At what age should my child first see a dentist?

We recommend a first visit around the time the first teeth appear, or by their first birthday, so we can monitor healthy development early.

How often should my child have a dental check-up?

For most children we suggest a check-up and clean every six months. Some children may need to be seen more often, and we'll let you know if that applies to your child.

Is my child eligible for the CDBS?

Children aged 2 to 17 whose family receives an eligible payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A may qualify. We can check eligibility and the remaining balance for you.

Does CDBS cover the full cost of treatment?

CDBS covers a range of basic services up to a capped amount over two consecutive calendar years. We confirm your child's remaining balance and explain any costs before treatment.

Why do baby teeth matter if they fall out anyway?

Baby teeth help your child eat, speak and smile, and they hold space for the adult teeth coming through. Looking after them early supports healthy long-term development.

How do you help nervous children feel comfortable?

We keep each visit calm and friendly, explain everything simply, and focus on a positive experience so children feel safe and relaxed.

What happens at my child's first appointment?

We take time to get to know your child, gently examine their teeth and gums, and talk through anything we notice. The goal is a relaxed first visit that builds their confidence.

How can I help prevent cavities at home?

Brushing twice a day, helping with flossing, limiting sugary snacks and drinks, and keeping up regular check-ups all help protect your child's teeth between visits.

What should I do in a dental emergency?

If your child has a knocked-out tooth, swelling or dental pain, call us on (03) 9533 2288 as soon as possible so we can guide you and arrange to see them.

Dentist South Yarra

South Yarra and Prahran run into each other.

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Searching for "Dentist near South Yarra"?

South Yarra and Prahran run into each other. Chapel Street connects them, the stations are one stop apart, and the border between the two is something most people cross without noticing.

Prahran Family Dental is on Commercial Road, near Prahran Market. A good number of our patients come from South Yarra, and a noticeable share of them arrive with a cosmetic question rather than a problem. This page is written with that in mind.

Dr Jun Kim principal dentist standing at the reception desk in Prahran

Getting here from South Yarra

By train. Prahran is one stop south of South Yarra on the Sandringham line. Prahran station exits onto Greville Street, a short walk from Commercial Road.

By tram. Route 78 runs the length of Chapel Street, linking South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor. Route 72 runs along Commercial Road itself.

By car. Chapel Street or Toorak Road, then Commercial Road. Short, though Chapel Street traffic is unpredictable at peak times and on weekends.

Parking. Metered street parking on and around Commercial Road, with time limits that vary block to block. For longer appointments, the Elizabeth Street Car Park (644 spaces, behind Prahran Market) or the 24-hour Prahran Square car park on Izett Street are more reliable.

Cosmetic work, and knowing which option is which

The most common thing we hear from South Yarra patients is not a request for a specific treatment. It is a question about which treatment they actually need, usually after reading four different answers online.

The short version is that four treatments overlap and they suit different problems.

Dr Jun Kim examining a tooth model in Prahran

Whitening changes the colour of your own teeth. It does nothing to shape, and it does not work on every kind of discolouration. Some marks sit inside the tooth where whitening cannot reach.

White fillings use tooth-coloured composite resin to repair a chip, close a small gap, or rebuild a worn edge. It is usually done in a single visit with little or no drilling, and the colour is matched to the surrounding tooth.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells made in a lab and fitted to the front of the tooth. They resist staining, they last considerably longer, and they usually require some enamel to be removed first. Enamel does not grow back, which makes veneers a longer-term decision rather than a reversible one.

Crowns cover the whole tooth and are a structural repair, not a cosmetic one. They are the answer when too much of the tooth is missing for anything else to hold.

The useful question is not which is best. It is how long you want the result to last and how much of your own tooth you are willing to change. Those two answers usually settle it.

Cosmetic dentistry · Porcelain veneers · Teeth whitening

Replacing a missing tooth

The second most common reason South Yarra patients contact us. A gap does not stay a gap. The teeth on either side drift toward it and the bite changes, which is why replacement gets recommended even when the space is not visible when you smile.

Bridges fill the space using the teeth on either side as support. Implants replace the root as well as the tooth and leave the neighbouring teeth untouched. Which one suits depends on the condition of those neighbouring teeth and on the bone underneath, so it is a decision made after an examination rather than before one.

Dr Jun Kim reviewing a dental Xray in Prahran

Everything else

General dentistry runs alongside all of it. Check-ups, cleans, fillings, and the ordinary maintenance that keeps the cosmetic work looking like it should. If something breaks or starts hurting, we keep time aside for emergency appointments, and being one stop away is worth a great deal on that particular day.

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Cosmetic questions we get from South Yarra patients

Should I whiten before or after cosmetic work?

Whiten first. Veneers and white fillings are colour matched at the time they are made, and neither responds to whitening afterwards. Whitening later leaves the work looking darker than the teeth around it.

How long does cosmetic work take?

Whitening can often be done in a single visit or with a take-home kit. Veneers take at least two appointments, because they are made in a lab between appointments.

Will it be obvious?

Veneers are shade-matched to your own teeth at the time they're made, and how natural they look depends on the shade chosen and the fit.

Can I just have one tooth done?

Often yes, and it is common. Matching a single tooth to its neighbours is a different job to treating several together, and it is worth discussing which approach gives the result you are after.

What if something happens outside your hours?

Call the practice and follow the instructions on the message. We do our best to accommodate patients in genuine pain outside standard hours where possible.