Scale and clean
Removes hardened tartar and surface stain that a toothbrush cannot shift, usually booked with your check-up.
About scale and clean: Scale and cleanPreventive care · Hoppers Crossing
Looking after your teeth before problems start.
Regular check-ups, professional cleans and simple protective treatments at our Sayers Road practice, for children, adults and older patients across Wyndham.
- Check-ups and cleans
- Every age
- HICAPS claims
Prevention · Sayers Road
Why prevention matters
Most dental problems start small and grow quietly.
Tooth decay and gum disease are the two most common reasons people lose teeth. Both tend to develop slowly, and in the early stages they rarely hurt, so they are easy to miss until treatment becomes more involved.
Preventive dentistry pairs your routine at home with regular professional care. The aim is to keep your natural teeth healthy, pick up small issues while they are still simple to manage, and reduce the need for larger treatment later. A preventive visit with us usually includes:
- A careful check of your teeth, gums, bite and the soft tissues of your mouth
- Digital X-rays when they are clinically needed
- A professional scale, polish and fluoride where appropriate
- Practical advice on brushing, cleaning between teeth and diet
- Protective options such as fissure sealants or a custom mouthguard
The Sayers Dental team
Hoppers Crossing
• S •
Preventive services
Ways we help protect your smile.
Each of these services can be part of a preventive plan. Your dentist will suggest the ones that suit your mouth, your age and your risk of decay or gum disease.
Family dentistry
Care for children, parents and grandparents at one practice, with appointments that can often be booked together.
About family dentistry: Family dentistryFissure sealants
A thin protective coating that seals the deep grooves of molars, where decay often begins in children.
About fissure sealants: Fissure sealantsTooth fillings
Tooth-coloured fillings that repair small areas of decay or damage before they reach deeper into the tooth.
About tooth fillings: Tooth fillingsGum treatments
Assessment, deep cleaning and maintenance care for bleeding gums, gingivitis and periodontitis.
About gum treatments: Gum treatmentsMouthguards and splints
Custom sports mouthguards, and night splints for people who grind or clench their teeth.
About mouthguards and splints: Mouthguards and splintsBetween visits
Everyday habits that protect your teeth.
What you do each day matters as much as your check-ups. These simple habits may lower the risk of decay and gum disease for the whole family.
Your dentist can show you techniques that suit your mouth, including how to clean around crowns, bridges, braces or implants.
A simple daily routine
- Brush twice a day
- Use a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste for about two minutes, morning and last thing at night, angling the bristles toward the gum line.
- Clean between teeth
- Floss or interdental brushes once a day reach the gaps a toothbrush cannot.
- Keep sugar to mealtimes
- Frequent snacking and sweet drinks give decay-causing bacteria more chances to produce acid.
- Choose water
- Fluoridated tap water helps strengthen enamel and rinses away food between meals.
- Avoid smoking
- Smoking raises the risk of gum disease and slows healing in the mouth.
- Protect against knocks and grinding
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sport, and mention it if you wake with a sore jaw.
Your visit
A preventive check-up, from start to finish.
A check-up and clean at our practice usually takes up to an hour, depending on what is needed. Here is how a typical visit runs.
- 01.
Your health history
We update your medical history and medicines, and ask about any sensitivity, pain or changes you have noticed.
- 02.
Examination
Your dentist checks each tooth, your gums, your bite and jaw joints, and the soft tissues of your mouth and tongue.
- 03.
X-rays if needed
Digital X-rays may be taken to look between teeth and below the gum line, where problems are hard to see.
- 04.
Scale and clean
Tartar and stain are removed, teeth are polished, and fluoride may be applied.
- 05.
Advice and next steps
We explain what we found in plain language, talk through any treatment options and costs, and suggest when to return.
Practical details
Making regular visits easier.
Preventive visits are easier to keep up when they fit around work, school and the family budget.
01.Health funds
Claim at reception
HICAPS claims on the day. We are a preferred provider for nib, HCF and Westfund; your rebate depends on your policy.
02.Children
Bulk billing for eligible children
Check-ups, cleans and sealants are among the services covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
About the CDBS: Bulk billing for eligible children03.Weekends
Tuesday to Saturday
Saturday appointments make it simpler to fit check-ups around school and work.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday04.Getting here
On-site parking
Free on-site parking at our Sayers Road practice, in the Montessori Minds Hoppers Crossing building.
Common questions
Preventive care questions.
General information about preventive dentistry. Your dentist will give advice specific to you at your check-up.
What is preventive dentistry?
It is dental care aimed at stopping problems before they start, or finding them early. It includes check-ups, professional cleans, X-rays when needed, fluoride, fissure sealants, mouthguards and advice on caring for your teeth at home.
How often should I have a check-up and clean?
Every six months suits many people, but the right interval depends on your risk of decay and gum disease. Some people benefit from more frequent visits, while others at low risk may need them less often. Your dentist will recommend a schedule for you.
How often should I brush and floss?
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste: once in the morning and once at night just before bed. Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes.
Is a check-up worth it if nothing hurts?
Yes. Decay and gum disease often cause no pain until they are well advanced. A check-up can pick up changes you would not notice yourself, at a stage when treatment is usually simpler.
When should my child first see a dentist?
Ideally around the time their first tooth comes through, and no later than their first birthday. Early visits are short and relaxed, and help children get used to the dentist. Read about children's dentistry.
Do adults need fluoride or sealants?
Sometimes. A professional fluoride treatment may help adults with a higher risk of decay, sensitive teeth or exposed roots, and some adults with deep grooves in their back teeth may suit sealants. Your dentist will advise after an examination.
Will my health fund cover preventive visits?
Many extras policies include some cover for check-ups and cleans, but limits and waiting periods vary. HICAPS lets you claim at reception on the day, and your fund can confirm your entitlements.
The next step
Book a check-up and clean.
Request a time online or call our team. We will check your teeth and gums, explain what we find and suggest a preventive plan that suits you.
Find us
Sayers Dental Aesthetics & Implants
1/483 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029
(03) 9749 1178 · admin@sayersdental.com.au
- Tue to Thu9:00am to 5:00pm
- Fri10:00am to 6:00pm
- Sat9:00am to 4:00pm
- Sun and MonClosed
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