FAQs

If you are driving to our practice we have one hour free parking, across from our practice and to the right of Captain Munchies take-aways, which can be accessed via Elder Place (see map on our Contact Us page). – We are on the corner of Parry Street and Elder place, ground floor of the Victoria Quays Building. – If you are taking public transport, the Fremantle station is just a short walk away.

After booking an appointment with us you can download our new patient/medical history form from our website or alternatively fill it out on the day. If you are planning to complete the form on the day of your appointment please ensure to arrive 10 minutes before your appointment. If you have any previous dental records or dental x-rays available please bring them along to your first visit. If your x-rays are within 12 months old, we can use your old images and save you having new x-rays done.

To save you time, we can request all your old dental records be forwarded to us on your behalf. Simply fill in one of our ‘Release of Records’ forms and we’ll fax it off to your previous dental practice and follow it up for you.

At your first visit to Fremantle Dental Care you will be greeted by our friendly practice manager and receptionist, Anna, who will welcome you and take your completed medical history form. Don’t worry if you haven’t had a chance to fill it in, as we can take your details during this time as well. You can relax on our comfy couch in our bright and sun filled reception area while you read or watch television. If you have small children, please bring them along. They can play in our custom kids room complete with toys, tables and a reading nook activity bags. During your first appointment we will thoroughly assess your dental status by clinical examination and using a combination of digital dental x-rays and photography to record our findings. No treatment will be carried out at this appointment, unless previously arranged, such as in the case of emergency appointments. A significant amount of time will be dedicated to understanding your dental concerns and to discuss the results of our findings. Should any treatment be required we will present you with all your options so you may consider if and how you would like our help.

Dental x-rays are crucial in helping dentists examine areas between your teeth and under your gums that we cannot see with the naked eye. ‘Best practice’ guidelines suggest that routine dental x-rays should be done every 18 months to 2 years, depending on your age and dental disease risks. Sometimes dental x-rays need to be repeated more frequently, but this is the exception to the rule and your dentist will specify when this applies to your particular situation.

Typically, adults should have their teeth actively maintained every 6 months. Even the most motivated tooth brusher out there can’t get to all the nooks and crannies in the mouth, where tartar can easily build up and cause dental disease. Patients who have established gum and jawbone disease, or patients with orthodontic braces, need more regular teeth cleaning. These patients are usually seen every 3-4 months.

Generally speaking, children should start seeing the dentist from the age of two onwards. It is important that they are assessed for their early ‘dental milestones’ and to help parents make sure they are on the right track in terms of home oral care, diet and dental development. Sometimes very young children won’t have an actual examination on their first visit, but they will get a chance to sit and play in the dental chair. It is a great way to familiarise them to a new environment and to introduce them to the dentist as a fun and non-scary person. It is well recognised that children who are used to coming to the dentist from a young age seldom develop dental phobias and enjoy better dental health throughout life.

Our practice is HICAPS ready so if you are in a dental health fund, we can swipe your card and claim your rebate straight away. This saves a trip to the health fund office and means you only pay any gap fees on the day.

We are registered dental provider for most major health funds including BUPA, HBF, HCF, Medibank and HIF. This means that there is less out of pocket expenses for our patients.

Quality dental work can be expensive. It is not uncommon for treatment plans nowadays to range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, and health funds will often cap how much they will give you back per year. For patients who need important dental treatment but also require a little financial assistance in the short term, our practice offers dental finance options through GE Care Credit, a third party finance company. We can prepare an online application on your behalf and once approved, the total cost of your treatment is immediately covered by Maccredit. You can then receive the important dental treatment you need without further delays, and conveniently service your repayments over your chosen time period.

Mouthwash can be beneficial for your overall oral hygiene. If you have undergone any dental surgery then you should use an anti-bacterial mouthwash unless otherwise recommended by your dentist. Whitening mouthwashes can be good for gradual whitening although you won’t have the same results as professional whitening.

The symptoms of a cavity include: – Pain that can seem to spread into your jaw from your tooth – Sensitivity to cold and hot foods or drinks – Black spots in the crevice of your tooth Your dentist is the best person to identify and treat a cavity. Once you have a cavity you also will not be able to reverse the effects – a fissure sealant or filling will most likely be required.

A dental crown is a restorative treatment while veneers are cosmetic You will require a dental crown when your tooth has been damaged significantly or possibly after receiving root canal therapy. A crown is used to restrengthen the tooth so if your dentist deems that your tooth is too weak for a filling or for other means of repair then they will recommend a dental crown. Veneers will only be recommended for damaged teeth if the problems are cosmetic. For example if you have small chips at the very surface of your teeth then veneers may be right for you. Veneers can also conceal discolouration and other cosmetic imperfections.

We pride ourselves in taking a gentle approach and most of our patients are reassured by Dr Koen’s calm and reassuring approach and manner. But for those that are struggling with extreme anxiety we offer sleep dentistry of sedation.

You need to visit the dentist twice a year or every six months. This is the best way to keep on top of your oral health and identify and treat any problems as they occur rather than after they have fully developed into full-scale issues. If you do not visit the dentist every six months you put yourself in danger of painful cavities, periodontitis and oral cancer.

You need to brush your teeth twice a day – after breakfast and after dinner. This is the most integral part of the dental hygiene process. You also need to floss daily to prevent periodontal pockets from forming between your teeth. Smoking and your diet can also affect your risk of decay and disease which is why we recommend avoiding sugary foods, acidic foods and we recommend eating calcium-rich foods such as cheese and yoghurt which coat your teeth in a protective film.

Acidic foods damage your enamel Lemon, balsamic vinegar and soft drinks are all highly acidic and damage your enamel. Once you lose this enamel it is impossible to grow it back naturally. Avoid these foods except on rare occasions to protect your smile. Sugary foods stimulate negative bacteria and cause decay Sugar is terrible for your teeth. We recommend swapping to an artificial sweetener which is better for your teeth and health. Yoghurt and Cheese can protect your teeth These foods coat your teeth in a protective film which prevents decay and acid affecting your enamel. However, these foods can also contribute to respiratory problems so we recommend eating them in moderation.

Pain in your tooth does not automatically mean that you need a root canal. Dr Koen will assess your condition and recommend the best solution. Most commonly you will require a fissure sealant or filling and a root canal will only be recommended if completely necessary. If you do experience pain it’s imperative that you book an urgent appointment. Call 9335 2691.

Dentofacial aesthetics is the combination of cosmetic elements to create a beautiful appearance. Fillers and muscle relaxants are commonly used to improve your face and the area that frames your smile. Fremantle Dental Care practices dentofacial aesthetics as we believe cosmetic dentistry should span beyond your teeth. Find out more about our fillers and wrinkle relaxants here.

Dentofacial aesthetics improve the entire harmony of your smile and the surrounding area Dentofacial aesthetics utilise dermal filler injections to perfect the area surrounding your smile. This option is popular for individuals who want to improve every aspect of their smile including their lips and even smile lines. Dr Koen can also utilise muscle relaxant anti-wrinkle treatments to decrease your risk of permanent wrinkles caused by muscle movement such as frown lines and eye creases.

The length of time a muscle relaxant lasts will depend on the type of muscle relaxant and the patient. Some muscle relaxants last three months while some last up to six months or more. Dr Koen will discuss what relaxant is the most appropriate for your condition and provide the estimated length of time that it will last for.

Dermal fillers last on average six to twelve months. This depends on the patient and the type of dermal filler used. Some areas of the body respond more positively to this treatment as well. Popular areas include the lips and scowl lines in the forehead between the brows.

Most dermal fillers are made out of hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring compound in the body. There are also permanent fillers in existence which are made out of different synthetic materials.