Your First Visit

Frequent dental visits allow for optimal oral health by helping us catch conditions which often present without symptoms such as cavities and gum disease. When not checked regularly, these dental diseases often worsen, resulting in more extensive (and expensive) treatment. By seeing your dentist regularly (6 month check-ups) not only can we keep your teeth and gums healthier, we can also reduce your dental costs in the long term. This is why regular 6-month check-ups are so important, even if you’re not aware of any specific issues. Book an appointment today.

We understand that sometimes life gets in the way and appointments need to be changed around. We really value our patients’ time, and so in return we ask that our patients respect ours. This is why we have a 48-hour cancellation policy in place here at Studio Smiles. If you’re needing to make changes to your appointment, you can do so by calling the clinic directly on (03) 9007 2672.

If you’ve paid a deposit in advance and give us 48-hours notice, we’ll refund your deposit. However, if you’re unable to notify us within the 48-hour period, your deposit will be forfeited. We understand that certain things are often out of our control, so reach out and give us a call to discuss your personal situation.

If you’re showing symptoms of a cold or fever, please call the clinic to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. In saying that, if you’re feeling nervous or anxious about your appointment, please don’t let your fear get the better of you. We see many patients that feel just like you, so you’re not alone. We’ll be here with you throughout your entire journey to make your visit as comfortable as possible. Our goal is to make sure you have a frictionless experience. Remember that your health is important and should be a top priority.

When an appointment is made we reserve that time exclusively for you. For this reason, it is important to respect the appointment time and attend 5 minutes early if possible. Attending more than 10 minutes late may prevent us from seeing you for your appointment. If you are running late please call the clinic directly on (03) 9007 2672 to let us know.

Studio Smiles has heavily invested in state-of-the-art technology to make sure the patient experience is comfortable and unique. Learn more about what makes Studio Smiles a leader in technology.

Soft Tissue Laser
This amazing piece of technology allows us to perform advanced gum treatments such as laser gum lift and crown lengthening completely pain-free. Compared to the traditional use of a scalpel, the laser allows for faster healing and less scarring. This means your gums can look better than ever.

Intraoral 3D Scanner
This is the show-stopping piece of technology that allows us to take scans of our patient’s teeth instead of the ‘goopy’ dental molds of the past. Used for treatments such as Invisalign, night guards, crowns, veneers, retainers, and whitening trays, our 3D intraoral scanner allows for a 100% accurate image of your teeth. Using the scanner over the traditional ‘molds’ means our dental work is more accurate and longer lasting.

Photo Studio
Our photo studio is one of our favourite rooms in the entire clinic. Not only does it help with our diagnosis and treatment planning process, but it helps our patients understand their teeth and smile better. After we’ve photographed your smile in our studio, we’re able to show you the images on our large screen monitors, giving you a unique opportunity to really see and conceptualise what is happening. Moreover, this allows us to provide beautiful before and after images that patients cherish for life.

Dental Operating Microscope
As one of only a few dental clinics in Melbourne with an operating microscope, Studio Smiles is uniquely equipped to deliver the highest level of care. Our microscope gives us the ability to examine your teeth under high magnification, allowing us to diagnose your teeth with the best precision. We also use the microscope to complete many of our procedures, with the enhanced vision leading to higher quality and more long-lasting dental treatment. We are big believers in the mantra – the better you see, the better you do, and we know you deserve the best.

Digital X-rays
These allow us to take a standard set of x-rays and instantly process them with extremely minimal radiation. In fact, our standard set of digital x-rays exposes you to about as much radiation as a flight from Melbourne to Sydney – which is very little! Your safety is our priority and this is just one example of the technology we have invested in to protect our patients and deliver the best dental care in Melbourne.

Anaesthetic Heating
We know that many people are afraid of having painful injections, that’s why we’ve invested in a custom anaesthetic heater. This means all our numbing anesthetics are heated to above body temperature, which combined with our powerful custom-made numbing cream, means that all injections at Studio Smiles are virtually pain-free. Your comfort is important to us, and anaesthetic heating is just one way we’re paving the way forward in modern dental care

Netflix & Noise Cancelling Headphones
Watch your favourite Netflix show with noise-cancelling headphones while you have your teeth worked on. With comforts like this, it’s not uncommon for patients at Studio Smiles to drift off to sleep while having their dental treatment. Block out all those dental sounds and immerse yourself in another world while we take care of your smile. It’s technology like this that allows for Melbourne’s best dental experience.

Sterilisation
We’ve invested in state-of-the-art sterilisation machines. Calibrated daily, we’re able to keep up-to-date with protocols in the post-Covid world. We take pride in the cleanliness of our dental clinic because we know that the best results demand the highest levels of infection control.

Dental Sedation
Our facility has been custom-built to allow for safe sedation. This means we have the equipment to safely treat patients asleep in our dental chair – no need to go to the hospital. For those patients with severe dental anxiety or fear, dental sedation is a great option.

Book an appointment today.

Yes, of course. Our team is multilingual – we’re able to speak English, Russian, and French. Where we might experience language difficulty, there is always the option to involve third party tools to make sure that everyone is on the same page such as Google Translate or similar.

We do encourage patients who aren’t confident in their English to bring in assistance. This could be a friend, family member, or anyone that brings comfort. This way, we’re able to keep all lines of communication open and convey any feelings, emotions and needs across. Communication is of the utmost importance when it comes to dental care, so we do our best to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Dental care in Australia is unfortunately not subsidised by the government, making dental care a private service. The costs of dental care are associated with using only the highest quality TGA approved equipment, upholding the strictest level of infection control, investing in cutting-edge technology, and employing and training an all-star dental team that is up-to-date with the latest knowledge and skills. It is this investment in your care which has allowed us to create a unique and frictionless experience.

In Australia, dental care for adults in private clinics such as ours, is not covered under the Medicare scheme. There is however an exception for children up to the age of 17 years (if they fit within the eligibility criteria). They’re able to access a total sum of $1000 every two years for services that include: check-ups, x-rays, cleaning, fillings, root canals and extractions.

If you would like us to check whether your child is eligible for Medicare or just want to find out the total balance they have remaining, you can pop into our clinic in Bayside, Highett or call us on (03) 9007 2672 and we’ll be able to look further into it.

We accept all private health insurance policies with dental extras. We will do everything in our power to help you maximise your private health insurance benefits. This means we can help you get the most back from your insurance premiums. However, we cannot control the rebate policies set by your insurance and so in most instances a gap payment will be required. We will always provide you a quotation in advance of any appointment so you can plan accordingly.

If you’re interested in finding out more about private health insurance, we recommend speaking to ‘Fair Health Care Alliance’, an independent service maintained by the Australian Dental Association (ADA). This non-for-profit organisation assesses the needs of each individual when it comes to their health care. With no bias and your best interest at heart, they’ll be able to steer you in the right direction.

Yes, it’s absolutely safe to visit the dentist while pregnant. Visiting the dentist during pregnancy is actually very important due to the number of conditions that tend to increase during this period. For example, pregnancy gingivitis (gum inflammation), tooth wear (erosion), and dental decay.

Some expecting mothers are concerned that their treatment may upset their baby. However, we know that the key to a healthy baby is a healthy mum, especially when it comes to dental health. Bacteria from the mouth can travel to the baby and increase the risks of pre and post-natal defects. Moreover, if a dental problem were to go untreated during pregnancy, only to turn into a dental infection in the later months of pregnancy, the risk to the baby can be very high. Regular dental check-ups, before, during, and after pregnancy are a must for the health of the baby and expecting mother.

Book an appointment today.

Yes, it’s safe. With modern technology and digital x-rays in-house, the radiation levels are extremely low and there is no risk to the unborn child. To put it into more perspective, our standard set of digital x-rays have about as much radiation as a flight from Melbourne to Sydney, which is very little!

It’s particularly important to get checked out at the beginning of the pregnancy. If there are any dental issues arising we can address them at this point without any future risk to the baby. For example, we would much rather have to take out an infected tooth earlier in the pregnancy, than later, when there is a great risk of posing infection and damaging the developing baby. It’s also important to keep up the regular 6-month check-ups. Book an appointment today.

Dental anxiety is very normal and we see many patients who are fearful of the dentist. This is why we’ve built our patient experience from the ground up – to give you peace and prioritise your comfort. For those who are particularly anxious we recommend bringing a family member or friend along to your appointment to help support you. In addition, we offer oral and IV sedation services which can help take the edge off.

We know much of the anxiety around dental treatment comes from fear of the unknown. That’s why we believe in a transparent approach to dental care. We explain everything in detail and answer any concerns to help ease your mind. We’re here for you, making sure you’re comfortable throughout the entire duration of your visit. It’s our number one priority.

We sure will! We value our patients’ time and while we endeavour to run to schedule, there may be an odd occasion where a dental emergency has caused our schedule to be delayed. Wherever possible we will be in touch ahead of time to let you know. We place such a high emphasis on running to time that if we ever keep you waiting longer than 20 minutes, we’ll shout you a coffee and snack at a nearby café – it’s on us!

Yes, there is. We’ve got parking available right out the front of our clinic with one hour spots perfect for most appointments. For longer parking feel free to make use of Highett Train Station Car Park which is situated directly behind the clinic (entry via Train St). From there you may reach the clinic directly via the alleyway.

Flossing daily is best for optimum oral health. This is because flossing removes the food particles and bacteria (plaque) that get stuck between your teeth throughout the day. While brushing your teeth cleans most of the tooth surface, flossing is the only way to reach in between the teeth. Cleaning this plaque will allow for the best gum (gingival) health.

Grinding your teeth can be a sign of stress and anxiety, often occurring throughout the night while you sleep. This can lead to headaches, aching jaw bones and potentially, damage to your teeth. If you regularly find yourself grinding your teeth, we highly recommend booking an appointment at Studio Smiles. We’ll be able to assess your grinding pattern and its effects on your teeth, jaw joint, and muscles.

Bleeding gums are generally a sign of active gum inflammation (gingivitis) which if left untreated can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Gums can also bleed from overly forceful brushing, although this is less common. The reality is that healthy gums should not bleed… So if you find yourself with bleeding gums, it would be best to get them checked out by your dentist at Studio Smiles. Often the treatment will include revamping your home care routine, as well as a professional cleaning and polish of your teeth to get the gums back to health.

Fluoride is a natural mineral that can be found in rocks, air, salt, plants and water. It’s an agent added to most toothpastes to repair weak enamel, help fight tooth decay and most importantly, help our teeth stay clean, fresh, and strong. Fluoride applications are a standard part of most dental check-ups due to the impressive remineralising benefits.

Keeping your mouth fresh and clean is crucial to maintaining good dental health. Here are a few things you can do to try and combat bad breath:

Brush and floss your teeth each day
The build-up of food and bacteria can lead to bad breath.

Try tongue scraping
Use your toothbrush or a specific tongue scraping tool to get rid of any build up on the surface of your tongue.

Avoid tobacco
If you’re a regular smoker, this is your sign to quit the habit. Yes, it’s easier said than done, but if you’re serious about your health, you’ll need to do this for yourself at some point.

Keep on top of your gum health
Gum disease is often a silent culprit of bad breath, so it’s best to have your teeth and gums regularly cleaned by your Studio Smiles dentist.

If it seems like the bad breath persists, book an appointment to see the team at Studio Smiles in Bayside Highett to get things checked out.