a concept similar to all-on-x implants. With this approach, our dentists place 4–6 implants in your jaw, then attach your temporary replacement teeth the same day. T24 implants work well if you are missing all your teeth in your upper arch, lower arch or both arches.

Which Tooth Replacement Is Right for You?

There is much to consider when thinking about tooth replacement, and our Doncaster dental team would love the opportunity to help you. If you are ready to learn more about your options, please contact Shoppingtown Dental to arrange a convenient appointment.

If you are unhappy with how your teeth look, cosmetic dentistry at our Doncaster dental practice has a solution. Our dentists are experts in their field and enjoy helping our patients discover the best version of their smiles with personalised cosmetic dental treatments.

How Can We Help You Love Your Smile?

Are you bothered by any of the following aesthetic smile issues? 

• Chipped teeth
• Broken teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Misshapen teeth
• Worn teeth
• Discoloured or stained teeth
• Crooked or crowded teeth

If the answer is yes, the team at Shoppingtown Dental would love the opportunity to help you discover the smile improvements possible with cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic Dental Treatments in Doncaster

Choosing from an array of treatments, our cosmetic dentists work with your wants, needs, and desires to find the ideal solution to help you attain your smile goals.

• Composite fillings and bonding — Creates seamless tooth repairs and conceals minor issues like chipped, worn, or gapped teeth.
• Dental veneers — For a more in-depth smile makeover, veneers made of porcelain or composite resin can create a dramatic smile improvement.
• Teeth whitening— Choose from fast in-chair whitening at our clinic or opt for convenient custom take-home whitening.
• Aesthetic dental crowns — Changing a tooth’s shape, size or shade is easy with a full-coverage crown made of porcelain, zirconia, or other aesthetic material.

Ready to Discover Your Best Smile?

Our Doncaster cosmetic dentists would be pleased to help you explore options to improve your smile. When you are ready to learn more, please contact Shoppingtown Dental.

The price of dental veneers in Doncaster, VIC, varies based on several factors, including:

• The type of material used
• The number of veneers needed
• The complexity of the procedure

Since every smile is different, the best way to get an accurate idea of pricing is through a consultation with your Doncaster cosmetic dentist, who can assess your individual needs.

Composite Veneers vs Porcelain Veneers 

Composite veneers tend to be a more affordable option and can often be completed in a single visit. They are ideal for minor cosmetic enhancements and offer a natural-looking result. Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, provide exceptional durability and aesthetics, so many patients agree they make an excellent long-term investment for those looking for a more dramatic transformation. Because porcelain veneers require more detailed customisation and multiple visits, they typically fall into a higher price range.

Other factors, such as your current oral health, the preparation required and whether additional treatments are needed, can also affect the overall cost. Many dental clinics, including Shoppingtown Dental, offer flexible options to make cosmetic dentistry more accessible.

Our Cosmetic Dentist in Doncaster Welcomes You 

To find out exactly what veneers would cost for your unique smile, we invite you to book a consultation with us today. We’d love to help you explore your options and create a personalised treatment plan!

Bulk billing refers to the Medicare benefits in Australia. If you qualify for Medicare, your dentist will bill Medicare directly for your services and accept their payment, leaving you with no out-of-pocket expense for your dental care. 

At Shoppingtown Dental, we bulk bill eligible children for the Medicare Child Dental Benefit Scheme (CDBS). Your child might be eligible for $1,000 of bulk-billed dental treatment if they are under age 18. One of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to verify your eligibility with your Medicare card number.

To honour our veterans, we bulk bill all DVA Gold Card holders, which covers payment for their dental treatment in full. 

Other Payment Options at Shoppingtown Dental 

If you are not eligible for Medicare, we still offer several other options to help our patients reduce out-of-pocket expenses. 

• Private Health Funds—We accept all private health funds.
• HICAPS Claiming—We provide hassle-free claims processing for quick payment.
• Third-Party Financing—We work with Humm, Zip, and AfterPay to offer affordable monthly patient payments. 
• SuperCare—Our partner in helping patients access superannuation funds early for extensive dental treatment plans. 

If you have questions about your payment options at Shoppingtown Dental, contact your Doncaster, VIC, dentist online or on (03) 9848 2399.

Tooth brushing should begin when your little one's first teeth arrive. Use an infant toothbrush with soft bristles to remove debris around their teeth after meals.

If you like, you can incorporate a pea-sized amount of toothpaste that is safe for children to swallow. This helps them acclimate to having toothpaste in their mouths. 

Infant Oral Care

Did you know that oral care should begin before the first teeth arrive? Parents can use a warm washcloth to wipe around their baby's gums after feedings to help eliminate remaining bacteria from their mouths. 

This helps to keep their mouth clean and helps them get used to something in their mouth for oral hygiene. 

First Visits to the Dentist

Babies can visit a children's dentist after their first teeth arrive or by their first birthday. These early visits help them feel comfortable and safe while allowing the dentist to build rapport with them and monitor their dental health.  

Children should visit their dentist in Doncaster every six months for preventive checks, like their parents. 

Is It Time for Your Child's First Dental Visit?

If you're looking for a friendly children's dentist in Doncaster, VIC, look no further than Shoppingtown Dental! Contact our team to arrange a convenient booking for your child. 

If your child is experiencing a toothache, acting quickly and calmly is essential. Tooth pain in children can result from various causes, including cavities, loose baby teeth, gum irritation or even something as simple as a popcorn kernel stuck between the teeth.

The first step is to gently rinse their mouth with warm salt water to reduce bacteria and inflammation. If swelling, a cold compress on the outside of the cheek may help relieve discomfort.

Avoid placing aspirin or any medication directly on the gums or tooth, as this can cause chemical burns. If your child is in significant pain, you can offer an age-appropriate pain reliever, but this is only a temporary solution.

Most importantly, we encourage you to call your children's dentist in Doncaster as soon as possible. At Shoppingtown Dental, we prioritise dental pain and will guide you on the next steps. If it's after hours or the pain is severe, contacting an emergency dentist in Doncaster may be necessary.

Ready to Give Us a Call?

Toothaches shouldn't be ignored because they often signal an underlying issue that requires professional care. With the proper treatment and a gentle, experienced dental team, your child can return to smiling comfortably.

We're always here to help your family enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles! 

Dental fillings are a common procedure used to restore the function and integrity of a tooth affected by tooth decay. Several factors can influence the lifespan of a dental filling:

• Oral Hygiene — Maintaining good oral hygiene practices, such as brushing and flossing regularly, can help extend the life of your fillings.
• Diet — By avoiding excessive consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks, you can prevent further decay around the filling, thereby extending its lifespan.
• Bite Force — Habits, like teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism) and chewing on hard objects like pens, can wear down fillings more quickly. 
• Regular Dental Check-Ups — These visits allow us to monitor their condition and address any issues promptly, ensuring their longevity.

Customised Dental Fillings in Doncaster, VIC

At Shoppingtown Dental, we use biocompatible composite fillings to match the natural colour of your teeth. These customisable fillings provide a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution, ensuring your smile looks seamless and beautiful while restoring your teeth's function. 

Composite tooth-coloured fillings also preserve more natural tooth structure than metal fillings. 
Do you need a dental filling and want to learn more? We invite you to call us at (03) 9848 2399 or book your appointment online. 

The purpose of a crown is to restore the form, function and strength of a compromised tooth. They are versatile tooth restorations appropriate for numerous functional and aesthetic issues, including broken teeth. 

When Do You Recommend a Dental Crown?

Our dentists in Doncaster may recommend a dental crown for the following reasons:

• Protect a tooth with extensive decay or a large filling.
• Restore a worn, broken, cracked tooth.
• Support dental bridgework.
• Conceal a discoloured or misshapen tooth.
• Strengthen a tooth after root canal treatment.
• Restore a dental implant.

What’s Involved with Getting a Dental Crown?

If our dentists agree that a crown is an appropriate solution for your needs, you can expect at least two visits to Shoppingtown Dental.

We remove a small amount of tooth enamel during the first visit so the crown fits properly. We take impressions of the prepared tooth and then place a temporary crown for protection.

At your second appointment, we check your custom-crafted final crown for fit and comfort and cement it securely to your tooth. Caring for your new restoration by brushing and flossing consistently and visiting us for routine checks and cleans can extend your crown’s lifespan to ten years or longer.

Do You Need a Dental Crown?

If you have a damaged tooth and think you might need a dental crown, we would be happy to help you. We invite you to contact our Doncaster dental clinic to get started.

At Shoppingtown Dental, we understand that dental emergencies can be stressful and require immediate attention. Here’s what you need to know about dental emergencies and when to seek urgent dental care.

Severe Toothache

If you experience intense pain that doesn’t subside with over-the-counter pain relief, please contact us immediately for an evaluation and treatment.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Prompt emergency dental care increases the chances of saving the tooth. In the meantime, try to place the tooth back in its socket without touching the root, or keep it in a container of milk or saliva.

Broken or Cracked Tooth

A broken or cracked tooth can cause significant pain and leave your tooth vulnerable to infection.

Abscess or Infection

An abscess is an infection in the gum or tooth root that can cause swelling, fever and a bad taste in the mouth. An untreated abscess can spread to other parts of the body, making prompt treatment vital.

Loose or Lost Dental Restoration

If a crown, filling or bridge becomes loose or falls out, we encourage you to please see your dentist promptly.

Uncontrollable Bleeding

Seek immediate care to address the cause of the bleeding and prevent complications.

We Welcome Your Call in Doncaster

If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to call our emergency dentists in Doncaster, VIC.

If you’ve been informed you need a root canal, one of your first questions might be, ‘How long will it take?’ The good news is that modern root canal therapy in Doncaster, VIC, is much quicker and more comfortable than many people expect.

Most root canal procedures take 60 to 90 minutes per tooth, depending on the complexity of the case. In some instances, treatment can be completed in a single visit, but more complicated cases—such as those involving severe infection or multiple canals—may require two or more appointments.

The process involves removing the infected or damaged pulp, carefully cleaning the inside of the tooth and sealing it to prevent future issues. If a second visit is needed, a temporary filling will protect the tooth between appointments. Once treatment is complete, your Doncaster dentist may recommend a dental crown to strengthen and protect the tooth long-term.

Gentle Root Canals in Doncaster, VIC

Our experienced team at Shoppingtown Dental always strives to provide smooth, efficient procedures with your comfort in mind. If you’re experiencing tooth pain or have been advised to get a root canal, we invite you to call us today. We're here to help you achieve a healthier, more comfortable smile! 

At Shoppingtown Dental, we understand that a bright, white smile can significantly boost your confidence. Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure, but the cost can vary depending on several factors. 

Factors Affecting Cost

The cost of teeth whitening can vary based on the severity of staining, the type of whitening method chosen, and any additional treatments needed to achieve the desired results. It's important to consult with our dental professionals to determine the best option for your needs and budget.

In-Chair Teeth Whitening

Professional in-chair teeth whitening treatments provide the most immediate and noticeable results. These treatments typically vary in cost and use high-quality whitening agents and advanced technology to ensure safe and effective results. 

Take-Home Whitening Kits

These kits include custom-fitted trays and professional-grade whitening gel. Although the results take longer to achieve compared to in-chair treatments, take-home kits provide a more flexible option for maintaining a bright smile over time.

Teeth Whitening in Doncaster, VIC

Are you keen on having a whiter, brighter smile? We kindly invite you to contact us today to arrange a consultation and learn more about our teeth whitening options.

We welcome patients from all surrounding areas, such as Melbourne, Blackburn North, Doncaster East and beyond. 

At Shoppingtown Dental, we cater to nervous patients and offer numerous sedation options at our Doncaster clinic that help you relax and get the care you need. Our dentists are experienced and qualified to deliver safe dental sedation tailored to your needs.

Our Dental Sedation Options

Nitrous Oxide (Inhalation Sedation)

Also called laughing gas or happy gas, nitrous oxide provides gentle yet effective relaxation during dental procedures. Nitrous is a safe, slightly sweet-smelling gas blended with oxygen and inhaled through a small, comfortable nose mask, providing swift relaxation and feelings of calm and well-being. The effects dissipate quickly after treatment so you can safely drive home from your appointment.

Oral Conscious Sedation

This sedation involves taking a relaxing medication about an hour before your appointment. When you arrive at our clinic, you will feel the comfortable, drowsy effects taking hold. You will remain fully conscious during your procedure but feel so relaxed that you may drift off to sleep. This medication stays in your system for several hours, so you will need someone to drive you home safely. 

General Anaesthesia

Many people avoid dentistry because their fears are simply too overwhelming. We don’t want anyone to forego necessary dental care due to anxiety and are pleased to offer general anaesthesia safely administered by a qualified anaesthetist in a controlled setting.

Can Dental Sedation Help You?

At Shoppingtown Dental in Doncaster, we consider all your needs when recommending the most appropriate level of sedation. Please let our team know if you think you can benefit from sedation at your next appointment.