A dental checkup and clean is the appointment that keeps everything
else off your dental record. We examine your teeth and gums, remove the plaque and
tartar that brushing cannot shift, and tell you plainly what we found.
We are inside Top Ryde City Shopping Centre, open six days a week
including Saturdays, and we claim through your health fund at reception so you know
your out-of-pocket cost before you leave the chair.
"No gap" means your appointment costs you nothing on the day. The
practice charges exactly what your health fund pays back for those items, so your
out-of-pocket is zero. It is not free dental care from Medicare — it runs on your private
health extras cover.
What is usually included
A no gap dental check up generally covers the items that make up a standard
preventive visit:
Examination
Scale and clean
Bitewing X-rays, usually two films
Fluoride application on many policies
What is not included
No gap arrangements apply to preventive care only. Anything restorative attracts a
contribution from you:
Fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions
Deep cleaning for gum disease, which uses different item numbers
Whitening, veneers and other cosmetic work
Visits taken before your waiting period has finished
How to find out if your visit is no gap
Whether you pay nothing depends on your fund, your level of extras cover, your
remaining annual limit, and whether the practice holds a preferred provider agreement
with your particular fund. It changes fund by fund, so guessing is not useful.
Call us on (02) 9807 9800 with your fund name and
membership number before you book. We will tell you what your check up and clean will
cost you — including if the answer is nothing.
On-the-spot HICAPS claiming
We accept all Australian health funds and process your claim at reception, so your
rebate comes off immediately and you only pay any remaining gap. Bring your fund card
with you.
Bupa
Medibank
HCF
nib
CBHS
ahm
and all others
Free check ups for eligible children
Children aged 0 to 17 whose family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or another
qualifying payment can access up to $1,158 of basic dental care over two
consecutive calendar years under Medicare's Child Dental Benefits Schedule. That
covers check ups, X-rays, cleans and fillings, and no private health cover is
required.
The cap is set by Services Australia and indexed each January. Bring your Medicare
card and we will check the balance first.
Find out your gap before you book
Have your fund name and membership number ready and we will check it with you.
Dental fees in Australia are not set by Medicare, so every practice
prices its own work and there is no national standard. Here is what each part of a
routine visit costs with us, and what the item numbers on your invoice mean.
Complete Check-Up PackageComprehensive examination, X-rays, professional cleaning and polishing, fluoride treatment, and intraoral photographs.$200
Comprehensive examinationYour first full check up with us$80
Periodic examinationYour regular six-monthly check up $70
Scale and cleanRemoval of plaque and tartar, per visit$160
Bitewing X-rayPer image, taken only when needed$50
Fluoride applicationHelps protect and strengthen enamel$55
OPG full-mouth X-rayWhen a wider view is needed$120
Fees current as of September 2026. Heavy tartar or
active gum disease sometimes needs a longer or deeper clean, which carries a different
item number and a higher fee. If that applies to you we tell you the cost before we
start, not after.
Making it more affordable
If a visit is more than you want to pay at once, we offer National Dental Plan and
Afterpay so it can be spread into instalments. Ask at reception and we will set it
up.
Understanding the visit
What Is Involved in a Dental Checkup and Clean?
Two parts, usually done in the same appointment: an examination, and
a dental cleaning that removes what brushing at home leaves behind.
The check up
An assessment of your teeth, gums and overall oral health. We look for cavities,
gum concerns and any other changes that may need attention, and check the soft
tissues of your mouth as well.
The professional clean
Plaque and tartar are carefully removed from the areas that are tricky to reach at
home. A dental scale and clean is then followed by polishing, leaving your teeth
feeling fresh, smooth and clean.
A professional dental cleaning reaches below the gumline and between the teeth,
which is exactly where a toothbrush runs out of room.
Your appointment
What to Expect During Your Visit
A standard appointment takes around 45 minutes and follows a
structured, gentle process.
Comprehensive examination
We assess your teeth, gums and bite, checking
for early signs of decay or other concerns, and talk through anything you have
noticed since your last visit.
Low-dose digital X-rays
Taken only if necessary. They let us check
between the teeth and monitor bone health below the surface.
Gentle scale and clean
A thorough scale and clean removes tartar and
calculus build-up along the gumline — the part brushing cannot manage.
Polishing and fluoride
Gentle polishing buffs away surface stains,
followed by fluoride to help protect and strengthen the enamel.
What we found
We show you anything we picked up and explain your options
and the cost. Nothing goes ahead without you agreeing to it first.
Your next visit
We book your next check up before you leave and tell you
whether six months suits you or a shorter interval would be better.
A common question
Can You Remove Plaque From Teeth at Home?
Plaque, yes. Tartar, no. The two words get used interchangeably and they
are not the same thing, which is why home remedies disappoint people.
Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth within
hours of brushing. You can and should remove it yourself — brushing twice daily and
cleaning between the teeth once a day does it.
Tartar (calculus) is plaque that has been left alone long enough to
mineralise and harden onto the tooth. Once that has happened, no toothbrush, floss,
whitening toothpaste, mouthwash or baking soda paste will shift it. It is bonded to
the enamel and has to be broken off with instruments. That is what a scale and clean
is.
Scraping at it yourself with a metal pick from the chemist is a bad idea — it
damages enamel and cuts gum tissue, and you cannot see what you are doing below the
gumline where most of it sits.
Why it matters
Benefits of Professional Teeth Cleaning
Prevention of dental issues. Routine visits can identify early changes
before they develop into more complex and more expensive problems.
Healthier gums. Removing tartar from the gumline is the main treatment for
gingivitis, and at that stage the damage is usually reversible.
A fresher, brighter smile. Cleaning and polishing removes surface build-up
and staining from tea, coffee, wine and smoking.
A record of your oral health. Regular visits give us something to compare
against, so small changes stand out sooner.
Every six months suits most adults and children, which is also the interval most
health funds are built around. Some people do better on a three or four month cycle —
usually those who build up tartar quickly, smoke, have had gum disease, are pregnant, or
live with diabetes.
Regular check ups and cleaning benefit children, adults and anyone wanting to stay on
top of their oral health. They are particularly worth it if you:
Build up plaque or tartar quickly
Have a history of gum or dental problems
Have extras cover with visits included that would otherwise go unused
We will tell you at your visit which interval fits you, and why — not just repeat the
six-month default.
Two different treatments
Scale and Clean or Deep Cleaning?
People often use both terms as if they mean the same thing. They do not, and the
difference shows up on your invoice and on your health fund claim.
A routine scale and clean works above the gumline and slightly below it,
removing plaque and tartar before polishing. Most people have one every six months, done
in a single visit, and it is the item most no gap arrangements cover.
A deep clean, properly called root planing or periodontal debridement, goes
well below the gumline to clean the root surfaces. It treats existing gum disease rather
than preventing it, often needs more than one visit, and sometimes local anaesthetic.
Different item numbers, higher fee, and generally not covered by no gap arrangements.
You cannot tell which one you need by looking in the mirror. We measure the depth of
the pockets around your gums during your check up, and that measurement decides it.
Read about periodontal treatment.
Worth booking now
Signs You Are Overdue for a Clean
Gum disease and early decay are usually painless, which is exactly
why they get missed.
Swipe to see more
Gums that bleed when you brush
Healthy gums do not bleed. It is the earliest common sign of gingivitis, and at
that stage it is usually reversible.
Bad breath that will not shift
If mints only help for an hour, the cause is often bacteria living in tartar
deposits that need removing professionally.
A rough or fuzzy feeling
Running your tongue behind the lower front teeth and feeling roughness usually
means tartar has already hardened there.
Teeth that look longer
Gums receding exposes root surface. It rarely reverses on its own, so the sooner
it is assessed the better.
Staining brushing will not lift
Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking leave surface stain that a polish removes and a
toothbrush does not.
It has been over a year
If you cannot remember your last visit, that is your answer. Book a check up and
find out where you stand.
Book your check up and clean
Six days a week, including Saturdays, at Top Ryde City Shopping Centre.
The clean gives you a fresh start. What you do over the following six months decides
how much tartar there is to remove next time.
Brush twice a day for two minutes with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste. Spit, do
not rinse — rinsing washes the fluoride straight off.
Clean between the teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes. This is where plaque
turns into tartar first.
Keep sugary food and drink to mealtimes. How often you have it matters more than how
much.
Replace your toothbrush every three months, or sooner once the bristles splay.
Mild sensitivity for a day or two after a clean is normal. If it lasts longer, call
us.
If you smoke or have had gum disease, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits
and personalised care to monitor your oral health over time.
Payment options
Payment Plans and Health Funds
We accept all Australian health funds with on-the-spot HICAPS
claiming, and offer National Dental Plan and Afterpay if you would rather pay in
instalments.
Health funds we claim from
Finding us
Teeth Cleaning in Ryde, in the Middle of Top Ryde
If you are looking for a dentist nearby for teeth cleaning, we are
inside Top Ryde City Shopping Centre at Shop 2035, Level LG1, Tucker Street. Parking is
on site and buses stop at the centre, so a check up fits around the rest of your errands
instead of being a separate trip.
We are open six days a week including Saturday appointments,
which suits people who cannot take time off during the week.
It means the practice charges exactly what your health fund
pays back for those items, so you have nothing left to pay on the day. It requires
private health extras cover — it is not free care through Medicare — and it applies
to preventive items only, not fillings or other restorative work.
Can I get a free dental check up with my health fund?
Many extras policies include one or two preventive visits a
year at no out-of-pocket cost, usually where the practice is a preferred provider for
that fund. Whether yours does depends on your policy, your waiting periods and your
remaining limits. Call us with your fund details and we will check before you
book.
How much does a dental check up and clean cost?
Our fees for each item are listed above. Dental fees are not
regulated in Australia, so they vary between practices. With extras cover most
patients pay only the gap, and eligible children may be fully covered under the Child
Dental Benefits Schedule.
How often should I have a check up and clean?
Every six months suits most adults and children. If you have
gum disease, smoke, or build up tartar quickly, we may recommend every three to four
months and will explain why.
Does a scale and clean hurt?
Most patients find it comfortable — the sensation is vibration
and cold water more than pain. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive,
tell us beforehand and we can use a numbing gel or split it into shorter
sessions.
How long does a dental checkup and clean take?
Around 30 to 60 minutes depending on your oral health and how
much cleaning is needed. Allow 45 minutes for a typical visit and up to an hour for a
first appointment.
Can I remove tartar from my teeth at home?
No. Plaque you can remove yourself by brushing and flossing,
but once it hardens into tartar it is bonded to the enamel and needs instruments to
remove. Home scrapers damage enamel and gum tissue, so leave it to a professional
clean.
Do I need X-rays every time?
No. Bitewing X-rays are usually taken every one to two years
depending on your risk of decay. They show what the eye cannot see between teeth and
under existing fillings. We explain why before taking any.
What are item numbers 011, 012 and 114?
They are the standard Australian dental codes on your invoice
and health fund claim. 011 is a comprehensive examination, 012 a periodic
examination, 114 a scale and clean, 022 a bitewing X-ray and 121 a fluoride
application. Your fund uses these to work out your rebate.
Does Medicare cover a dental check up for adults?
No. Medicare does not fund routine dental care for adults in
Australia. Eligible children aged 0 to 17 can be covered under the Child Dental
Benefits Schedule, capped at $1,158 over two consecutive calendar years.
Will a clean whiten my teeth?
It removes surface staining from tea, coffee, wine and
smoking, so teeth usually look brighter afterwards. It does not change the natural
underlying colour of the tooth — that needs
teeth whitening.
Are you open on Saturdays?
Yes. We are open six days a week including Saturday, so you
can book a clean without taking time off work.
My gums bled during the clean. Is that a problem?
Bleeding generally means the gums were already inflamed — the
clean revealed it rather than caused it. It usually settles within a week or two of
consistent brushing and flossing. If it does not, book a review.
Do you see children?
Yes, at every age. Early visits are mostly about getting
children comfortable in the chair. See our
children's dentist page.
