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Dental Spot
Call (02) 9715 6567Call Dental Spot

Check-ups andteeth cleaningin Croydon.

A check-up and clean takes 45 to 60 minutes: we check your teeth and gums, clean off the plaque and tartar, and tell you what we found. Claim on the spot with HICAPS; ask the fee when you call. However long it’s been, there’s no lecture.

Open Monday to Saturday

A dentist checking a patient’s teeth during a clean at Dental Spot

The short answer.

How long
45 to 60 minutes for a check-up and clean.
What happens
An exam of your teeth, gums and mouth, X-rays only if they’re needed, then a scale, clean and polish.
How often
Every six to twelve months for most people. Your dentist will suggest what suits you.
Cost
Fees depend on the treatment you need, so we give you an accurate quote at your consultation, before anything starts.

A check-up,
a clean and
a conversation.

Your dentist checks your teeth, gums and mouth, then cleans off the plaque and tartar a toothbrush can’t reach. Tartar left behind leads to decay and gum disease, so the clean is half the point.

We show you what we see, on X-rays if you need them, and explain it in plain words. Then you decide what happens next.

A dentist checking a patient’s teeth with a mirror and light during a check-up

Time for
a check-up?

Most people need one every six to twelve months. Your dentist will suggest what suits you.

  • It’s been six months or more.

    Or whatever gap your dentist suggested last time.

  • It’s been a lot longer than that.

    Plenty of people come back after years away. We’ll start from where you are, without a lecture.

  • Your gums bleed when you brush.

    Often an early sign of gum disease. We’ll check, clean and show you what helps. Gum disease: signs and treatment

  • Something feels different.

    A rough edge, a sensitive tooth, or a filling that feels high.

What happens at a check-up.

We explain each step before we start, and you can ask us to pause at any time.

  1. We talk first.

    How your teeth have been, anything worrying you, and any medicines or health changes.
  2. We check.

    Teeth, gums, fillings and the soft tissue of your mouth, including a check for signs of oral cancer. X-rays only if they’re needed.
  3. We clean.

    Plaque and tartar come off, then a polish. Fluoride if it suits your teeth.
  4. We talk it through.

    What we found, what needs doing, what can wait, and what it costs, before anything else is booked. If a tooth needs a filling, here’s how fillings work.
A check-up and clean usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. Brush and floss before you come, and bring your health fund card.

Between visits.

What you do at home matters more than the clean. Your dentist will tailor this to your teeth.

Brush twice a day.

Two minutes, with a fluoride toothpaste. Spit, don’t rinse, so the fluoride stays on your teeth.

Clean between your teeth.

Floss or small interdental brushes once a day reach the gaps a toothbrush misses, where a lot of decay starts.

Keep sugar to mealtimes.

It’s how often you have sugar, more than how much. Sipping and snacking all day keeps your teeth under attack.

Bringing the kids?

Children’s check-ups work the same way, at their pace. Kids under 12 pay no gap for a clean when they’re on extras cover that includes dental. Ask the front desk which funds this applies to. We accept the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS): eligible children aged 0 to 17 can use up to $1,158 over two calendar years (periods starting in 2026). Children’s dentistry

What it costs.

If your dentist finds something that needs treatment, you’ll get your options and what each one costs before you decide.

Fees depend on the treatment you need, so we give you an accurate quote at your consultation, before anything starts.

A treatment room at Dental Spot

What changes the price.

  • Whether it’s your first visit here, which takes a little longer.
  • Whether you need X-rays, and how many.
  • How much tartar there is. A deeper clean below the gums is a separate treatment.
  • Your health fund cover, which decides what you get back.

Health funds and claiming.

Bring your health fund card to claim on the spot through HICAPS. Your rebate depends on your cover and the treatment.

Costs and health funds

Risks and recovery.

Like any dental treatment, this carries risks, and results vary from person to person. Read the risks below and ask us about your situation before you decide.

What can go wrong.

  • Sensitive teeth for a day or two.

    Most common after a clean that removes a lot of tartar.

  • Some bleeding from the gums.

    Inflamed gums bleed when they’re cleaned. It settles as they heal.

  • A small dose of radiation from X-rays.

    Dental X-rays use a low dose. We only take them when your dentist needs to see something the eye can’t.

Recovery.

  • Back to your day straight away.

    You can eat, drive and go to work after a check-up and clean.

  • After fluoride.

    Your dentist will tell you how long to wait before eating or drinking.

  • If sensitivity lasts.

    A sensitive toothpaste helps. Call us if it hasn’t settled after a few days.

Who you’ll see.

Your check-up and clean is with one of our dentists.

Meet the team

Questions we’re
often asked.

Something else on your mind? Ask us on the phone, or leave your number and we’ll call.

Request a callback
How much does a check-up and clean cost?

It depends on whether it’s your first visit here and whether you need X-rays. Call (02) 9715 6567 and the front desk will tell you the fee before you book.

Does Medicare cover a dental check-up?

Not for most adults. Children may be covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule if the family is eligible, and we accept it. Adults with a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can use NSW public dental services. Extras cover usually pays towards check-ups: claim on the spot through HICAPS.

Children’s dentistry

How often should I have a check-up?

Most people need one every six to twelve months. Your dentist will suggest what suits you, which may be more often if you’re prone to decay or gum disease.

How long does a check-up and clean take?

Usually 45 to 60 minutes. A first visit can take a little longer while we get to know your teeth and your history.

Is the clean included in the check-up?

Yes. A check-up here includes a clean and polish. Anything else your dentist finds is explained and quoted before it starts.

Do I need X-rays every time?

No. We take X-rays when your dentist needs to see between your teeth or below the gums. We take them here, and we show you what they show.

It’s been years since my last visit. Will I get a lecture?

No. Plenty of people come back after a long break. We’ll look, tell you what we see, and talk through what needs doing now and what can wait.

Feeling nervous about it

Should I brush before my appointment?

Yes, brush and floss beforehand. It clears away food so your dentist gets a clear view of your teeth and gums.

Can I claim my check-up on my health fund?

If your extras cover includes general dental, yes. Bring your card and claim on the spot through HICAPS. What you get back depends on your fund and your level of cover.

Costs and health funds

Is a scale and clean the same as a deep clean?

No. A scale and clean removes plaque and tartar from your teeth and just under the gum line. If you have gum disease, your dentist may suggest a deeper clean below the gums, which is a separate treatment with its own quote.

Why do my gums bleed when I brush?

Often because of gingivitis, early gum disease caused by plaque along the gum line (Australian Dental Association). A check-up and clean removes plaque and tartar, and your dentist checks whether you need more.

How much radiation is in a dental X-ray?

Very little: dental X-rays use a very low dose (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency). We take them only when your dentist needs them, and we tell you first.

Does a scale and clean hurt?

Usually not. It can feel tender if your teeth are sensitive or your gums are inflamed, so tell your dentist, who will pause whenever you ask.

What do the gum numbers my dentist reads out mean?

Each number is the depth, in millimetres, of the gap between a tooth and the gum. Readings of 3 or less are healthy, and 4 or more can be a sign of gum disease (FDI World Dental Federation, from the 2017 World Workshop classification). Your dentist explains what your readings mean and what to do about them.

Will a clean make my teeth whiter?

A clean can remove surface stains, so your teeth can look brighter, but it doesn’t change their natural shade (Australian Dental Association). Whitening lightens the shade.

Teeth whitening

Can I see the dentist while I’m pregnant?

Yes. Check-ups and most treatment can go ahead during pregnancy, and NSW Health encourages a check-up before or soon after you become pregnant. Tell the front desk when you book, and tell your dentist at the visit.

Let’s book your check-up.

Leave your number. Our front desk will call to arrange a time.

Dental Spot collects your name and phone number so our front desk can call you back. Please don’t include health details here; we’ll talk about that when we call. We don’t share it with anyone else, apart from the email service that delivers it to us. You can ask to see or correct it. Read our privacy policy.

Or call (02) 9715 6567

We call back during opening hours, Monday to Saturday. Your appointment is confirmed once you’ve spoken with our team.

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